Spent the afternoon swimming and sailing languidly on the Nile River along its western bank just up river from Luxor. Fellucas (wooden boats with one large sail and no boom) dot the shoreline on both sides of the river in Felluca. As a result competition is stiff for tourist dollars and like anything else we’ve tried to buy you can really bargain down the price. We ended up at 30 Egyptian pounds for a several hour sailboat ride after the price started at 130 pounds.
Despite the hot temperatures the water is actually quite refreshingly cool this time of year. This is the longest river in the world with its headwaters found in Rwanda. It passes through a number of tropical regions (which is where it gets its water) and by the time it reaches Luxor its fairly wide. One could swim across but with the current he would be pushed quite a ways downstream by the time he reaches the other side.
Imagine the boats that have sailed this river over the centuries. Imagine what is buried in the sand and silt of the bottom. Muslim prayers were calling from each mosque up and down the river as I swam while young fisherman rowed their canoes with their glistening green nets hanging from the sides.
Hi David
Thanks to join my Blog.
I think your Blos is Super. Very intersting.
Egyptian culture is te most beautful in teh World.
You in a boat at the Nilo river, look´s like a Ramisés the second.
Congratulations
Wow! They say you shouldn’t be swimming in Nile unless you are local… that river doesn’t really look too clean.
Hehe, certainly not the worst place I’ve been swimming. Try swimming in the Ganges in Varanasi India – that was an experience.
Hi Dave!
Thanks for the follow! Glad to be following you back. Love catching up on your adventures and look forward to reading more and living vicariously through your exciting travels!
All the best — Trish 🙂