September 21
Considering that we didn't see any "name" sites that are on everyone's list when visiting Egypt, today may be remembered as one of the best if not THE BEST day of the cruise! As an indication, I took over 140 shots today....narrowed it down to the "best thirty" to post here! Certainly part of it has to be that yesterday was the first "sub-par" day of the entire trip, but today from start to finish was just GREAT! And it was made even better by spending the entire day with the two other couples we've grown close to over the past week. And while I don't have a lot of stories to share today I DO have a lot of pictures from our MULTIPLE adventures in this jam-packed day. We started off after breakfast by disembarking the ship at 8am sharp and walking about 30 yards down the dock to board small motor boats. Hany was insistent that our "A" group begin moving precisely at the top of the hour and at a brisk pace so we could get the first boat! We loaded up for a FULL HOUR of cruising on the Nile - and it was JUST glorious! The difference in the weather from morning to mid-afternoon is dramatic as it was in the low 70's and with the breeze while sailing on the river it was so great. And unlike yesterday's "cruise" around a small harbor we were in the middle of the broad Nile River and seeing all kinds of sights we ALL agreed this was just amazing.
As the hour on the Nile ended we all found ourselves saying "we could do this all day," but we had much to see and do. First of all was to visit an authentic Nubian home on the west bank. Kim and I always enjoy visiting the home of a local and while, granted, this family is obviously more well off than most in the village, still it was a real-life Nubian family living on the Nile. The home had multiple levels that we were free to explore AND they had crocodiles which once were all throughout the river!
We said our good-byes and had a brief walk through the village before stopping at a pre-school to meet the children of the village and hear them sing some songs and then it was time to board the buses and head out to our next destination - another dock and another boat ride! We drove over the "Low Dame" of Aswan - which we'd done yesterday but turned off and drove down to the river bank to board another motor boat. This one carried us to an island in the middle of Phillae in the middle of the Nile to visit the temple of Isis. The layout was similar to other temples we've seen but STILL I cannot get over the carvings that are there, just as they were over 3,000 years ago. Remarkable. After the tour we shot some group shots with our new friends John & Valerie and Larry & Lisa.
We re-boarded to boats, sailed back to the mainland, boarded buses and set off on about a twenty minute ride to the Papyrus Institute where we were shown how papyrus paper was made. HOW the ancient Egyptians figured out to cut the middle out of a reed, growing in the Nile; roll it then let it sit for six days; then press it and let it sit for another six days - to create paper in essence was mind blowing. And here they'd reproduced many Egyptian scenes in paintings on the papyrus. Unlike most places we've been which offer to sell their products and a few people purchase, nearly everyone was excited to buy one of these keepsakes......including Kim and I.
By now it was after 1 pm and we travelled through Aswan back to the Osiris in time for lunch. Kim and I went upstairs to the Aquavit Terrace for lunch. Our girl Petra was working our table and as soon as I saw the menu I said to her, "Petra, do you know what I'd like for dessert?" A big smile led to the reply, "the banana split with EXTRA whipped cream!" Well duh, of course. Kim's moussaka dish was delicious and I enjoyed every calorie-free bite of the whipped cream!
We had a couple of hours off before the boat docked further north and walked the short distance (in the 104 degree heat - though to be fair it was NOT that bad, especially standing in the shade).
Back on board with just enough time to get cleaned up and then up to the lounge for the important "Disembarkation Meeting" to begin to be informed on how we will leave the ship, head back to Cairo and then on Sunday some guests will head home while twenty of us will continue our journey on to Jordan for the post-cruise extension. Ended the day with a long, enjoyable dinner with our pals as the sun set on the Nile. We sailed until about 9pm and docked in Edfu where we have a morning excursion and then we sail all day to Luxor before saying good-bye to the Osiris and the great Viking staff. Oh - and one side-note, just another reason why we love Viking so much. As we boarded the bus after the second boat ride, Hany our guide came on the microphone and said that while we had only known each other but ten days he felt like we were family and should hear the news.....fifteen minutes ago he became a grandfather for the first time! Wild applause and hearty congratulations from everyone to our trusted friend and guide!
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