Aswan and Philae Temple

Once we'd checked in at the hotel in Aswan we headed off to Philae Temple.

Moved so it wasn't drowned in the creation of the Aswan Dam, this temple was lovely. Quite a Greek feel, as they added to it and such a beautiful setting. Our guide told us the story behind Osiris and Isis by giving us all different characters in the story - made it a bit more real, and we continued the characters for the rest of the week :-). I was disappointed at Abu Simbel to be given the role of Nefertiti (queen of upper and lower Egypt), as opposed to Nefertari... (queen of all the lands).

We had the rest of the day free after Philae. A few of us ventured out to purchase our own 'falafel sandwich' for lunch. We ate in a cafe that we all agreed we wouldn't have eaten in in the UK (not the cleanest place!), and once we'd established that we didn't want salad in our falafel (can make you ill - salad is washed in the local water which is best to avoid), we ended up with falafel with chips in it - but it was tasty and we were starving! Then I wandered around the souk with a friend from the group and soon established that I am no good at bartering - but did end with some nice cushion covers!

In the evening we took a boat across the Nile to visit a Nubian village where the lifestyle is still very traditional, and where we then went for a traditional Nubian meal. I found it odd being invited to look around people's houses, so didn't enjoy it that much - although the trip on the boat was great.