Egypt #2 - Aswan, Abu Simbel and Cruising the Nile
Photos taken November 19, 2009 - November 21, 2009

HELP:
To view a larger version of each photo, just click on the thumbnail or the [view] link.
To download a high-res version of each photo for printing, click on the [download] link.

Inside our train that took us from Cairo to Aswan in 15 hours (instead of 12, because the train broke down along the way).
[view] [download]
Looking out at the beautiful scenery during the train ride.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
This was our absolutely outstanding hotel resort that we stayed at in Aswan. It was situated on an island in the middle of the Nile, and was fantastic. It had multiple pools, tennis courts, miniature golf, a petting zoo, multiple restaurants. Unfortunately, we didn't take advantage of any of this - we were only at the hotel for about 16 hours.
[view] [download]
Our hotel room.
[view] [download]
Posing for a smile on the motorboat/water taxi taking us from mainland Aswan to our island
[view] [download]
Camels!
[view] [download]
As you'll see in the next photos, it's a bit of a surprise how camels get up and down - notice the hind legs tucked back. It's a bit of a roller-coaster ride.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Phew - up safely! A camel stands much taller than a horse.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
On our camel ride in the desert!
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
We've arrived at our destination - the remains of the St. Simeon's Monastery.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
remains of the Monastery of St. Simeon, constructed around 400 AD.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Heading back through the desert to the Nile and our boat.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Mom Klocke and camel posing for a photo!
[view] [download]
A felucca (traditional wooden Egyptian sailboat) on the Nile.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
A stand at the market at the Nubian Village.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Many feluccas are on the river now, as we head back to our hotel for the evening. Beautiful!
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Abu Simbel, with two temples carved into the mountain - one for Pharoah Ramesses II (Ramesses the Great) and his favorite wife, Nefertari (he had about 200 wives and concubines)
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Something amazing - Abu Simbel had to be moved in the 1960s after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. They literally cut up and moved the mountain/temple to higher ground.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Our cabin on the Sonesta St. George II, for our Nile cruise! Our cabins were the most extravagant cruise cabins we've ever had.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Our fancy shower, in our bathroom. The shower had a rainfall function, back massager jets, a steam sauna and a whirlpool tub. Oh yeah, it also had a phone built in so you could call other rooms!
[view] [download]
The rainfall spout!
[view] [download]
The Sonesta St. George II.
[view] [download]
The Aswan High Dam - very important in Egypt's economy. It generates vast amounts of electricity and prevents the Nile's flooding, allowing for a dramatic increase in farmland.
[view] [download]
Egyptian merchants hopped on our boat to try and sell us their goods.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Philae Temple, situated just along the Nile. This temple was also moved after the construction of the Aswan High Dam
[view] [download]
Our personal security for the day - notice the gun sticking out of his pocket? We had armed security from time to time, but nobody ever really explained to us why or when they were and were not used. Was odd and amusing.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
A lone fisherman on the Nile
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
The pool on the top deck of our cruise ship
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
This is the sail of our felucca, which is a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
We took the felucca to Kitchener's Island, named after Lord Kitchener, a British Field Marshal who served in Egypt in the late 1800s. This island had lots of cats as residents
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
The island has been made into a botanical garden, featuring many plants and trees brought to Egypt from the East and the West.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
One of the cats took a liking to me.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Sailing back up the Nile on our felucca. We were now traveling against the Nile's current. It was fascinating to watch how the captain had to navigate the felucca almost perpendicular to the flow of the water to take advantage of the winds and travel against the current.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
The next few photos were taken from our cruise ship, as it traveled down the Nile to our next site.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Temple of Kom Ombo. Taking the cruise to these destinations was nice, because they docked right at the historical site, and we walked right into it. No bus or car rides or even long walks needed!
[view] [download]
Temple of Kom Ombo was built in 200s AD during the Greco Roman period.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
See the eyes and ears on the wall? Legend says that this is an ancient conffessional, so to speak. Worshipers would ask questions to the Gods here, and priests situated on the other side would answer, on behalf of the Gods.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
You can't really tell here, but this is looking out the window from the dining room on the ship. It was situated just below the level of the water. Made for an interesting perspetive
[view] [download]
Egypt's flag - flying atop our cruise ship
[view] [download]
And the Sonesta flag as well.
[view] [download]
Other cruise ships following us down the Nile.
[view] [download]
Dad Klocke sitting at the head of the ship, enjoying the scenery. One of his favorite parts of our trip. I thought he was in the hot tub, but that's just an optical illusion. I think this photo is perfect for marketing a spa!
[view] [download]
Farmers burning their harvested farmland, to prepare for the next planting. Apparently, this is against the law, but doesn't get enforced very well.
[view] [download]
More photos of the amazing scenery along our cruise ride.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Kevin trying out the pool -- it was COLD.
[view] [download]
A train racing along the Nile.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
In the town of Edfu, we took a horse carriage ride to the Temple of Horus. Kevin, Kelly and I rode in one carriage with the crazy driver pictured here.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
Here's another example of the defaced carvings.
[view] [download]
The Temple of Horus -- Horus was one of the Gods, depicted as a falcon. We later realized that Egypt Air (Egypt's primary airliner) uses the icon of Horus in its logo - we thought that was an excellent, clever choice!
[view] [download]
Here's Horus the falcon.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]

[view] [download]
The Ankh, otherwise known as The Key of Life. It's an Egyptian Hieroglyphic character, meaning 'eternal life'. I found it interesting that it is most likely the source of the Christian cross. I enjoy learning about the intersections of different religions.
[view] [download]

[view] [download]
The family participating in a lame dancing game after dinner one night. I'm the photographer because I already got knocked out. We didn't win this game, but Kelly did win one other one. Her prize - a mixed drink ... but alcohol free.
[view] [download]