Serene days travelling through the only river that flows from south to north. And the perfect time to relax.
My first cruise was definitely a great experience. The great conditions of the boat, both confort and food wise, surely were a major part of it, but the experiences and the views throughout the journey were the ones making it unforgettable.
First, the river itself: although is doesn't have the width of ancient times, especially after a dam was built - the one that originated lake Nasser, and the reason why I haven't seen crocodiles, since they stayed on the other side of the dam - it's still an imponent river, most of the time with lush green margins, contrasting with most of the arid Egypt.
Most of the Nile cruises you'll find go from Aswan to Luxor and vice versa, and the amount of temples and historical places you see on the journey is mind blowing. I won't even dwelve on them here, since they deserve a proper post, but here's some of the views, from ancient tombs to scriptures and architectural wonders.
Add to the mix, engineering wonders as the one near Esna where, like in the Panama channel, the cruise ships are passed through different locks, managing different water depths.
If all of this wasn't enough, there were even funny situations that I would have never thought, all thanks to Egyptian resourcefullness (or craziness... or both? 馃榿). Picture this: nearing the ship's front, I notice 2 crazy guys in a tiny boat, apparently rowing in a collision course! As they get really close, one throws a cord, looping it around a small pillar on the ship.
Pirates??
No... crazy vendors!! 馃榿馃榿
Having secured the boat, using the cruise to propel it thanks to the rope, they procede to unravel towels and scarfs, shouting "ALO ALO ALO ALO ALO ALO" to the potential interested!!
I haven't witnessed any buys, but apparently they happened, since one of our travel group saw it. I would guess the buyer wanted to have a good story: it was the most out of the box sales attempt I've ever seen! And I've seen it happen quite a few times during our trip; they appeared even more while the cruise ships were in the locks, waiting their turn and hence almost still. That was a lot more reasonable, but seeing the attempt at a big ship travelling fast is another level.
So there you go. This is what you can expect from these typical Nile cruises. Did I because a cruise lover? Not really: three nights were perfect, but can't imagine doing this in those tours that go for a whole week. But would I say it was worth it? Absolutely!! It seems a perfect blend of relaxation, nature and culture, and definitely something to try if Egypt is on your radar.
Mind you, there are some insane prices for these cruises; but with some planning and research you can find pretty reasonable prices for what you're being offered and again, it's an experience you won't forget.
