2nd voyage to Egypt: Nile cruise from 4th to 11th October, 2001

1st day: 4th October, 2001, Arrival

5.30 h - I hate getting up so early... One hour later my train started from Wolfsburg, in Hanover we united altogether: my partner Simon, my friend Anja and her husband Rainer, which joined us. We all went by train to Cologne and checked in at the airport. Due to the 11th September they were very nervous at the airport. Simon had to deliver a small nail scissors (a dangerous weapon!), but when we passed the control, we could buy some nail scissors in the duty free zone... the world went crazy, but in fact we profited - because we obtained our Nile cruise ticket very cheap. A lot of people didn't want to travel after 11 September that year and gave their tickets back. - At 5.30 p. m. we landed in Luxor and were brought by bus to our ship. Surprise: The "King Tut III", now two years in service, is a 5-star-cruise-ship and we obtained a very big cabin in the upper deck. After dinner we faced an information aboard, I proved the swimming pool and last thing of the day was, that Simon and I walked across the bazar of Luxor.

2nd day: 5th October, 2001: Karnak, Luxor, Papyrus factory, cruise to Esna, locks

Okay, we knew when ordering this voyage, that it won't be just for recreation. So - in fact we had to rise up early, at 6.30 a. m. After breakfast we went to the Karnak-temple with our guide. Our group was called "Tut" and we were together on all conducted tours of this Nile cruise. The temple of Karnak with all its gigantic columns is so impressive! The depictions of queen Hatschepsut were so nice. Then we went to the other big temple of Luxor, the "Luxor temple". Karnak also lies in Luxor and doesn't stand so isolated like shown in "The Mummy Returns". Okay, things have changed since 1930 - there are clearly more buildings around nowadays. The two temples once were connected by the alley of the sphinxes, partly visible. In the Luxor temple there are a lot of smaller temples, a church and a mosque. The last thing we did at morning time was a visit to a papyrus factory, where I bought my first bargain. Of course, at the end of the whole voyage I returned havily loaded to Germany. The big papyrus shows six geeses and was a gift for my mother. Barely back aboard the "King Tut III" departed in direction to Esna. There the hawkers awaited us, using small boats to come near to our ship. Then they threw their wares (clothing) protected in plastic bags aboard, where we could view them. If we were interested in a piece we could bargain with them and throw the money packed into another plastic bag with clothes down. I obtained a very nice blue desert cover. In Esna, each ship had to go through the locks. We remained here overnight, in the evening Simon and I walked into the city of Esna, boarded a trap and Simon was quite forced to buy some dresses which he really didn't wanted to buy.

3rd day: 6th October, 2001: Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan

In the morning we went to the Horus temple of Edfu which is the best preserved temple in Egypt. Simon and I remained up to the last minute in this beautiful temple, because we have found an opening in the wall - we coulnd't resist the adventure! So Simon climbed into the opening (view pic to the right) and viewed into the hole with the help of his foto flash. We hadn't any torches and no time to examine it elaborately. Later we got the information that there was a gangway in which animal mummies were shelved.
Next our ship went to Kom Ombo and we visited the temple of Sobek in the darkness. Because all piers were busy we had to stop nearby a bank. In Kom Ombo there were also a lot of hawkers who wanted to sell dresses for the traditionel "Galabea-party" which always takes place aboard your ship after the visit in Kom Ombo. This means you should wear a typical domestic dress. Anja told us on this tradition in Germany before, so Simon took with him his white long Egpytian dress which he obtained in 1999 (our first voyage to Egypt) - and I finally had the opportunity to wear my Medjai dress. After that party (where we played games), we four people went out to Aswan, where we had arrived in the meantime.

4th day: 7th October, 2001: Aswan, Philae, Nubian village with camel riding

In the forenoon our group "Tut" makes the excursion program in Aswan: First we visited the unfinished obelisk in a stone quarry. The obelisk wasn't used because it was broken in the middle. Then we were driven to the old and the new dam of Aswan, then by boat to the temple island of Philae and last to a perfume factory where - as usual - Simon and I bought some items. The highlight was the visit to Philae on the island called Agilika. From here we could see the place where the temple was located before it was saved. Pales rises in the water where old Philae once was rising.

After lunch we went by boat to a Nubian village, we landed on the bank and rode the last paces by camel. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to dress like a Medjai so I could get some nice fotos. Unfortunately, I forgot to take off my sun glasses...

5th day: 8th October, 2001: Abu Simbel, driving thorugh the desert, felucca trip to Elephantine

Waking up was at 3 a. m. - hu! - but it was worthwhile. Our bus drove us to Abu Simbel right through the desert. We got a breakfast package. In Abu Simbel the great and impressive temple of Ramses II awaits us. We arrived there at 7.30 a. m. These two temple standing there have impressed us very much. One was built for Ramses himself, the other one for his beloved wife Nefertari. Our group has to wait for us two "shoppers" because we have to buy a Nubian scimitar - but I think there were just used to it.

Driving back was unique: I watched the desert outside, and this is just the desert of the Medjai! I felt blessedly to view this desert whereas all other people were sleeping.

In the afternoon we went by felucca to the island of Elephantine, where we visited the known botanical garden. Later in Aswan, I bought four canopic jars. In the evening we watched an original belly dance on board.

6th day: 9th October, 2001: Return voyage from Aswan to Luxor

We returned to Luxor. When driving, they showed us the Nile cruise ship, the engine room and the bridge. In the afternoon there was an information on land and people. In the evening we walked through Luxor to the winterpalace and gazed at the sunset.

7th day: 10th October, 2001: valley of the Kings, Karnak: Sound and Light-Show

Very early we went to the western bank of Luxor. Also this time the early getting up was worth the visit. Two years ago Simon and I went to that valley under the midday sun that was not very comfortable, but this time it was morning time and we could easily endure it. So this time Simon and I could have visited ten tombs, if we were allowed to do it (entrance is for three tombs only).

But first we visited the temple of Hatschepsut which looks to me somehow classical Greek or Roman... Then we went to the valley of the kings, where Simon and I visited the tombs of Amenophis II, Sethos II, and Ramses III. Then our bus stopped at a so called alabaster museum where Simon and I didn't buy anything (wonders can come true). Next stop was at the two Memnon - colossi and then back for lunch on the ship. At 6 p. m. there occured a highlight of this voyage, namely the impressive Sound-and-Light-show in the temple of Karnak which was wonderful set in darkness, nicely also the chanting of the muezzin in nearby mosques.

8th day: 11th October, 2001: camel riding, return to Germany

In the forenoon Simon, Anja and I went ot the western bank and made another camel ride. They took us to the area there. Then Simon and I walked for a last time through the streets of Luxor. After lunch we had to pack our suitcases which wasn't easy because we had bought so much. At 4 p. m. we were brought by bus to the airport. Our plane stopped at Hurghada and we arrived at 0.15 a. m. in Cologne. Simon and I slept in a hotel nearby the airport, then we went home on the next day. Our second visit to Egypt seemed better to us than the first one. We didn't have faced any typical Egpytian voyage diseases like dysentery, vomiting or something like that. It is very nice to went by ship down the Nile, so you can easily visit all the temples there. It is more troublesome to do that by bus from Hurghada. Furthermore, the temple visits did not take place at midday time under the hot Egyptian sun. Then, if you are going by group into the temples you don't have the problems with paying "bakschisch" (tip). Your travel guide will do that for all of you. Conclusion: A Nile cruise is highly commendable, even more for Medjai fans, because you can visit here nearly all the important places shown in the Mummy-film (okay, Hamunaptra not...).