Cruising Egypt on the footprints of Pharaohs..

 

This day has finally arrived on the calendar, which for us is a synonym for departure: strange, but there it is ... This year too, without wanting to express, we managed to reach the fateful date and for the fifth time since 2001, April 21, we are ready with suitcases in hand, to face a new journey.
This time we're going to do one of the most classic tours that you may know, the ancient Egypt and then the indispensable "Cruise on the Nile" ... something we had in mind for some time and we have carefully prepared, with a visit last September of the beautiful Egyptian Museum in Turin, but above all with Frederick, our son, now big enough to understand and appreciate the impressive parade of artifacts and sites Archaeological awaiting us in the next ten days.
At 9:50 we take off with our car in the direction of Milan and a quarter of an hour later to take the highway to Faenza, and the fog that characterizes this gray spring morning is slowly dissolving.
At 10:40, exceeded Bologna, we leave the A14 to the A1 and after an hour climb over the Po, leaving behind even Plaisance ... When the clock strikes noon we are on the ring road west of Milan and the Lombard capital immediately after we stop in a service area for a quick snack.
Resumption of the road came in sight short of Malpensa airport, leaving the car at the Parking Go (a rest area nearby) and with the shuttle shortly after 13:00, we are led to Terminal 1.
Tracked down the bench Turisanda (our tour operator for this trip), pick up the tickets, boarding and baggage, past the metal detector, we start waiting for our flight to Port B3 ... So just before the 16:00 start embarking sull'Airbus A321 dell'Egyptair that, in slightly late, at 16:22, leaves the floor, identified as flight MS704, turning immediately to the south-east and then towards the Cairo.
We climb above the dense fog today and over again, in practice, from the Via Emilia Apennines first and then to reach the Adriatic coast in the Marche and follow them south a little later so as to overlook the promontory of Gargano, with prominent lakes Hvar and Varano ... then a large expanse of clouds and a few spots of the Mediterranean.
The sun slowly sets and becomes dark while we begin the descent to the Egyptian capital. First sighted the lights of the city and having tacked on it several times at 19:55, finally, we landed (the time, the effect of summer we adopted is the same as in Italy).
I got off the plane we met the representative of Turisanda, helping us to carry out customs formalities, and then call home to reassure, collect your luggage safely and then we move by bus to our hotel.
Cairo, capital of Egypt, with over sixteen million inhabitants is an enormous city, the largest and most populous in Africa, and from one home to over 20% of the entire population of the state, which takes about one 'now to go through and get to the Hotel Le Meridien Pyramid, which we will host for the first two nights of the trip.
When we arrive at the destination we descend from the coach in front of us the spectacular and imposing silhouettes of the pyramids of Cheops and Chefen, who stand out, illuminated at night in Egypt, and came to the reception immediately entrusted us with the keys to room number 507.
The hotel is beautiful and very classy: we go in the room to carry your luggage and then go down the street to buy some 'water and to revise the Pyramids ... a sweet Vision before going to sleep and rest, because tomorrow morning starts dancing ... and dancing!

first part

The alarm signals even before the 7:00, but we get used to get up early, even in the coming days will be very, very bad ... Meanwhile, under our window already crazy horn Egyptians, while higher up the sky, unfortunately, is rather dark and the sun hiding.
We have breakfast and right after we get on the bus to kick off this first day of sightseeing: our group is not numerous, but among the others there is also a family of Como with a child (Luke) of the same age of Frederick. .. and this, perhaps, will make everything a little 'easier, in fact, make friends right away and sit side by side.
Within minutes we arrive opposite the Pyramid of Cheops: no other monument in the world is universally known and acknowledged as the "Great Pyramid", the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world reached almost intact to this day. Built between 2550 and 2530 BC as a tomb for the pharaoh of the same name, stands out with its 137 meters (originally had 146) on the Giza plateau and was for more than four years the tallest building in the world ... so we feel so small in his presence and emotion is very great, only, unfortunately, the day is gray and the whole thing does not stand out as it should, in most lacking in the electric light and do not return soon we will not even visit.
We start on foot to make the rounds of the Pyramid in a clockwise direction, while out of the cloud layer some timid ray of sun, and we immediately attacked by many different vendors and camel drivers ... Taking some photos and then retrace our steps to the ticket office, where fortunately they say we have reached the light inside the monument. We are moving well toward his input and we are about to enter one of the most enigmatic constructions ever conceived by human mind (and not human, according to experts more extreme).
