This morning we crusied into Aswan the end of the Nile for cruise ships. Here we run into the old damn that was built by the British in the early 1900s and then the High Dam which was built in the 1960s with support from Russia. The High Dam was built because the old damn kept flooding still and they needed to control the water. Although the flooding was good to put silt and rich topsoil onto of the farms alongside the Nile, it also did too much damage. The Dam now being controlled allows irrigation to be managed. As we went up onto the dam with our tour today we could see the lake that was created by the dam. It was once the largest dam but now China has the largest dam.
We also visited a quarry where there was an unfinished obelisk that was still in the quarry where it was originally cut. The reason it was left was that it had a crack. But interesting to see how they cut these stones- since obelisks are one solid piece of granite.
We also visited the Philae Temple which was moved several years ago since with the High Dam built it was submerged in water. It was moved by a German group and took 7 years to move the Temple from one island to another- after having built small dams around it so that they could pull away the water and rebuild stone by stone on another island. The colors had all been washed away and it was about 2000 years ago and you can tell it was during the Greek time since the columns have the Greek influence and have more details in the relief figures.
We visited a papyrus shop where they showed how ancient paper was made and is still made today that artists do depictions on. Papyrus is a reed that we see all over Africa. They take the reed, they peel the strong outer green skin off it. They then slice it into thin slices and then soak the slices of white reed in water for 6 days. They then layer the pieces horizontally and then vertically and press them together under a press between pieces of carpet for 6 days. The natural sugars in the papyrus acts as a glue and glues the strips together into a singular page which then can be dried and used. The paper is very strong and sturdy and some have been found in tombs that are ancient and haven’t deteriorated.
This afternoon we are hanging on the boat for a bit before we go on a felucca ride along the Nile to a Nubian village. Tonight there is to be a Nubian Show in the lounge before dinner.
We have made some nice friends in our group on the boat. There is a couple from the US, one works for NASA and the other is Peter who turned out to be totally interesting and right up Nate’s alley- just did a race across Europe from Britain to Mongolia and then a Tuc Tuc race from the top of India to the bottom of India. Tonight they are joining us for dinner and can’t wait to hear more about his adventures. The other couple is engaged and is from Rio and they are also joining us tonight. They are cute and are here visiting his Egyptian family that lives in Cairo.
We have haggled for all kinds of things. Bought some gifts on the boat and docks going between the Island where they Philae Temple was, also bought a funny little guitar of sorts on the way out of the stone quarry. The haggling is incredible. But what closes the deal is once you are on the bus, the prices drop dramatically ;)
High Five Boat!
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