We then travers through four boats we're rafted off to get to shore...standard operating procedure. Before you leave they hand you an embarkation card to keep track of the number of guests OFF the boat. We rode in a Caleshe through town to the temple, waiting to tip on the way back or the driver doesn't show up. Actually, ours didnt show and we had to take a different caleche back - wierd said the guide Ali - not normal, something must have happened to him. At the temple Horus, we went around the temple via a long corridor. Thirty one pillars hold up ceilings, this temple is Greco-Roman (meaning Ptolomaic, a good 1,500 years newer) and the most complete in egypt. Like the others, the Coptic Christians damaged the reliefs and there was a lot of soot on the cieling indicating many fires lit within the temple over the years. Its a very interesting temple as it had an outside corridor and a Nileometer. What's a nileometer? - It indicates the level of the Nile. When the water is high and your crops are therefore pretty good, taxes go up..... when its down (dry and your crops not so good) your taxes go down.
Returning to the boat we sailed to the next temple arriving several hours later, just after Tea. From this port it was a walk to the temple which we enjoyed it in the during sunset. Also Greco-Roman, this temple was built to two gods (north and south gods) for the egyptians, having a lot of symmetry. Back to the boat for dinner dressed in traditional costumes. We were prepared as we (dale) had bought several Galebyhs a few days ago - so we were set. I wore blue, Dale white, Dave black. Most people wore these costumes at dinner, egyptian buffet style.
We double-napkined ourselves to make sure we didnt get them dirty (because they are actually gifts). Dancing and entertainment in the lounge with several games involving spoons for the women, potatoes for the men and big group passing the bottle (parcel) around. Good ideas for the next time we lead a cruise in Oakville.
On to Aswan!