Turning into a narrow passage just three feet high and sixty (who suffers from claustrophobia would do well to stay out), rising steeply sloping toward the heart of the great mass of stone ... Suddenly, the tunnel opens up on a big hall, tall and eight feet long forty-seven, built perfectly, rising again to the king's room, a square space, with the bottom of the granite sarcophagus, found already empty and looted ... or perhaps, as some claim, the burial chamber of Khufu is yet to be found! ... It 'really exciting to be in place under a thousand guesses, in the place where Napoleon spent a night too (and it is said that leaving was never the same), so full of adrenaline when we come back outdoors, thankfully The clouds seem to thin out and while the sun, which is the open, the temperature increases considerably.
Wander the Pyramid of Cheops, this time from the right, and so we can see the close and almost as great Pyramid of Khafre, who, presenting the top yet much of the original coating, reaches 136 meters in height ... Khafre, the son, did not dare to defy her father, Cheops, and stopped a few feet below.
Continuing the tour we arrive on the south side of the "Great Pyramid", the Solar Boat Museum, where a boat is kept in cedar of Lebanon, which presumably was intended, according to the beliefs of those times, to accompany the pharaoh in 'afterlife. The boat was found, dismantled in one of many to be located on site and is of considerable size, with its 43 meters long ... truly remarkable!
We carry out the visit with the foot of the strange slippers, not to ruin the wooden floor of the museum, and when we return to the sunlight, the sky was again covered with clouds ... What a pity!
By bus we travel on the rise from which you can see all three pyramids, even the smallest, that of Menkaure, the grandson of Khufu ... a beautiful sight, no doubt about it, enhanced by the fact that Cairo is not seen and seems to be in the middle of the desert, but the greyness of the sky merges with the sand and not the Pyramids stand out as they should.
As the morning draws to a close we go to see even the mythical Sphinx, part of the funerary complex of Chefen: it depicts the pharaoh, with the body of a lion, and gives the impression of watching the three pyramids, which stand out brilliantly behind his imposing and universally known figure ... sorry only for the thick haze today, due in large part also to the smog of Cairo, which is terrifying.
About noon we take possession of our coaches and with that we move towards the center of the Egyptian capital. So we stop for lunch at a floating restaurant along the Nile ... lunch fast, because shortly after 13:00 we are back on the road.

second part

The day is intense and the afternoon was spent visiting the famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo of its kind, of course, the biggest in the world, despite the archaeological finds of this great civilizations are scattered to the four corners of the planet.
Founded in 1858 by the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, the museum over time it has gradually expanded to accommodate over 130,000 pieces (and tens of thousands locked up in stores) ... Of course you can not see them all in detail, so we are led on the ground floor in a magnificent overview of the most important sculpture, beginning with the stunning three triads of King Menkaure in jet-black basalt, finally, drunk with sculpture, the base of the ladder leads upstairs.
Mounted the steps we turn to the right, along a walkway, to visit the eerie hall of royal mummies ... In a silence "gravestone" searches so gl'incredibili faces sixteen pharaohs, including the famous Seti I and his son Ramses II.
Emerged from the "world of the dead" we are preparing to enter the most important section of all: that wing of the museum contains the most amazing finds ... or the funeral of Tutankhamen. One after another marched all the objects found in 1922 by the archaeologist Howard Carter in the only royal tomb ever found intact, not sacked and packed with all its treasures ... They are really extraordinary, led by a fantastic throne, the solid gold sarcophagus and the astonishing form: perfect in every detail, we can not help but go back to see more times ... And to think that Tutankhamun died very young and was a pharaoh almost insignificant for the history of Egypt ... so do not dare imagine what would have been intact, for example, the tomb of Ramses II, who reigned over sixty years.
With eyes full of wonder now we go to the exit of the museum and shortly after 16:00 we make our way by bus to the Hotel Meridien. Traffic is hellish and arrive at its destination at 17:30, just in time to allow Luke and Frederick to take a bath, but the fun is short because the pool closes at 18:00 ... We go up then everyone in the room to take a shower and get ready for dinner.
The evening is short, given the inevitable fatigue accumulated nell'intensissima day's events, one of those days that will remain etched forever in our memory, plus an alarm will sound very early tomorrow morning (at 3:00), so that we can leaving Cairo for Luxor and the south of Egypt, and in light of this soon take refuge in the room to look a bit 'providential rest, so as to best proceed in this fantastic adventure with the Egyptian civilization.

