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Home >> Africa >> Egypt >> Aswan
 

The final stop of our cruise was Aswan. Surrounded by fellucas, we pulled into port.

As we floated in to Aswan, we saw the Tombs of the Nobles up on the hillside. After firing our second tour guide provided to us by Hamis Travel in Cairo, we headed to the tombs we had seen from the boat. It was wonderfully devoid of tourists. Ian climbed up to the Kubbet Al-Hawa for a view overlooking Aswan. Feluccas were everywhere on the Nile. Another view of Aswan. The floating hotel boats lined up forever. You can see our boat, the Aton, in the middle of the photo with the yellow and red design. Although the Tombs of the Nobles were not as impressive as we'd seen elsewhere, it was nice to be alone - at last. Every tomb has a number written on it, which our Lonely Planet provided information about. There are several Nubian villages in Aswan. Our book told us the one on Elephantine Island is very touristy, so we checked out the Gharb Aswan, a series of Nubian Villages right next to the boat dock for the West Bank Tombs. Back in Aswan, we watched the sun set on the Nile from the corniche. Aswan has a very bustling street market. After our day trip the following day to Abu Sembel, we returned to Aswan and visited the High Dam. Wendy couldn't contain her excitement. Lake Nasser, which was created by the formation of the dam. We also visited the Unfinished Obelisk. What a sad, sad excuse for a tourist attraction. However, the Temple of Philae was worth seeing. The ferry driver had obviously just visited the Aswan High Dam as well. The outside of the Temple of Philae (The Isis Temple Complex) Old graffitti. Hathor, Horus, and Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (the Pharaoh) making an offering. nuff said. Back in Aswan, we once again headed to the street market to kill some time before we started our trip northwards back to Luxor (this time by train) The El-Tabia Mosque.