Exploring Egypt: The Nile

We elected to go through On The Go Tours for a 9-day tour through Egypt. This was our experience on the fourth and fifth day as part of a felucca cruise of the Nile.

Day 4 – The Nile

Today we slept in while some members of our group did an optional morning tour of Abu Simbel, a temple a few hours’ drive from Aswan that was also relocated to keep it preserve. After enjoying the breakfast buffet and going for a swim in the hotel’s pool, we met our Nubian felucca crew and set sail. About half of our group upgraded to a 5-star Nile cruise while the other half of us took the pull-over-the-boat-when-you-need-to-go-to-the-bathroom route. And after having experienced it, we could not imagine having had it any other way.

We had only been sailing for about an hour when H noticed a sandstorm whirling behind us near Aswan. Think of any desert film where a sandstorm comes out of nowhere and that was our experience. It looked like it was blowing west and would not hit us, but it kept getting bigger and we could smell rain in the air. H said it rains there about once every six years, and today we brought luck to the region. Pulling up to a greasy patch of shore, our crew lashed the boat to a few nearby trees. Within seconds we were engulfed in a sea of sand and rain. Visibility was around 10 meters and the sun disappeared first behind clouds, then completely behind the horizon, leaving us to grab flashlights to see. Even with the sudden darkness, we tied bandanas around our faces and put on sunglasses to keep the sand out of our eyes, nose and mouth.

As the sand continued to whip against us and the felucca, the waves intensified and crashed against the shore. Local Nubians saw we were exposed to the elements and offered us shelter. They welcomed us into their village and homes. Even after the power went out, they found a way to make tea for our group. Considering how crazy the situation was, everyone seemed to be having a fun time. No one was hurt or scared, and this was making for a great story to bring home.

After a while, the lights came on thanks to a guy who H called the Nubian Eddie Murphy. This Eddie Murphy doppelganger brought us his generator when he heard we were stuck in the darkness. None of them were affiliated with On The Go or our tour (except “Eddie Murphy” was supposed to host us that night in another part of town), and they had so little but still offered us so much. We will never forget the kindness we encountered on our trip.

After an hour or so, the weather cleared up enough for us to return to the felucca, eat dinner and go to bed.

Day 5 – The Felucca continues to cruise the Nile

Onward we went to Luxor after a night on the boat’s deck, surrounded by a mosquito net. Everyone on board relaxed, read a book and slept while waiting for the next delicious meal. It was lovely watching the world go by. The view of palm trees and lush grass with desert sand beyond was a gorgeous sight.

That night, we made a bonfire on the beach and local Nubians joined us for drum playing, singing and dancing. H told us this is a typical way for them to pass the night – singing, dancing and enjoying each other’s company. It’s interesting to visit places where the locals have a simple way of living compared with what we’re used to back in the States (even primitive, as H said). Life is slower. Meals are shared. Cafes are buzzing. And life is rich without being wealthy.

For more on Day 1-2 – Giza, click here.
For more on Day 3 – Aswan, click here.
For more on Day 6 – Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples, click here.
For more on Day 7 – Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak Temple, click here.
For more on Day 8-9 – The Egyptian Museum and Cairo, click here.