The alarm clock complete with the darkness beyond the window is very hard, but we have no alternative, because there a quarter of an hour will pass the porter to pick up the suitcases.
We get sleepy to make an early breakfast and a little later, even before 4:00, just get on the bus that will take us to the airport.
Everything goes through the streets of Cairo not too deserted and soon reach their destination ... A little 'sorry to leave the capital because we are conscious of the fact that there was nothing to be seen other than the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, but we must stick to the programs Turisanda and maybe, who knows, one day we will return to complete the visit.
Let's make a fast check-in and in less' no time we boarded the flight MS401 (a large Airbus A330) that at 5:40, right on time (even if we were in Switzerland), leaves the floor directly in Luxor .. . Just long enough to gain altitude, then a quick snack and we begin to descend toward our goal, so at 6:28, not even an hour after departure, we landed at the airport of Luxor, where we find waiting for attendants Turisanda .
Hurry formalities and baggage retrieval are led on the banks of the Nile, our ship is the Miss Esadora II, who will accompany us in navigation along the longest river in the world, the discovery of ancient Egypt.
The great ship seems at first sight, elegant, clean and welcoming, like our cabin, the number 309 ... Places them pack up and go once the costumes worn on the upper deck in search of the pool, so at 7:30 we are already lying on the couch, the sun burns the skin, and are virtually the only guests on the ship, as many will arrive with the next flight and others are taking an excursion, which we will do today in the afternoon.
Shortly after 9:00 someone finally arrives: two boys of Trieste (Susy and Denis) who were with us in Cairo and with them we decided to descend to earth to take a short walk to Luxor.
As soon as we left our floating hotel assaulted by taxi drivers and drivers of cabs, which offer us a tour of the town, so after a long negotiation we yield to a driver for twenty Egyptian pounds (less than three euros) makes us go all five on his gig ... The tour program allows us to flow out in a particular way through the colorful local markets: striking and characteristic ... all in all a great experience, and in this way we pass a pleasant morning.
Returned to the ship met lunch, while Frederick finds her boyfriend, Luke, and together in the early afternoon you grant a long swim.
At 17:00 o'clock, called by our guides Moustafa and Ashraf, finally get out from the boat for the planned excursion ... We are thus led, in short, to the nearby Temple of Luxor: monumental building erected in the fourteenth century BC by Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
The sun is already close to the horizon when we arrive in front of the ruins and do a great race to be able to take some good photos, at the cost of losing the full explanation of Ashraf After that, I try to enjoy the exceptional magnetism of the place: his amazing rise impetuous columns apart millennia and it is said, inter alia, that before them, in 1799, the army of Napoleon, astonished, he performed a spontaneous "presented arms". .. are truly impressive views and create highly evocative, striking is the relentless parade of so-called sphinxes before the pylon, fronted by an enormous and spectacular obelisk (orphan of his twin, currently located on the Place de la Concorde in Paris).
With the coming of darkness the temple is also illuminated with exquisite play of light and is another show that we can enjoy at your leisure before returning for dinner at Miss Esadora ... A little later then, with the wonderful memories still negl'occhi the Temple of Luxor, we go to sleep, because tomorrow morning is another pleasant laid up early.

The alarm rings at 4:20 ... is a luxury almost an hour and a half of sleep in more than yesterday!
We leave the ship that the sun has just risen and already around 6:00 we are opposite the pier, fronted by the inevitable parade of sphinxes, the temple of Karnak, built over 1300 years and considered, after the Pyramids of Giza, the largest, gigantic and magnificent Pharaonic monument ever built.
We follow step by step comprehensive descriptions of the guide and, after passing the second pillar, we are surprised by the incredible forest of columns in the great hall hypostyle: 122 is 14.40 meters high and 12 huge, high 22.40 meters .. . a true marvel of engineering, considering the time (word of surveyor of the XXI century!) ... It feels really small in the face of such works and I confess that I have heard that only the face of enormous giant sequoias in California ...
Later the other ruins are beautiful, with amazing obelisks in front, but also with the mummy-shaped pillars and the sacred lake, in front of the Insect Gigante, still the subject of alleged propitiatory rites ... and again courtyards and temples still ... ma non si può descrivere tutto ciò che gli occhi vedono!
At the end of the explanations of Ashraf, the sun is high enough in the sky that we can take a beautiful series of photos, so cycle through the Temple of Karnak trying to grasp the most evocative sights and would remain in place longer than allowed, but we must go slowly toward the exit because the program today appears to be really intense.
