Egypt - Day 4 - 23 March 2019 - Amada, Wadi el Sebua

Egypt and the Eternal Nile 

Day 4 - 23 March 2019 

Sailing Lake Nasser

Qasr I brim, Temples of Amada & Derr, Tomb of Pennut

We set sail just after breakfast and made a quick pass by the temples of Abu Simbel. 

"Now set the special sea and anchor detail!
Make all preparations for getting underway!"
(Okay, maybe they didn't quite do it the Navy way!) 

"Hoist the motor pan into the boat well!"

Abu Simbel is amazing, even from 300 yards offshore!

The other two boats went out together. Hassan explained this was for safety. If something happens to one of the boats, the other two are nearby. Plus, one doctor is aboard one of the three boats.

Qasr Ibrim -  Pedeme to the Meroitic inhabitants, and Primis to the Romans, the site was an economic, political, and religious center.  

It was a major city perched on a cliff above the Nile, but the flooding of Lake Nasser transformed it into an island, flooding its outskirts.

Qasr I brim is the only major archaeological site in Lower Nubia to have survived the Nile floods. without having to be moved 

We saw occasional fishermen. The craft is made dangerous by the crocodile population, kept in Upper Egypt now by the Aswan High Dam. 

Hassan held a class in hieroglyphics 

The Vulture and the Cobra were revered by the ancient Egyptians

The two were combined in one along with Ra - the sun God to be a shield against evil. This symbol became familiar wherever we went - over doors and on ceilings

The vulture's wings protect Ra

The mask of pharaoh shows both in the head band 

Hassan had prepared a hieroglyph of each of our names

R - lips - talks (or drinks) a lot

O - baby quail -  caring

B - leg & foot - wanderer, traveler

E - feather - truthful

R - lips - kissable (alternate meaning)

T - half moon - emotional

At the bottom is Robert in Arabic

T - half moon - emotional

H - house - home loving

E - feather - truthful

R -  lips - kissable

E - feather - (extra) truthful

S -  door bolt/walking stick - focused

A - eagle - cheerful and powerful

At the bottom is Theresa in Arabic

We tied up to the shore at Amada but it was a long way to the temple, so they rigged the accommodation ladder 

And took us to "Fleet Landing"

It was over 100 degrees but very low humidity.
We both had sun-blocking, very lightweight jackets and "boonie" hats to protect us from the sun.

The walkway was solid as was the hand-held hand rail!

"Hey Sailor! Turn Around!"

Selfie in the Sun! 

We gathered in the shade to listen to Hassan prepare us for this trio of Temples all transplanted here from different places that were destined to be submerged by Lake Nasser

Shortly after this photo, Mike's chair gave way!
Fortunately, he did not go down with the collapse!

 Amada Temple is the oldest temple ever discovered in Nubia  It’s been altered a number of times throughout history, and even completely relocated when threatened by Lake Nasser.(To be honest, it was so hot, everything kind of ran together)

This is the second temple at the same site and is the Temple of Derr. Most of the photos below were taken in this temple

The inside of these temples were very ornate in their art

Ramses II had a long and victorious reign, and he built many temples and structures. 

The Temple of Derr was unusual in that it was on the east bank of the Nile 

The Temple of Derr contains remarkably painted reliefs that display his preference for bright colors (radically different from other periods) 

The third temple was quite a hike.
This donkey cart saved my bacon!

When we left the cart the last time, I gave the driver a generous tip!

Outside the Temple of Derr, we had an opportunity to handle "baby" crocodiles and a scorpion (with stinger removed)

The third tomb was a short distance from the Temple of Derr

The third is the Tomb of Pennut, overseer of the province of Aniba during the time of Ramsis IV.

This boat acted as living quarters for the teams who moved these three temples. It was abandoned after the work was done.

Back aboard Prince Abbas, Sara and Nancy enjoy a cold bottle of water on the covered top deck

These three water pipes adorned the top deck

Tea, dinner and a warm afternoon of sailing to Wadi el Sebua 

Tomorrow:

Explore Wadi el Sebua

Discussion of Islam in Egypt