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Monday 15th of March April. Valencia to Madrid to Cairo to Aswan.
A pleasant flight from Madrid in economy on AirEgypt but David had reserved the central seat of three for a €20 and so we had a lot more room than otherwise. And even the food was edible on AirEgypt. Downside was that they are a dry airline.
We finally got to Aswan airport near midnight, where a well educated man, as arranged, picked us up, found out luggage and transferred us in a taxi to the river dock from which the boat went to the hotel Ben Ben. At one stage we both thought independently that we were being abducted as we approach the river edge down a cart track.
It was then a wondrous 15 minute ride across to the hotel past many little islands, with minimum lights. Once at the hotel dock we boarded a tuk tuk which whizzed us, at break neck speed. up a windy narrow path which was only discernible by a ribbon of light up the middle of the track.
The reception was good and we were soon installed in our room which overlooked the Nile and an ancient Egyptian temple , and had a gorgeous balcony with a Jacuzzi on it.
Lights out was past 1 a.m.
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Benben Hotel by Night |
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Tuesday 16th April at the Ben Ben hotel.
We had a really good night's sleep and woke up to a fantastic view of the Nile and the Philae Temple from our balcony. Chris had a quick dip into the not too full Jacuzzi ,which was not actually functioning as a Jacuzzi.
Then a little unpacking before going down to breakfast and realising what a terrible path it was to our room. But the breakfast was delightful. We then had a wander round the hotel complex going up to a meditation stone with a good view over the river and islands. We spent the rest of the day mainly on our balcony reading. Before sunset, around six, we went up to the bar and ordered two passion fruit smoothies there which were delicious (the hotel was "dry", so no booze). However the view from the bar terrace was not so nice as from our balcony, so we brought the drinks back to our balcony.
Chris had another dip in the Jacuzzi after this, but we had to keep asking reception, to turn the Jacuzzi on and off. We also requested some more water in the pool which made it far easier to exercise in.
At dinner we had some trouble with the waiter understanding what menus we wanted but eventually overcame the communication problem and had a very good meal, including Greek Salad, Beef Diane and a Cheesecake. Another dip in the Jacuzzi before bed.
Before dinner, we had found an influx of ants in the bathroom but the hotel did deal with these whilst we were eating.
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Our room ay the Benben Hotel, with glorious views over the Philae Temple. The Jacuzzi was problematic, as we had to get reception to switch it on and off |
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Wednesday, 17th April at the Ben Ben hotel.
Before breakfast Chris went into the Jacuzzi which had been running all night and so continually heating the water. It was boiling hot , so not very relaxing. Then into breakfast around 10.00 where we had a really super brunch, including a typical Egyptian breakfast dish, Falafel - a sort of vegetarian rissole. After this, we wondered down to the banks of the Nile where we had landed at the hotel on Monday night. There was a really lovely garden going down which we had been too tired to appreciate previously.
David discovered more about the temple of Philae which we could see from our balcony. This temple had originally been on the same island. as we were, called Philae, and the temple had been inundated by the filling of lakes behind the the two dams. So it was moved around 1970 to its current position where it could stay above water.
We had another wonder round the pathways of the hotel and up to the. meditation rock. At five we went to the bar and Chris had a passion fruit smoothie and David lemon mint drink. A walk up to reception to arrange for the Jacuzzi to be put on again: such a problem not being able to turn it on and off ourselves. Also, the path to our room or still scattered with stones due to the builders in the next door room: We do not think management ever walked along this path which also had no lights at night after supper. We had some shrimps and a pizza followed by a date cake also pomegranate juices which were delicious .
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Thursday 18th April at the Ben Ben hotel.
A very lazy day. Chris got reception to turn on the Jacuzzi when we woke up and then we had a telephone call to ask if it had been done Then a room boy (they are all male in Egypt) banged on our door wanting to do up the room. We sent him away, and the result was that the the room was only made up at 2 pm, Chris then had to ask them to turn off the Jacuzzi when we went into breakfast. What a kerfuffle.
We enjoyed breakfast again but something in it upset David‘s stomach and he was ill all day, just venturing up to the hotel Terrace for a non-smoothie at 7:30 pm , after breakfast we walk down to the Nile again and took photos of the boys. At 4 pm Chris went and had an aroma therapy massage which was quite pleasant.And she almost finished her latest Isabel Allende book, The Wind Knows My Name. We sat on the balcony after our smoothie, and from here we could see the Son & Lumiere from the temple
Friday19th April. We travel from BenBen Hotel to SS Misr
A Jacuzzi before breakfast and then a leisurely morning packing the cases before leaving the hotel at 1 pm to transfer to the SS MISR. At Check Out the receptionists asked if all had been fine with our stay, which was a mistake on her part as David felt impelled to tell them about the Jacuzzi problems and the lack of light on the path to our room. Net result was the manager was called, and gave one of our dinners to us on the house
The transfer involved a boat ride to the ferry port and then a taxi ride across a section of the Sahara Desert to the Abercrombie and Kent Dock some 20 km north of Aswan. The dock had been changed from the original dock in the town, we think because of the security ramp up as a spin out from the Gaza War the the Israelis were conducting.
We arrived at the boat around 2 pm and the ship seemed crowded. But in fact all the people were the remnants from the last cruise who were here until after lunch and there were just four of us of the new cruise aboard. Around 2pm we had lunch with, the other two, Charles and Carol,, from the US.
Then we returned to our cabin 303 and unpacked . The boat was deliciously antique but not rundown. Soon after five Chris went for a swim up on deck 5 and was delighted with the pool, small though it was. Then had a drink of wine up there watching the Sun go down. David read out all about King Farouk (who had owned the Misr at one time) from Wikipedia . At 7:30. we went for dinner and met two more guests who had arrived early, Peter and Eileen from Broadstairs. We enjoyed the meal even though the main course was a bit tasteless. Unfortunately, the rest of the dinners will be Buffets when there is our full group total of 26 guests on board: They flew in from the UK later at around at midnight. In fact it turned out the the buffets were much better than the served meals, as the chef tended to cook the set meals well in advance, put them in the bain maries and by the time we got them, the food had dried out
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We left at 13.00 to get to the SS Misr. It took an hour, with he boat to the dock by the Low Dam, then a taxi to the ship which was moored 20 km south of Aswan |
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