We climb aboard and climbed over the Nile by means of a bridge going to Luxor (or Thebes, but also Weset) West ... We move away dall'alveo the river and arrived on the first desert hills, where are the most important archaeological sites in the region.
First we go to see the so-called Valley of the Queens, located at the base of two high rocky cliffs, where, to the detriment of the name, at the time were buried not only queens, but princes and courtiers. Scattered here and there, there are over eighty tombs, some of them very interesting, like that of Queen Nefertari, but, for five years, is closed for renovations. We console so those visiting the Prince Amunhirkhepshef (son of Ramses II) and Queen Titi, full of beautiful paintings.
Let's go back to the bus while the heat is decided to increase despite the time still immature, and past the ruins of significant Ramesseum, the funerary temple of Ramses II, we arrive at Deir el-Bahir, which is another funerary temple: that of Queen Hatshepsut.
We descend from our vehicle and for a moment the thought is that the 58 tourists were killed right here, less than ten years ago, infamous Islamic terrorists ... With a shiver runs down my spine then we climb on a train that takes us behind the monument.
Even the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the only woman who ever ruled over Egypt as a pharaoh in 1500 BC, despite the apparent restoration is extremely interesting and highly spectacular views are wasted thanks to the original architecture, terraces and then with the wonderful arcades and colonnades, the background of harsh, rocky landscape.
Rich experience of this new road we take, never tire of archaeological wonders, and penetrating even deeper into the desert, arriving at the famous Valley of the Kings of universality among these barren Theban Hills, pharaohs were buried nearly all of the New Kingdom, beginning from 1500 BC, some for over four hundred years.
The tombs found in the site are 63, but not all are interesting ... The most beautiful and precious are permanently closed to the public, such as that of Seti I, and in turn can be visited only a few, in fact today we have opened ten, but with our business we can see only three ... The guide thus chooses for us: First, that of Ramses VII, falling short of expectations and, indeed, somewhat disappointing, then that of Ramses IV, charming and exceptionally bright colors, finally, passing in front of the entrance to the small but famous tomb of Tutankhamen, that of Ramses III, enigmatic, enormous, and also very beautiful ... Alternatively the latter could visit the tomb of Ramses IX, according to those who saw it, really interesting, and in light of all this we can not understand why we have brought in the first, but there We adapt. .. We go out anyway fulfilled also by the Valley of the Kings: Sure, you would like to see everything and even more, but neither can we be content.
The morning draws to a close when our coach and regained on the way back we stopped to capture the evocative Colossi of Memnome, two massive statues, 18 meters high, dominating, lonely places among the cultivated fields and the Valley of the Nile Re ... At one time they were placed in front of the funerary temple of Amenhotep III, was completely destroyed, and now seem to be two enigmatic sentinels placed to guard the ancient ruins of Thebes and stand out beautifully in the azure sky of Egypt.
With the sun almost overhead back to the modern Luxor crossing the Nile on a distinctive and colorful boat, then go for a walk along the anonymous tourist souk, while expecting some members of the group visit the Temple of Luxor, which we we did last night.
The meeting point for everyone is in front of the bus at 13:00 and with relief we board looking a bit 'of relief before leaving with an armed escort (inevitable measure of security against the vile Islamic terrorism), for nearby town of Esna, where she awaits the Miss E-Sador, which started this morning so as to overcome, without loss of time, a lock that bars the course of the great river.
Esna is just over 50 kilometers from Luxor, so in less than an hour we arrive at the destination and, while all climb onto the ship, we are given fifteen minutes during which, in the company of two guys from Trieste, we rushed to see the Temple of Khnum, Roman and therefore relatively recent.
The building, which remains intact only a room, is recessed to nine feet deep in a pit in the center of the village and, despite the number of sites seen today, proves to be very interesting, with the roof still intact and beautiful hieroglyphics on the walls and columns ... Reluctant to observe the details, but time passes quickly and we have to run back toward the ship, which sails as soon as we climb aboard.
It's almost 15:00 and finally we can have lunch, then we go on the upper deck to enjoy the sun and surf ... In a beautiful quiet so proceed between the two shores of the Nile, green and characterized by an uninterrupted parade of palms ... The sun's rays heat up, but at the same time blowing a nice breeze and a wonderful environment sail until sunset and the town of Edfu.
