My alarm went off at 3:45 AM for a 5:00 AM departure for Abu Simbel. We arrived there about 9:00 AM after stopping at the most disgusting rest stop I have ever seen. And then they have the audacity to charge you money to use it. Our guide, Tarik, spend about 45 minutes telling us all about Abu Simbel. We watched a UNESCO video on how in 1968 they moved the entire two temples at Abu Simbel up 200 feet so they would not be covered with water as the result of the Aswan Dam and the forming of Lake Nasser. The site is dominated by the twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. They are rock cut and located near the border of Sudan. I think that this was my favorite. Good pictures were very difficult because the crowds were huge.

We left Abu Simbel for the 3 1/2 hour ride back to the ship. After a quick lunch and a change of clothes, eight of us left for a ride on a felucca on the Nile River. A felucca is a traditional wooden sailing boat that consists of one or two sails. What was really fun about this excursion was the fact that one of the men was a professional sailor. I can’t describe how glorious it was sailing. It was late in the day and so calm and peaceful.

We we got back to the ship we had to get ready for Egyptian night. The buffet was all Egyptian food and everyone got dressed up in Egyptian attire. Music and dancing after dinner. A fun, fun night.

Finally in bed at 11:00 PM after being up since 3:34 AM.