Day 8 Aswan Egypt
Trip Start
Oct 14, 2008
1
8
23
Trip End
Nov 05, 2008
Aswan,
Nile River Valley,
Egypt
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The train stopped briefly at the Luxor Station as the sun is rising. Not many people at the station. The land scape have changed to lush green all along the river. No more smog. There are farm land after farm land, small villages , small towns one after another. The view is fantastic. At first we are not sure about taking the overnight train. Now I would not change this experience for anything. I went outside our cabin to watch the view from the other side of the train. Talking to Heather from the next cabin, she also agreed that she was not sure about taking the train and she is so glad she did.
Breakfast on the train is nothing to write home about. It is bread-fest as we called it. You get 4 small pieces of different pretty dry bread with coffee. I just can't eat this much bread especially they are pretty blend and dry.
Glad I saved my 'green' orange from dinner for breakfast. You do get spoiled by the buffet breakfast at the hotel.
The train is slowing down as we approach Aswan station. it is around noon, only 3 hours late ! Got off the train to meet up with the group. It was nice and sunny out, much cleaner air with lots of trees around. We were told that we will be changing to the Movenpick hotel instead because the hotel on our original itinerary , the New Cataract Hotel is under renovation.
To get to the hotel, we took a short bus ride, then a boat across as the hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Nile called Elephantine Island . The hotel was newly renovated, sits on beautifully landscaped grounds. We sat in the hotel lobby to rest and was welcomed by serving us pineapple juice. Our rooms are not ready so we are off to a felucca ride on the Nile. According to our itinerary, we are not suppose to take the felucca ride until tomorrow. But because our train was late, we have to jiggle the activities a bit. Some people choose not to go on the boat ride as the train ride did not agree with them.
The felucca - traditional wooden boat with sails, steered by a skillful Nubian along the Nile and around the Elephantine island. The ride is wonderful. One side if the Nile is almost dessert like with tombs along the river and up the hill side.
After the ride we went back to the hotel. Unfortunately not all the rooms are ready. We have to sit in the lobby for a while before we finally get our room. The room is great. All new furniture, balcony with the view of the Nile and the town of Aswan on the other side. The grounds around the hotel is full of flowers, trees and grass land. We quickly dropped off our stuff and head out for a walk. We walked along the river to take pictures. The resort is wonderful I think the best hotel we stayed yet.
High tea is at 4:00 pm at the bar on top floor of the hotel . It is fantastic ! you get 360 view thru full length windows. We were served sandwiches, cakes and pastry with tea. Just realize we never have lunch.
We chatted with our fellow travelers. Went around the bar to take pictures. We took some great pictures as the sun is setting. Sunset at the Nile. How cool is that.
We went back to our room pretty tire. Did not feel like going to the hotel restaurant so we ordered room service. We ate our dinner while looking out our hotel room facing the Nile and night light of Aswan.
Better go to bed soon, we have to be up by 3:00 am check out and to catch a plane to Abu Simbel.