When the evening shadows fall we go to our cabins, we tidied and we go to consume the welcome cocktail offered by Miss Esadora, then we go to dinner ... Later spent some 'time with the kids and a game, then we retreat in the room because, in fact, we are standing by forever ... And what about the amazing day just ended: the adjectives are wasted and it is better jealously shut her up in the safe of memories.

Unbelievable but true: the alarm is, calmly, at 8:30, in fact some of the guests of the ship went ashore to visit the Temple of Edfu, while we, having chosen the longer cruise, we will do on the way back .
Shortly before 10:00, all came, we set sail with its bow facing south and in the usual context magnificent, made of palm trees and glimpses of rural life in Egypt, proceeding towards the town of Kom Ombo (the next stage), trying to alleviate the hot sitting on the edge of the pool.
The heat is really oppressive midday and well over 35 degrees, so we go to lunch and then we retire for a while 'in the cool of our cabin ... As we leave a few minutes before 15:00, when the Miss Esadora is docked at Kom Ombo, and prepare to go to visit the so-called Temple of two Gods.
Built in the Ptolemaic era, then in the first century BC, the building, just speculating, was dedicated to the god in his left Haroeris, falcon-headed, and the right side to Sobek, god represented with the shape of a crocodile, and was, like today, right beside the Nile, in a dominant position and really evocative.
Given the proximity we go to visit the site on foot and in a few minutes we are inside ... Most of the temple has unfortunately destroyed, but the ruins are really impressive and what remains, as always, is exceptional, with beautiful hieroglyphs in relief and between the representation of a calendar very similar to the present: with 12 months but with only three seasons ... On some columns stand then, after millennia, still in good condition original colors ... unbelievable
We stop at almost two hours, with all the time to observe it in detail, but we notice the secret passage way and the place where the priest spoke without being seen, making believe the deception that was the oracle at do so, and then the Nilometer, a large pit that measures the level of the river and decreed prosperity or famine ... fascinating!
At 17:00, back into the ship will resume shipping: we leave behind we continue toward Kom Ombo and Aswan. Always surrounded by beautiful scenery as we enjoy a fiery sunset from the deck of the Miss Esadora and later to dinner, just as we moor in the dock of the most important city in the far south of Egypt.
The program of the evening will be a celebration in traditional dress, a nice idea, but can not find many accessions, because tomorrow morning we will visit the temples of Abu Simbel, Lake Nasser, near the border with Sudan, and the alarm is provided even at night ...

This is a record for the alarm and, they say, will not happen again during the trip: the bedside phone rings at 2:45! ... Needless to say sleepy, we prepare for the excursion and how many zombies we appear, one after another, in the atrium of the ship ... A scene that becomes even funnier when they tell us we can look up the pillow to sleep on the way, so at 3:30 we move to embrace all our soft fetishes, just get on the bus and head south, with armed escort, in darkness of the African night.
While we continue to do what our body wants to do at this hour, that is sleeping, the sun rises, we cross that imaginary line which is the Tropic of Cancer and shortly before 7:00 we arrive at Abu Simbel. We descend from our vehicle and start the visit, because the armed escort to Aswan depart at 9:00.
E 'emotion really walk around an artificial hill and found, suddenly, in sight of the universality famous Sun Temple of Ramses II, built, or rather, did carve homonymous Pharaoh almost 3300 years ago as a symbol of his power and as a warning to the inhabitants of Nubia and who was about to enter Egypt from the southern part of the kingdom.
There are no words to describe the beauty of the four colossi of Ramses II seated 20 feet tall and finely sculpted faces (one is headless, unfortunately, lost after an earthquake in 27 BC). Complement the monumental facade other smaller statues, representing the family of Pharaoh ...
There are no words to describe also the beauty of the interior, rich in carvings and gigantic pillars in the forms of ruling and then, after all, the shrine, with statues of the pharaoh in the midst of three other deities, which were illuminated by a beam of rising sun (all except the god of darkness, Ptah) each February 21 and October 21, the respective dates of the birthday and coronation of Ramses II (unbelievable but true) ... Today, unfortunately, is no longer so, but the phenomenon is repeated albeit a day late. This is because the Temple, in the sixties, has been cut in over a thousand pieces and moved 210 meters back and 61 higher for saving it from invasion of the waters of Lake Nasser baby ... A titanic effort, made possible largely through Italy and the master cutters of Carrara marble.
