Aswan Egypt with Viking River Cruises
Spent two days exploring Aswan with Viking River Cruises. Saw the Aswan High Dam, and took a Felucca (sailboat) ride on the Nile and saw the old Cataract hotel where Agatha Christie and other celebrities stayed. Then we went to a market where locals and tourists both shop and met the owner of a spice shop who showed us his spices and graciously let us sample the fragrances of Frankincense, Myrrh and Sandalwood. On the second day we went on a motorboat ride on the Nile - passing by wildlife, a resort, a palace, monasteries, and tombs until we arrived at a Nubian Village where we toured a home, and I even held a house crocodile (Yes, the owners owned several crocodiles and I got up close and personal with one. Then we took another motorboat to reach the incredible Philae Temple for a tour there before ending the day with a visit to the Papyrus institute to see how papyrus is made and to do a little shopping. :26 Iswan Dam 1:03 Monument to Arab Soviet Friendship 1:26 Guide talks about women's dress 2:14 Aswan Market 3:27 Felucca ride on the Nile. Old Cataract Hotel Exterior 5:49 Day 2 Begins 6:24 Scenic sailing on the Nile 6:43 Waterfowl and cows 6:59 Tombs on sandstone 7:05 Two Monasteries 7:15 Palace and mausoleum 7:26 Nile River Resort 7:40 Nubian Village 8:03 Inside Nubian Home, henna tattoos and crocodiles 9:18 Return from Nubian home 9:40 Boat dock and vendors at the pier for transport to Philae Temple 10:10 Motorboat to Philae Temple 10:40 Philae Temple 12:36 Cleopatra Cartuche 13:06 Papyrus Institute - how papyrus is made