Day 5 and 6

Since we last wrote, we spent the night getting a good night sleep…except for waking up to watch election results on CNN International. We had a lazy afternoon enjoying the Niles sites from the sun deck. It was interrupted only when we had to go through the locks (which take you from a lower part of the Nile to a higher part). This becomes a major traffic jam but luckily our boat was third in line. After this, we decked in Esna before sailing to Edfu the next day. We toured the Edfu temple the next day after which we came back to the boat to enjoy an Egyptian barbeque. At night we sailed to Kom Ombo, which we didn't see the next day as we instead went to Abu Simbel. This is one of the most amazing sites we've seen thus far. It's two temples built into the side of mountains, to Ramses and Nerfartari, that actually had to be moved as they were threatened by the rising Nile. They are a UNESCO site and breathtaking. We met back up with the boat in Aswan, where we visited the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae, took a felucca and motorboat ride and visited a Nubian village with spice markets and weavers (takes 4 hours per scarf).

Here are the things we've learned the past few days.

At the locks, you can buy a galabiyaa from a guy in a rowboat, who attaches himself to your boat, yelling, "Hello, my lady."

A nap on the sundeck is the perfect next step after a big Egyptian meal. And the above mentioned galabiyaa can hide all the food you ate.

You can transfer from a felucca to a motorboat in the middle of the Nile.

Moira, Stephanie and Lallande are good Nubian dancers. Moira and Lallande can keep up with Nubian witch doctors.

Children can hitchhike on the back of caleches (horse-drawn carriages). And if you are ever on the Amazing Race, don't chose the slowest horse like Cindy and Stephanie did.

A 3:45 am wake-up call is starting to feel like the norm. And who knew you could wake up at 3:45 am, take an hour ride to an airport, take a 30 minute flight to see 2 temples, transfer back to the airport, fly back 30 minutes, visit the Unfinished Obelisk and still get to lunch on the boat by 12:30 pm?

A motorboat ride through the first cataracts on the Nile reminds us of Disney's Jungle Cruise.

Children, boys really, on the Nile are fast paddlers and use their handles as oars.

Thank goodness spice markets in Nubian villages mask the smell of camel.

We heard a crocodile hiss and saw a scarab, which is supposed to bring us good luck. And we've had good luck thus far. No missed connections or pick ups. Good timing at most sites we've visited, as we've beat the crowds. Great guides and a really good time. We anticipate this will continue through Jordan, inshallah.

It's a great time to be American here. So many people are thrilled about Obama being elected president. While a good part is because he is half-black and has African roots, we've also been told because it shows them the promise of America. It is great to hear that.

Back to the insanity that is Cairo this afternoon and then on to Amman, Jordan on Saturday. We'll probably post again after we see Petra.