Once out of the Temple of the Sun, we also see the nearby Temple of Hathor and beautiful Queen Nefertari, beloved wife of Ramses II, much smaller, but still impressive, with six huge statues of the royal couple that seem to emerge from the rocks, and then with the temple proper, which penetrates into the hill for 24 meters.
The two hours to pass in the blink of an eye, and we move to the right of the site to sample the contemporary view of the two temples, before leaving definitely behind a bit 'sorry.
On the way back, with the light of day, we can also see the vast expanses of desert on either side of the road, including a mirage beautiful and good!
Shortly after noon we again returned to the ship in Aswan and lunch, then go on the upper deck, but strictly only in the shade because the sun crush his hand hard, and we concede a single dip in the pool before going there to prepare for visits in the afternoon.
We start from the pier next to Miss Esadora, around 16:00, for a short trip by felucca (the typical Egyptian sailing boat) on the big river. Tack so peacefully until the neighbor Elephantine Island, the historic piece of land inhabited since ancient times and now disfigured by a huge hotel and another under construction ... We notice on the opposite bank of the Nile, the great mausoleum of the Aga Khan, who is buried here since 1957, but the Italians is more of the child known as founder of the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia ...
Navigation in polished granite stones characteristic of this stretch of river bed, which resemble large pachyderms, gave the name to the island that hosts them (but can be also associated with Gallura, Sardinia and the Aga Khan, who watches silently the hill in front) and then landed in the vicinity of the Old Cataract Hotel, a historic hotel also appeared in the film "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie, concluding a great experience river.
Near our port is the Nubian Museum, our guide, Moustafa, has the bright idea to visit us this afternoon, despite being in the programs of tomorrow, thus easing the ever-dreaded alarm clock ... The museum is thus shown to be all things interesting, with beautiful statues and mummies scary, but only the distant relative of the one in Cairo.
Back to the ship that is almost dark and eat dinner one might also see a spectacle of dance and Egyptian music ... but we are too tired after the endless, albeit magnificent day and soon we give in to the temptation to go to sleep, even before you start the show.

It 'a pleasure to sleep until 7:30 ... even if it's all virtual, in fact last night in Egypt came into force DST and in fact would be 6:30!
On the agenda this morning is the tour of the surroundings of Aswan, so after breakfast we move to the old dam, the first built by the English at the end of the nineteenth century to thwart the impetuous course of the Nile.
After passing the dam we arrive at a pier from which we sail, shortly after, to visit the Temple of Phil. The building, dating from the Ptolemaic era, is indeed on an island, but not in the original, deep waters of the Nile following the construction of the High Dam, but on another, virtually reshaped the forms of previous ... and, like the temples of Abu Simbel, this was an undertaking to say the least ... Pharaoh
The arrival on the placid waters of the river makes it more impressive, and it is only the prelude to what lies ahead: the remains of the Temple dedicated to Isis appears remarkably intact and are a wonderful fusion of Egyptian and greek-roman architecture, only sin that the Nile has the imprint left on the walls of his presence, in fact for over half a century and early twentieth century, cyclically flooded the site, but especially sorry to see the numerous reliefs mutilated hands of the Copts, who transformed the Christian era Temple church.
We stayed a couple of hours looking for Phil, in addition to the main building, including the original and near Trajan's Kiosk, a temple that later we can see from the river while we complete, on the way back, the circumnavigation of the island. We thus leave behind the Temple of Isis, but we are disappointed because you will return in the evening to watch the spectacle of sound and lights.
Regained the mainland are led to visit the Aswan High Dam, a huge barrier, almost 4 kilometers long, built in the sixties, who created Lake Nasser: huge reservoir expanded to over 6,000 square kilometers, with a length of almost 500 ! ... but from the point of view is nothing exceptional scenic ... The better Temple Kalabsha you see in the distance and ask to visit, but I say it is virtually impossible and would be a big problem from the bureaucratic point of view, in fact it can be done only by taking part in a cruise on Lake Nasser (but will not it?).
With the High Dam was completed in practice the hike in the morning and returning to the ship we stopped at a shop selling essences special arrangement with the tour operators (like only stop during the trip, and it is good, because frankly I was expecting some more) ... We are naturally entangled demonstrations and make a small purchase, then back on Miss Esadora, lunch before going to the upper deck, outdoor ... but strictly only in the shade today because the temperature was well over forty degrees!
