These photos were taken around Aswan. We enjoyed the slower pace after Cairo. It is more of a Nubian community given the displacement due to the Aswan High Dam.
The people are more laid back and things are more relaxed.
We really enjoyed the Nubian bread and the whole wheat (and probably rye) pita bread. It is amazing how much pita bread is made continually throughout the day in every Egyptian settlement. We also had incredible felafel. They use favas instead of chickpeas. Makes them incredibly light.
While in Aswan we arranged to visit Abu Simbel. It is close to the border with the Sudan. To go, we left our Nubian guest house at about 4:00 am, met up with someone who took us across the ferry (we were on Elephantine Island), while picking up more people, then we waited at the Corniche (the main road that runs along the Nile in Aswan). Of the people waiting, we were all assigned to different minivans, which then went off and picks up people at other places in Aswan. Then the caravan headed off for the three hour drive.
Once we got there we had about an hour to view the site. This is the site with the four huge statues of Rameses II sitting next to each other. Basically, it was to let anyone coming down the Nile to beware the power and might of Rameses II. The old, I will smite you threat.
The best artists were not used here since size was what mattered. Nobody buried here. Not that great compared to other things we saw. Even so, the mass migration down and back was fun to watch. It was a drive in the desert, which we had not experienced. And we arrived before the large tour groups, so we got to see it early with decent light and no crowds.
Abu Simbel was the site that was moved when the High Aswan Dam was built. They did an amazing job of moving it and recreating the setting. They had articles in Life Magazine back when I was growing up showing it.
We did enjoy the Philea Temple outside of Aswan. It was another site that was moved do to the flooding. Another nice job of moving. This had some nice art, as well. I believe the Ptolmies and Romans were responsible for it.
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