Back in Cairo

I have been off the air for a few days as I have been on the Nile River cruise where the signal has been too poor to even try to email or blog.  We arrived back in Cairo from Luxor this morning.  I have seen such places as the Temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and King Tut's tomb and the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries.  On cruise each night there was dancing or music.  One night was Galabea Night where we dressed Egyptian and danced and sang.  Another night we had a belly dancer and what they called Whirling Dervish, but having seen the real thing, he looked more like a man spinning with circus lights all around him.
We flew to Abu Simbul which is the temple cut from rocks that was saved before being flooded by the dam.  Incredible sights.  The internal flights have all been without hassle.  Our guide is very good at managing such a diverse group of strange tourists.  There are very few tourists so things are not too crowded.  The riot here last Friday was the usual Friday gathering - Friday being the day of prayer.  They were a little cross at the Israelis so had a rumble outside of their embassy.  There are no problems though.
Tomorrow the trip moves to the Sphinx for a close up view and the Pyramids where we actually are allowed to go down.  Many of these places are camera free unfortunately.  Some still have colour on the walls.  A trip to Memphis, the old capital of the ancient world is also on the agenda.
So far I have been lucky and not had the cold or the dreaded Egyptian belly.  Some had that on the cruise but I have had a strict handwashing programme and didn't eat anything off the boat so think that may have helped.

Abu Simbel

I have the key of Life

Our boat for the trip

I have had a great time with the bargaining at the stalls. 
When the Galabea night was going to be on we were going through the locks up the Nile.  Small boats came out with the guys throwing their goods up in a plastic bag and then bargaining.  The money or the goods were then thrown down to them in their little boats.  Sometimes the goods went into the water.  It was a spectacle to watch from the top of the boat.
On Saturday morning I am being collected and taken to the airport to go to Spain.