Rather short day yesterday. A short boat ride out to an island when the temple of Phillae is now located. During the inundation of land when the Aswan High Dam was created and the waters of the Nile backed up to create Lake Nasser, the temple was to be wholly-flooded, rather than partially as it had been for centuries during the annual Nile Inundation. Historically, people had been able to boat among the pillars, gazing down through the water to see the undulating column bases, reliefs and sun’s reflections. I think that must have been grand, no? But with the advent of Lake Nasser, the entire temple complex was broken down brick by brick and rebuilt on adjacent high ground and thereby fully revealed to air. The land around the temple’s new location was even sculpted to resemble the original terrain that had embraced the structure. So Phillae now sits on its own island, and is approached by motor launch and the greasing of several palms along the way.
I took ill again in the afternoon, and slept through to this morning pretty much. However, I feel well again today and we will visit the local Nubian Museum here in Aswan shortly, followed by more lounging I expect. Tomorrow will be a long day I hope. We will take a felluca across the Nile to Elephantine Island (mid-stream), explore a botanical garden there, and then proceed to cross the second stage of the Nile to the far bank. We’ll all mount camels and proceed a short way into the desert hills to see St. Simeon’s. Should be fun. It’ll be the kids’ first time on camels; not an experience to be missed.
