Dirt road leading through the narrow band of green along the Nile |
Green fields and palm trees on the banks of the Nile |
Old Dongola Ferry |
Old Dongola Ferry across the Nile ca 35km north of El Daba |
The Old Dongola ferry is on the other side as we arrive |
Irrigation using Nile river water |
Sudanese women waiting for the Old Dongola Ferry |
Looking across the Nile to Old Dongola, the first major site in Nubia |
Old Dongola on the East Bank of the Nile |
The Throne Hall of Old Dongola (9th-10th C.) |
Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis |
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The Old Dongola Ferry arrives |
Mahmoud backing the truck onto the Old Dongola Ferry |
The Old Dongola Ferry |
Another overloaded pickup boarding the Old Dongola Ferry |
Sudanese man on the Old Dongola Ferry |
The Old Dongola Ferry Captain |
Crossing the Nile on the Old Dongola Ferry |
Reaching the east bank of the Nile at Old Dongola |
The Old Dongola Ferry |
Here, above the Aswan Dam, the Nile stills rises and falls seasonally |
Man carrying buckets and a colorfully dressed woman disembarking at Old Dongola |
Walking up through the cut in the embankment |
Palm trees near Old Dongola |
Palm trees along the Nile near Old Dongola |
Palm trees along the Nile near Old Dongola |
Palm trees along the Nile |
Palm trees near Old Dongola |
We're looking the the gaffir (caretaker, watchman) in charge of Old Dongola |
Boys of Old Dongola |
Small hut among the palms on the east bank of the Nile near the Old Dongola Ferry |
Young Sudanese boys from Old Dongola |
Boys of Old Dongola |
Old Dongola was the capital of the medieval Christian kingdom of Makuria (7th-14th C.) |
Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Old Dongola |
No Entry - the Key is in Khartoum! |
We're told that inside the monastery are impressive medieval Christian frescoes |
Check out the National Museum in Khartoum for similar Christian artwork |
Partially excavated Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Old Dongola |
Centuries-old pottery shards, Old Dongola |
Medieval pottery shards just lying around the monastery |
Fine stone pavement next to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity |
Simple mud brick architecture, Old Dongola |
Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Old Dongola |
Panoramic view of Old Dongola from near the Monastery |
Grinding stones, Old Dongola |
Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Old Dongola |
The dozen or so beehive structures are tombs from the Islamic era |
Driving towards Old Dongola's most impressive structure, the Throne Hall |
The Throne Hall of Old Dongola, built in the 9th-10th Century |
Throne Hall of Old Dongola was converted into a mosque in 1323 and remained in use until 1969 |
Sandy tracks at Old Dongola |
Stone pillars still standing in Old Dongola |
Standing column, Old Dongola |
Twin columns, Old Dongola |
Twin columns, Old Dongola |
Twin columns, Old Dongola |
Ruins of Old Dongola (7th-14th C.) |
Ruins of Old Dongola (7th-14th C.) |
Church of Granite Columns, 7th C., Old Dongola |
Column capitals carved with Christian symbols |
Column capital carved with a cross, Old Dongola |
...Sudan does not readily come to mind as an early center of Christianity |
Church of Granite Columns, 7th C., Old Dongola |
Church of Granite Columns, 7th C., Old Dongola |
10 pillars remain standing in the 7th C. Church of Granite Columns |
Church of Granite Columns, 7th C., Old Dongola |
The Throne Hall, Old Dongola |
The ruins of Old Dongola near the banks of the Nile |
Old Dongola |
Old Dongola - not another tourist or souvenir seller in sight... |
The Throne Hall of Old Dongola |
Throne Hall, Old Dongola |
The Throne Hall also contains early Christian frescoes which had been painted over when this was converted to a mosque |
The Throne Hall, also locked - key probably in Khartoum |
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Beehive tombs and ruins from the later Islamic-era, Old Dongola |
Remains of the village of Old Dongola |
Ruins of a beehive tomb, Old Dongola |
Beehive tombs (Nawamis) common in Northern Sudan |
Cemetery of Old Dongola |
Cemetery of Old Dongola |
Cemetery of Old Dongola |
Our guide told us that the beehive tombs dated from the Islamic-era of Old Dongola (post-14th Century) |
Beehive Tombs, Old Dongola |
Cemetery of Old Dongola |
Beehive Tombs, Old Dongola |
Beehive Tombs, Old Dongola |
Domed tomb with a square base, Old Dongola |
Passing back through the "modern" village at Old Dongola |
Palms along the Nile |
Laughing Dove (Stigmatopelia senegalensis) on the banks of the Nile, Old Dongola |
East Bank - Old Dongola Ferry |
Sudan license plate |
Palms on the Nile |
Boarding the Dongola Ferry from the East Bank |
Old Dongola Ferry pulling away from the East Bank |
Old Dongola Ferry turning |
East Bank of the Nile at the Old Dongola Ferry |
Crossing the Nile at Old Dongola |
The ruins of Old Dongola from the Nile ferry |
Sudanese men waiting for the Old Dongola Ferry on the West Bank |
Passing through the narrow fertile strip on the banks of the Nile |
Palm trees on the west bank of the Nile, Old Dongola |
Palm trees on the west bank of the Nile, Old Dongola |