« »

Dance Up the Nile River

For a peaceful getaway that allows you to read and laze in the steamy desert, hope onto a flatboat and slink down the Nile.  You embark from Cairo, which is a thriving metropolis filled with favorite franchises.  Evenings within the hotels lining the river entice lovers to take languishing walks amid the chains of lights arranged on sundecks and strung on boats.

The Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx of ...

Image via Wikipedia

The Egyptian Museum is a must see.  It houses artifacts from the numerous Egyptian eras.  Outside, the pyramids have been stripped and are bare.  Most of the wall paintings have faded and the etchings are sometimes faint.  The preserved statuary and treasures have been moved into the museum where you can get a close look at the amazing craftsmanship.

There are several pyramids to see in the area surrounding Cairo, and each offers a distinct adventure.  To reach the Giza Plateau where Cheops and Chephren overlook the Sphinx you can arrive on camelback with the heat from the desert brushing the hair off your face and the music from Sir Laurence of Arabia playing inside your head.  There are several additional pyramid sites, such as Zoser which opened to the public recently and Meidum which must be unlocked in order to enter.  After sunset, you can visit a hookah bar and then stroll to the Sphinx and watch the identical lazar-light show you’ve admired when the character, Jaws, tries to murder James Bond.  Careful with the taxi rides when traveling through Cairo.  The drivers tend to find routes far from your destination to increase the prices.  Be prepared to either enjoy the ride or consider paying a tourist escort to haggle on your behalf.

After a few days of sightseeing in Cairo, board one of numerous flatboat cruise ships located on the Nile River.  Each is designed like a gilded casino with crystal chandeliers and elaborate Louis IVX furniture.  The cabins are small but serviceable with European electrical outlets and simple furnishings.  The flatboats are smaller than ocean cruisers and the staff provides personalized attention to your dietary preferences and tour excursion choices.  The intimate dining halls encourage passengers to become fast friends.

Expect to be entertained by dancing and performing theatrical skits with your new pals.  The gift shops sell belly dancing outfits and Arabic robes for costume parties.  A popular game is dancing in circles while the band determines the moments for diving on the floor to grab spoons.  Passengers stay awake well into the wee hours of the following morning, celebrating the alluring setting of fertile banks and contrasting vastness of the arid desert.

As you voyage down the Nile, merchants pull up in colorful rowboats.  They toss their goods over the rails, calling out good will and quoting the prices.  If you are interested you toss money to them and somehow, their young boys manage to catch the coins before they fall into the dark Nile.  If you lack the impulse to purchase a lace tablecloth or cotton dress, you will receive another choice in your hands as soon as you drop the goods.

With each city, you learn about a particular time of Egyptian history.  Destinations with impressive complexes include Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.  You can take a day trip by airplane to see the giant images of Ramses II.  The boats dock at small communities such as Esna, where the surprisingly complete Temple of Khnum merges with the present day homes.  The Temple of Horus in Edfu reveals man’s destructive nature during wartime.  Men striped the temple of its original artwork and replaced it with Christian icons which were removed.  Aswan offers shops and restaurants, but don’t stray because the residents have a way of staring that makes you feel vulnerable.

The playful energy and constant activities are ideal for collegiate travelers.  Although more than one time I didn’t feel safe, the walking tours are comfortable for children.  Keep in mind the intense heat during the summer months, which deterred all passengers except those accustomed to the temperatures in Florida from taking several tours when the humid heat reached over 100 degrees.

Comments (2)

 

  1. admin admin says:

    Hi, good article. We finally managed to publish your great works:)

    Sorry for the delay!!

  2. Janie Bill Janie Bill says:

    I am honored to be published and didn’t mind the wait. Thank you!

Leave a Reply