The Movenpick on Elephantine Island is very comfortable. The Island sits in the middle of the Nile, with a few smaller islands and rocks jutting up from the river bed. Prior to the building of the ‘Aswan low dam’ (it was completed in 1902 and subsequently raised over the years) this stretch of water, known as the first Nile cataract, was wider and wilder. At the time of the Pharaohs it was the end of civilization. Lots of civilization here now.

SS Sudan had tied up at the docks a little to the north of the main berthing areas, which are quite crowded, for the night prior to the end of the cruise. In the morning we were taken to the Movenpick on a felucca (small sail boat), via Kitchener Island on which are the Aswan Botanical Gardens, dating from the 1800s.

It was cool there under the tree canopy, very green with a few late blooming hibiscus of various types.

We had about an hour among the plants, dodging more bric a brac offerings from the locals. Great views of life on the water.

Earlier, the felucca captain had trapped us with a bag of ‘genuine’ trinkets. Allthego is a bit of an easy catch for this type of stuff, so we acquired a few dollars worth of Egyptian trinkets. The highlight among the trinkets is a small stuffed camel for the shelf at home.

Some great views from our balcony at the Movenpick over the swimming pool and across the Nile to the ‘city side’.

Back to Temples, Tombs and Tales next time.