LOTS of Stuff

Luxor Temple
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Ok... Here we go...

So we were down in Aswan and signed up for the Abu Simbel trip... The trip leaves the hotel at 0330HRS and takes a long drive south to near the Sudan Border.

But before we decide to go on the trip we think it's a really good idea to buy about 20 beers for the three of us and sit on the roof of the hotel and drink them. Amazing view, much hilarity and good memories... But not much sleep.

Abu Simbel has seriously been the highlight of the things I've seen in Egypt... It's just an amazing site on the banks of Nasser Lake and is without a doubt the coolest site I've seen. I'll upload pictures tomorrow, but today I need sleep... But let me finish the stories first.

3 Hours to Abu Simbel, 3 Hours back to Aswan... The driver of our mini-bus was a pretty grumpy and didn't really want to help us... in fact he was getting in a fight with Don about going to see one specific site. But then, out of no where (we called it our secret weapon) Daniel pulls out his Arabic!

You should have seen the drivers face, he just about crapped himself when Dan started talking to him in his own language... Dan's family is from Lebanaon and they all speak it... but to the locals he just looks like another canadian tourist... just priceless! The guy changed like you wouldn't believe and was so nice afterwards.

Next, back to the hotel, pickup our bags and get a bus for 16 hours from Aswan to Suez... COLD bus, many stops, broken seats, many security checks...

Spent 3 hours in Suez watching boats go by and snapping some pictures before we rented a mini-bus to come to Nweiba in the Sinai region... another 5 hours approx.

Total travel time without sleep since leaving for the 0330HRS to Abu Simbel.... I can't even count I'm so tired. 27ish ?? =)

On the drive from Suez we stopped at a rest stop and there were these two kids who were so dirty and barely clothed, no shoes and it was really sad. There isn't any "real" houses for like 200 km in either direction, so I think they lived behind the rest stop in a small shanty-town goat herder type village. We took a couple of pictures because any kid you meet ALWAYS wants their picture taken... and we gave them some bread sticks and cheese that we had in our bags.

The driver from Suez to Nweiba was scary... About 1/2 way here he started to get tired and totally zoned out at the wheel... we kept bugging him and talking to him to keep him awake... there was a couple times where we were pretty concerned... NOT COOL. And the crazy guy intends to drive back tonight... what a nut case.

But now we are at this just beautiful beach resort with palm leaf roofs and walls... 20 metres from the Red Sea and just an amazing laid back atmosphere. It's just amazing here...

Tonight, is about beach, beer, brush teeth, shower, bed.... tomorrow and the next couple of days are beach bum days... I want to do nothing except relax now, too much travel, too much sights, just enough egypt...

Bring on Russian Tourists in String Bikinis and Beer and Drinks with little umbrellas...

OH, one more thing, another educational website has asked permission to use my photos on their website... Sure it's not paid, but it's cool to have my pictures "out there."