Abu Simbel

Our day started too early as we were facing a 3 hour drive through the desert to visit one of Egypt's iconic temples, Abu Simbel.

 This temple was threatened with destruction when the high dam was built in Aswan resulting in rising water levels.  UNESCO stepped in and at a cost of 55 million dollars in the 1960's the temple was carefully dismantled and moved.  It had been originally carved into a mountain and so the engineers had to build a  new mountain into which the temple was placed.  An amazing feat if engineering!

The temple itself is amazing.  The iconic statues of Ramses II stand at its entrance. 

It was built to commemorate a victory over the Hitites and the interior contains carvings depicting the battle and giving thanks to the gods for the victorious battle.  It is a remarkable temple and of particular note, shows the use of lions during the battles as weapons.  These animals were trained to attack and are shown with the Pharoh who reportedly led the battles himself.

Alongside this temple stands a smaller one dedicated to Ramses first wife and therefore Queen of Egypt, Nefritari.  Thus temple is smaller but I liked it better as it had a more delicate touch and the decorations celebrated music and arts.

We were also able to see Lake Nasser, the largest man made lake in the world, some 550 miles long.  How bizarre to see crystal blue water stretching out to the horizon in a desert!

Inevetably we had a three hour drive back to the ship and we were able to see the Sahara roll by. There were land formations created on the millennia by volcanoes.  When the sun was high enough we were able to see a mirage...shinning the distance and it was easy to see why thirsty travelers were desperate for water!

Our bus took us back to the ship for a late lunch and we rested for the remainder of the afternoon.  We packed up and spent our last night on the ship enjoying a show by natives of the Nubian Areas of Egypt, to the south of Aswan.