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Arrived in Aswan at lunchtime today, after finishing our Lake Nasser cruise this morning. The cruise was amazing. The boat (MS Kasr Ibrim) had great facilities and friendly staff, food was excellent and plentiful (they seemed particularly keen to ply guests with cake, not that we complained too much). Because we had been switched from the boat we were supposed to be on, we were upgraded by our agency from a small suite to the Imperial Suite, which was absolutely wonderful, a very spacious cabin and a massive private sun deck for us to relax on. Oh, and our own Jacuzzi, which we could enjoy while watching the scenery drift by through the porthole! Day one the boat was moored at the port just south of the Aswan high dam, and we took the cruiser's motor launch to visit the temples of Kalabsha and Beit al Wali, and the kiosk of Kertassi. The English speaking guide on the boat was Mostafa (Mo), who was good fun, but also knowledgeable and professional in explaining the sites to us. Beit al Wali was particularly interesting, with its reliefs of Rameses II smiting his enemies. After the visits, we spent the night on board in the port, before setting sail the next morning. That was the relaxation day, as we spent the whole day sailing. Lake Nasser was so peaceful, it was incredible. Dry, rugged scenery to both sides, deep blue waters, hot sun tempered by a pleasant warm breeze, no sign of any other boats or human occupation all day long. We took full advantage of the opportunity for reading, making the most of our sun deck and enjoying the on-board catering. Day three was a relatively early start to visit the temples at Wadi El Seboua, where we had moored for the night. The first temple was the largest and most spectacular of the three, and after it we rode camels to the second one. An amazing camel ride, with the lake and surrounding scenery on one side, ancient temples ahead and behind and the desert on the other side. After shorter visits to the next two temples, all expertly explained by Mo once again, it was back on the launch for breakfast. The day continued with sailing to Amada, where we visited two more temples - with brilliant colourful reliefs on the walls - and a tomb, and a look at the fortress of Kasr Ibrim as we passed, before we arrived at Abu Simbel just as the sun had set. Just enough light to make out the spectacular temples cut into the cliffs. Then it was the sound and light show, a chance to see the temples spectacularly lit, and a Nubian show on the boat, where we were dragged up to join a group of local kids in their singing and dancing. This morning saw an even earlier start, so we could be at the Abu Simbel temples for sunrise, to see them catch the first rays and to visit before the day trips arrived. They were just as spectacular close up as I had imagined, but the insides were the big surprise, as I did not know the decorations here were so fantastic. We strolled slowly around both temples, admiring the ingenuity and skill of the ancient builders and artists, before it was time to leave. The drive up to Aswan was good, impressive desert scenery including mirages! Also a chance to catch up on a bit of sleep. This afternoon has been spent settling into our hotel, the lovely Movenpick - on an island in the Nile with the city on one side and the desert on the other - where we have another great room, on a corner with two balconies! Lunch by the pool, and time to chill out and update the journal before we go out in a while to sse the Nubian museum and the sound and light at Philae Temple later on.
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