Aswan, Egypt

Friday 6th January 2006
Day 384

Some things change, some things remain the same.

Three years ago I visited Egypt. Much has changed. For a start, women in general dress much more conservatively, Islamic style. I register this as an observation – some women take this to some extreme, by dressing as glamourusly as this allows, and make up well as well. Male behaviour doesn't seem to have changed though....

However, a camel trek does seem to be obligatry, although 2 hours doesn't really qualify as a trek I suppose. The objective today was St Simeons monestary. A Coptic Christian site hundreds of years old. Three years ago, the guide round this monestrary was about 80, and was – well – a few short of a full load. He seems to have retired, but has been replaced by his grandson(?) who has the same facial features, and is just as animated. Very enjoyable though. I think that my backside will recover in a few days time – from the camel that is.

Just enough time to shower the eau de Camel from me, before making tracks to the cruise boat. M/S Doma – this is one of the more Bijou boats on the Nile – and although it was the boat we used three years ago, it has been totally refurbished.

In honour of today, my fearless beast is chosen for todays photo. Ugly bugger isn't he! Mind you, he didn't throw me off, which has happened...