Across the river, opposite the place where we are moored, you can see the archaeological site of Tombs of the Nobles, which might be interesting to visit and which arouses my curiosity, but not in programs and even tried to go from only, with a pedestrian ferry that sails from the vicinity, I am discouraged by the heat more than anything shocking to find it closed and fear, because you do not see any tourists walking through the remains scattered in aridity hill.
He spent the hottest hours of the day however, we descend from the ship for a ride "do it yourself" in the souks of Aswan ... where we find some typical situation, but everything is for the most part, extremely turisticizzato and a bit 'disappointing ... In the end we do a little shopping, of course at the end of exhausting negotiations, even fun, but it is disconcerting to the motto of many sellers Egyptians: "If you've bought ... already screwed!" ... and with this phrase echoes in his head that we return to our floating accommodation just in time for dinner.
With the arrival of darkness broken down bus to go see the spectacle of sound and lights Temple of Phil ... Yeah it's exciting to reach the island with the glow of a moon still growing, but when later the old stones are wrapped in enigmatic light beams, with the narration of the story of Osiris in the background, the context is wonderfully evocative. We so enjoy the show until late and we return tired but satisfied, on the ship now at midnight ... Luckily tomorrow morning the alarm is free and we get up just in time for breakfast before they close the restaurant.

We wake up while Miss Esadora, already for several hours, we sailed north, and in the meantime has also docked at Kom Ombo, enabling guests to some new rose yesterday on board visit the temple of two gods ... When we go on the upper deck for systems with sun loungers proceed so already shipped to Edfu.
It is not an ideal day in terms of weather and thick fog covering everything, with the milky sky and the river wrapped in a somewhat 'spectral ... then over time the mist clears, but the sky is white, driven also by the favor of the current, just before noon we arrive at Edfu.
Berthed in the town and after half an hour waiting to disembark to get on a bus in a few mimuti brings us to the sight of the Temple of Horus (the falcon-headed god), dating back to the Ptolemaic and therefore relatively recent, but built with the canons of the ancient Pharaonic architecture. Thanks to its excellent state of preservation (the best of all Egypt) thus allows to get an idea of how they should be the most temples in previous centuries.
The huge pylon, fronted by two large granite falcons, places in the vast courtyard of the tenders, colonnade on three sides, leading to the entrance hall hypostyle, dark but virtually intact, with the two side stairs (now closed) that give access to the roof ... Too bad that, like Phil, many carvings have been hammered and disfigured in Christian times.
We carry out the visit in an overwhelming heat (well over forty degrees again today!) And despite our full exploitation of the two hours available, fully enjoying the wonders that this archaeological site has been able to offer us ... But in the end, rather than proven, just get on the bus looking for a bit 'of relief and pleasure we return to the ship for lunch.
In the early afternoon, while we continue browsing, let's go to upper deck, but it is a real oven ... so we go back an hour in the room and then retry, but do not stop on a sun bed and go directly to the pool.
Proceeding always between two rows of palm trees, a little after 17:00, we arrive at Esna, and we get in line to pass through the closed but not a small thing, in fact, until 20:00 hours when there is dinner, we still waiting ... and we have plenty of time to eat, because we move only an hour later ... So finally we can attend all the operations of opening and closing of the bulkheads can make the jump altitude of about six meters, the artificial barrier imposed by the Nile.
In the dark and then continue sailing towards Luxor and after spending a pleasant evening chatting under the stars we draw four, four in our apartments, putting an end worthy even on this day in character, more than anything else, for transfer.

So as not to completely lose the habit to get up early, in this last full day of the trip that will pass in the land of Egypt, the alarm sounds at 6:30.
We moored in the dock again at Luxor and is scheduled to visit two temples in the neighborhood, we strive for the whole day ... So let's start by bus, lunch boxes in hand and with the armed escort north through pastoral landscapes and interesting real Egyptian villages, in addition to a multitude of checkpoints, because the government keeps us in particular to tourism without which the country's economy would collapse.
After about three hours of travel we arrived at Abydos, the historic center dedicated to the worship of Osiris, where every Egyptian hoped to go on a pilgrimage at least once in their life ... a bit 'as the Mecca for the Muslims today ... Of the ancient ruins there remains much to be part of the Temple of Seti I, Pharaoh had built the homonymous (father of Ramses II) around 1300 BC, but is this enough to justify the visit and made the road to get there.
