Egypt is full of dreams, mysteries, memories.

- Janet Erskine Stuart

 

I took a cruise down the Nile, from Luxor in the north to Aswan dam and back to Luxor. We were on a small cruise ship with only twenty cabins and silver service meals. During the day, the heat was incredible and almost easy to miss as it was so dry. The tours were all done before the break of dawn and we were back on the boat before 11 am.

The temples are mind-blowing, in the desert heat and dry, colours remain on hidden crevices, rich blues and sharp yellows. Bas-reliefs are still sharply defined and intricately done. The carvings and statues, despite their age, remain largely unworn.

From the deck, as the boat sailed along the Nile during the afternoons, the edges are the only green, the vibrant fertile soil and the waters of the Nile turning a desert into a cradle of life. When you get closer to the banks, you see how gloriously green the Nile is.

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Aswan
Aswan

The city has been southern Egypt's strategic and commercial gateway since antiquity. It carries a distinctly African vibe, its lively souks and streets dotted with distinctive Nubian villages and splendid mud-brick houses, awash with colour and pattern.

Edfu
Edfu

Edfu, a city on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt, is the home to the incredible Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. This grand temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, is a spectacle of ancient Egyptian architecture.

Luxor
Luxor

Luxor was our embarkation point for a week long cruise down the Nile to Aswan and back. We had time to go to the museum in Luxor before boarding our small twenty cabin boat and settling in. Luxor is incredible, aside from its bustling nature as a city it is a hub for history.

Life in the Nile

As the sun sets, the colours are glorious.

Each evening, a new towel creation waited for us from the housekeeping staff.