On The Road Again!!!

On The Road Again!!

Saturday Morning we decided that we needed to take some time out and rediscover Aswan seeming that the last time I visited was 12 years ago I had a feeling things may have changed slightly! Plus when people want your advice and suggestions on the best places to visit, it only seems right to go and experience it for myself!

I know you’re thinking ‘yeah right of course that’s the only reason’!!

We took off at a very reasonable 7am and headed out on the West Bank road from Luxor to Aswan.

View From Our Car!

I love the early mornings in Egypt as there is so much to see with people going about their daily life’s; children going off to school and farmers in their field with their donkeys standing by the side of the fields eating their Alfalfa!

By 10:30am we decided to take a slight detour to see Gebel el-Silsila. I had never been there before but had heard loads about the place; usually you only get to go there if you are taking a dahabyia (sailing boat) down the Nile to Aswan as they are the only boats small enough to dock in the shallow water.

I was not disappointed; if anything the place is never given justice!

 

View From The Banks Of Gebel el-Silsila

The first thing that strikes you is how quite it is there; getting out of our car all you can see are the Mountains of the East bank and the Nile.

Purchasing out tickets at the little ticket office a local guardian took us along the path running adjacent to the Nile to see the wonders that awaited.

 

Path To The Sites

Gebel el-Silsila is an ancient quarry where you can see how they cut the stone blocks for some of the amazing temples we can still see today.

There is a unique rock carved temple made for the 18^th dynasty king Horemheb; it was very different compared to all the other temples I have been in this seemed to have a bit of everything in it! Including wall art depicting dancing scenes. The niches where amazing with the carvings of the gods unfortunately they are not in good condition but still is was so different to anything we have in Luxor.

Horemheb Temple

Inside The Temple

Some of the wall art inside the temple

Walking further down the path we came to the quarry where the blocks where cut; I loved it there for you could see the insignas of the past work gangs up in the rock face.

As you go deeper in to the quarry you have to put your rock climbing skills to use as you make your way along; which if you have ever seen me is no mean feat!!! Hot and sweaty yes I was but it was more than worth the effort!

Looking A Bit Sweaty Next To Mr Cool!!

Some More Of The Rock Tombs

The quarry along with its cave tombs go on for a mile or so and as we only thought it would be a short stop on our journey to Aswan decided to go back towards the car so we could continue our journey.

But not before I took a few more Pictures!

Inside One Of The Rock Tombs

Vivid Colours From Inside One Of The Rock Tombs

On the road again we made our way down to Aswan but before we got there we made a coffee stop!

I had to take a picture of this temple building is still in full swing if this transport is anything to go by!!

 

Arriving in Aswan I was amazed at how little it had changed! The streets where a little busier than I remember but then it was still an Egyptian holiday so there would be more people than normal but the difference between Aswan and Luxor still amazes me.

We decied you go over to Elephantine Island which is set in the centre of the Nile in Aswan. I was quite exctied about this as it would be a first for me I have always managed to sail round it but never set foot on it!

The people there where really nice and we walked through the streets unhassled by any one, we headed out towards the Nubian house Ibiza for a nice cool drink and a prime seat looking out over the Nile; the veiw was stunning.

 

The View From The Coffee Shop

Once we cooled down we took a walk across the island to the Aswan museum where they were excavating the Abu Ruins I was shocked to see there where ancient statues still buried in the earth! Were they real I would think so; but here’s a picture so you can decide!

 

Once we had finished taking a look around Elephantine we decided to take a motor boat ride to the Nubian village we had heard so much about through Lonely Planet but to get there we need to take a motor boat up through the first cataract.

Waiting For Our Motor Boat

Are You sure There Are No Crocodiles??

The beauty of the Nile is startling as you make your way via boat to the first cataract with plenty to keep bird watchers amused.

As you draw closer to the cataract the water gets stronger making it impossible for anything but a motor boat to pass through; over on the West Bank we could see camels lazing around waiting for customers to come for a ride!

Here is also the only place on the Nile I would take a dip the water is so clear with no pollution from all the cruise boats.

Can You Spot The Birdy?

Camels Are Waiting For You!

Looking A Bit Less Sweaty! With The Aga Khan In The Background

We arrived at the Nubian village with its house of Kush; I have to say I want impressed! It is clearly all staged and full of hassle with the usual ‘come and look no charge’! I made it a full 5 minutes before leaving! This wasn’t the Nubian experience I was looking for; my advice is if you want a really Nubian Experience go to Elephantine Island as you will get what you want without the hassle!

The Nubian Village! With its House Of Kush!

Taking our leave we sailed back down the cataract to an island over looked by the famous Old Cataract Hotel where Agatha Christie wrote her famous stories like Death On The Nile

Old Cataract Hotel

The Island houses a restaurant called Dooka here you can not only get great Nubian Food but you have a fantastic View of Elephantine Island and the west Bank desert

The View From The Dooka Restaurant

We ate a fantastic feast of chicken and fish tagine with Egyptian rice and salad. You can’t get alcohol there but with food as good as they serve who needs it!

The bread they serve is all freshly baked that day and the fish caught that morning you really can’t get any better.  With me being such a food lover I was well in my element there and ate until I was fit to burst!!

Our Salads

We took the public ferry back from the island to Aswan’s East Bank and decided to take a shopping trip to the old Aswan Souk. Not much had changed at all since my last trip there with the same wares as you can find in most souks up and down Egypt.

At first the hassle was at a minimum but as you followed the souk up towards the train station it got worse and I found my husband no longer wanted to walk with me as my mood went from pleasant to decidedly unpleasant!! You know I wouldn’t mind so much if they didn’t stand directly in front of me making it impossible to get round them only for them to say something like ‘no hassle here’!! urmmm!!!

After running the gauntlet we made our way back to our car with our trophy Mandarins!! I really had forgotten how wonderful this city really is and I can say I will not be leaving it 12 yrs before I revisit it.

I think from now on all our customers who want to go will have me tagging along purely for work reasons of course!!!

Aswan’s New Bridge

 

As we took our leave and made our way back over the new bridge out of the city the sun had started to set and all the walking had started to take its toll, as I sat there seizing up but content I reflected on my day I realized how much more to Aswan there actually was than just its ancient history. The one thing that without a doubt stood out above the rest was its stark natural beauty, which alone is worth seeing.

 

The Sun Setting Over The Desert

Where will our adventures take us next? who knows! All I do know is there is so much more to the lands of Egypt than its history although that in it’s self is worth coming for!

But as they say tomorrow is another day!