I'm sure most of the people who are reading this have heard me go on about my holiday quite a lot, I thought I would make you all suffer some more waffle from me about all the temples I visited :P
I would like to begin by saying I did not see the pyramids or visit Cairo; I've been asked about this a lot in the past week, but believe it or not there was plenty else to see, and it was quite a journey from upper Egypt where I was to Cairo in the North. I was on a Nile River Cruise (a rather different holiday to those who think a trip to Egypt is lazing at Sharm El Sheikh). I went with my parents and brother and I had a fantastic time; cruising was lovely I can't wait to do it again, the historical sites were phenomenal and the country beautiful.
Perhaps I should talk about the food on board ship, it was mostly tasty, varied and there was always plenty. Usually chicken or beef with rice, towards the end of the week there were potatoes and pasta dishes. Everything was very sweet, the bread rolls especially and all the cakes looked pretty enough though I didn't really sample them.
I drew a lot of attention as a young blonde woman in Egypt, leading to much embarrassment when I was pulled up 4 separate times to dance in front of the entire ship, from once in the restaurant to a belly dancing competition. Moustafa the tour leader was my most devoted admirer, though I gave him only disappointment. However I survived my trip intact and am keen to return in order to visit all that I missed in Cairo and the Red Sea. It wasn't what you would call a relaxing holiday, though fortunately not exhausting either. I never slept in past 7.30am, with the earliest start leaving at 3.30am on two mornings; once for Abu Simbel as part at of a coach convoy which took 3 hours each way and the other time for a hot air balloon trip. Both early mornings were utterly worth it, spectacular scenes in both places from the grand Rameses statues hewn into the rock at Abu Simbel (and moved in the 1960s to preserve them) and a beautiful finish to the holiday floating above Luxor in the hot air balloon.
I visited 8 temples over the 7 days along with the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Aswan High Dam, the Colossi of Memnon, a Perfume shop and a Papyrus shop. I have always been interested in Ancient Egypt since I learnt about in primary school and it rekindled a lot, although I doubt I will become the Egyotologist I always dreamed.
I would utterly recommend cruising down the Nile and can offer travel tips if anyone plans to go :)
Now i'm back and its a lot less sunny even though we're into April, hopefully the springtime will arrive soon. I've not been feeling very inspired to bake, I did make a very nice pineapple upside down cake last week and am debating making some cakes for Easter and all the upcoming birthdays.
