Overnight train to Aswan

Aswan

Monday-Tuesday 26-27 December 2011

We left our hotel at 7pm last night to catch the overnight sleeper train to Aswan. The train was comfortable with the 4 of us divided up into two rooms as the rooms slept two each. Jade and I shared a room with Paul and Jarrah in the room next door. It was a comfortable but not luxurious trip. Just after leaving Giza station we were served dinner on board--pepper steak, herbed vegetables, steamed Arborio rice and a bread roll. Drinks were an extra cost but we had purchased our own drinks before getting on the train. The 13 hour ride stretched out to over 14 hours as we arrived in Aswan late. In the morning as we travelled we looked out on the Nile River, fields of crops and the daily life of people going about their business. We caught a lovely view of the red sun rising in the morning.

Just after 12 noon we arrived at our hotel where we will be for one night. The Basma Hotel is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful tiled lobby with a cool bubbling fountain. The pool is cool and enticing. Jade can't wait to go in. This afternoon we are off for a felucca ride in a traditional Egyptian sailing boat and then dinner. Aswan is beautiful and warm and much cleaner than Cairo. I think we are going to enjoy this part of our trip in southern Egypt.