The building is less attractive to outsiders, with the pylon virtually disappeared and the present facade composed of square pillars anonymous, but for the interiors, which are home to magnificent hieroglyphic paintings, the best ever of all Egypt. Indeed, in room hypostyle waterways and so-called sanctuaries, the bas-reliefs, brightly colored, are a real marvel ... and remained a long time looking at, not neglecting even the most interesting galleries of the Kings, on the wall engraved with nearly all the scrolls of the predecessors of Seti I.
Spent a good hour and a half between the enigmatic stones of the temple we are coming away satisfied and, given the hour, we stop for lunch in the shade in a nearby park, which seems prepared for the occasion.
Is already quite hot and returned as soon as we resume the bus route. We pass another fine series of checkpoints and at 15:00 o'clock we are facing the Temple of Hathor Dendera, dating back to greek-roman and then building around 125 BC and 60 d.C. ... E 'than the last site plan and this is beautiful, almost intact, but not painted like that of Abydos.
Only one room, that of Osiris, offers its beautiful colors, but the Temple of Dendera is the only one on which you can climb right on top ... As in the Temple of Horus at Edfu (Hathor, the goddess of joy from the cow's head, was considered companion of Horus) A spiral staircase climbs to the roof, following the path that follows the falcon to climb high in the sky, and there is a chapel ceiling depicts the sky and the twelve zodiac signs, then go down, as the prey dive along a straight ladder, which has a single ramp, and you return to the monumental hypostyle hall, to complete a wonderful journey into 'enigmatic world of the ancient Egyptians.
Despite the heat, which even today has reached very high levels (and I dare not think how it can be in summer), completed in a magnificent environment also visit the Temple of Dendera, which together with that of Abydos has allowed us to conclude worthily fateful overview of archaeological sites ... and we can consider ourselves lucky, because these two temples, considered until recently threatened attacks, are not included in the traditional tourist itineraries, but they deserve the full day that he wanted to dedicate Turisanda.
Resumed the stock we are reaching the Miss Esadora ... Through the Egyptian campaign takes place so the last part of the excursion, while the holiday is coming now irrevocably over.
We come to the ship that are almost 18:00 and for Frederick, there is still time for a swim ... then we go room to arrange the suitcases for the impending departure and prepare for dinner.
In the evening, we greet and thank Moustafa and Ashraf, our assistant and guide, who have done their job (except perhaps to visit the tomb of Ramses VII in the Valley of the Kings), then we see a small dance performance by Arab and finally we draw Room successfully concluded this last day of cruising the Nile.

To round off the series of up early today, the alarm goes off at 5:00 ... This time we expect the plane to Cairo.
We have breakfast and then left the room, or rather, the cab 309, and then, at 6:00 o'clock, also Miss Esadora, who has fulfilled in all material respects. Half an hour later we are at the airport of Luxor: boarding the bags directly to Milan, we check in and we started waiting for the Egyptair flight MS132, so, in short, we are sitting sull'Airbus A330 that detaches at 8:08 ground directly in the Egyptian capital, where it landed less than an hour later at 8:56.
Complied with all the cumbersome formalities of shipment and despite having three hours parking time flies ... this way, we pass again to check in, we greet Denis and Susy departing for Rome, and we started waiting for the flight to Milan MS705 door number 5 ... We should not wait that long, and almost immediately boarded another Airbus A330 dell'Egyptair that, practically right on time at 12:25, takes off in the direction of Italy ... We settled in their seats and power we can see what flows beneath us, in the meantime, however, carry the clock back one hour and I resynchronize the Italian zone.
Fila away smoothly and we landed at Malpensa at 14:55 ... We'll collect our luggage, we salute Luca (Frederick's boyfriend) and all his family and then we lose a little 'time to denounce the corruption of a suitcase, so we withdraw our car, the Parking Go, only to 16:20, and with the head towards home.
At 17:00, after passing Milan, take the A1 to follow as the sky darkens and soon also begins to rain, or rather, hail, and the temperature drops to 13 degrees (compared to a gap of over 40 past few days) ... and this fact helps us, twenty minutes later, to identify the river that are bypassed, which is the Po and the Nile.
The traffic is intense, given the spring bridge, but running smoothly and at 18:40 we are in Bologna. We take the A14, we follow up to Faenza, where we leave at 18:55 and just over quarter of an hour later, at 19:13, happy conclusion of the holiday at the gate of our house.
An exciting journey has just finished a journey in the footsteps of legendary pharaohs and the most amazing civilizations ever appeared on earth, a unique journey that will always remain the cornerstone of our memories.