Tag: nile

Sunday Serenity

Today we marvel at the sailing felucca on the Nile, experiencing a rich blend of history and serenity

As we were on Elephantine Island in Aswan today, there has been a fair bit of travel on the Nile as part of our day, which truly enriched our experience in this historically vibrant region. During this day, there was a visit to some wonderful tombs of various officials from various time periods of Ancient Egypt, showcasing the fascinating architectural designs and intricate hieroglyphics that tell stories of their lives and legacies. Each tomb revealed unique details that gave us insight into the rituals and beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife in ancient civilization, which I will cover in future posts.

While on the western bank of the Nile, I caught sight of this rather peaceful traversal of the great river…

Sailing the Nile

Sailing a felucca is a truly ancient tradition that is still active these days, attracting both locals and tourists who wish to experience the beauty of the Nile in a unique way. On this day, many travelers traversed the river, their eyes filled with wonder as the sun glinted off the water’s surface. A good breeze filled the sails, making their progress not only swift but also quite efficient, as laughter and conversations filled the air. The gentle rocking of the boat, combined with the stunning views of the ancient temples and lush riverbanks, creates an unforgettable experience steeped in history.

Wednesday Window – pt 27

A reflection seen through a window on a Nile lock during our recent cruise.

Welcome back to the windows in my small part of the world, or rather one from my travels. This week’s window features a reflection as the key element of interest.

Let’s take a look into the mirror…

Lock Window

This window is part of the control structure of one of the Nile locks that we went through during our cruise this year. From the upper deck of our ship, the reflection caught my eye and provided some interesting lines to play with.

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Along the Nile – Living pt. 3

We reflect on life along the Nile, waxing nostalgic about ancient features and the more leisurely pace.

In the previous Along the Nile – Living post, I showed a bit of the community aspect of life along the river. This post takes a bit more of a nostalgic look and highlights some specific aspects. There are a number of features that stand out, as we look at the landscape along this longest river.

Here’s one that is rather ubiquitous…

Dovecotes

Dovecotes pop up along the landscape in many places, and have a strong connection with both farming and raising pigeons. They go back to antiquity as a means of addressing the need for manure and having pigeons become a staple in the Egyptian diet.

One of the things that I noticed is that along the river, life doesn’t seem to be as hurried…

Taking Time

It was not unusual to see people taking a moment to observe the Viking Aton, as we sailed by at a gentle pace.

And sometimes we even got a bigger reaction…

Enthusiasm

The lad in the striped shirt came running into the water to share his greetings with us! I figured that it was a slow day for boats that day, as I can’t imagine him doing that on a day when 20-30 boats pass.

Sometimes it felt like we were in a different era…

Olden Times

It was truly nice to unwind a bit and watch the landscape float by.

I hope you enjoyed this more nostalgic look at our journey.

Along the Nile – Living pt. 2

Moe impressions from the deck of the Viking Aton of life next to the river Nile.

In the first Along the Nile – Living post, I showed a bit of what I got to witness from our ship, the Viking Aton. As there are a wide selection of photos that I captured during this trip, I gathered some more to share today.

Let’s start with what appears to be under construction…

Building

I have always felt that the English word ‘building’ connotes something that is not finished, which is the case in this image. One of the parts that struck me in this scene is the number of little boats; this indicates a strong connection with the river.

Here are some more houses in various stages of completion…

Irrigation

The left-most house looks amazing, and very different from most houses which are predominantly boxy and right angles. Also, a notable item is the pier with the little house at the end. These pop up at regular intervals and house pumps that can provide water to the fields for irrigation. It’s not the way the ancient Egyptians irrigated their lands, but likely much more reliable.

And last, but not least…

Community

Every community that we saw had a mosque or church, as faith is very much a part of life throughout the country. The minaret strikes a strong pose that makes it a key part of the landscape, just as much as the palm trees and the mountains in the distance.

I will have a future post with more photos from communities we visited.

Along the Nile – Fishing

A view of the more traditional fishing practices along the Nile, highlighting a hands-on and sustainable approach compared to industrial fishing.

In this series of posts, I didn’t want to leave out one of the obvious industries of the Nile: Fishing. Nowadays, most of us are used to the industrial scale of fishing that takes place on our seas and oceans. Traveling along the Nile, I observed fishing at a much smaller scale.

Here is one of those endeavors…

Simple Approaches

A much more hands-on approach to fishing along the grassy islands that form in the river. Throwing out a net from a rowboat and gathering the catch. In this scenario there is a division of labor between gathering the fish and rowing, so I wonder if this is a trawling approach.

Here’s a one man operation…

One-Man Operation

I have to admit that looking at this type of fishing, I don’t feel the hurried pace of our lives. There is a certain balance with Nature in working this way, as it would be unlikely to deplete the supply provided by the river.

Along the Nile – Living

The Nile River is central to Egyptian life, offering vibrant views and fostering habitation near its banks. Improved water predictability due to dams has encouraged closer living.

As mentioned in earlier posts, the Nile is the beating green heart of Egypt. As one cruises up and down the river, cities and life is visible right from the ship. As the river has become more predictable in its water volume since the introduction of dams, people will live closer to the water.

Here’s a view from board…

Life along the Nile

Among the palm trees houses have been built to enjoy the river’s proximity. Note the rebar sticking up from one of the houses. This was a practice under earlier tax laws, as one would not have to pay property taxes until the building was finished. This loophole has now been closed, but the rebar sticking up from buildings is still rather commonplace.

And another view…

Ready to set Sail

Kids wave as we pass by. I can imagine that they are waiting for their parents to take them for a bit of boating themselves!

Of course there are risks associated with living right next to the river…

Too Close

River banks do shift over time, as they meander. It would appear that this was a little too close for comfort! Although, I still wonder if this was meant to be a pleasure boat.

Along the Nile – Grazing

We explore the serene Nile River, the vital green corridor of Egypt. The slow river features small islands ideal for grazing cattle, allowing them to enjoy lush vegetation and relax while observing passing boats.

For this Sunday, I want to bring a touch of serenity, as we cruise along the Nile river. The Nile is the strip of green that can be traced from the south of Egypt (and beyond) to the delta that stretches along the Mediterranean Sea. It provides the 5% of the land in Egypt where most of the population lives.

One use of that land is for grazing…

Grazing the Nile

As the Nile is a rather slow moving river, there are many small islands just off its banks. These are ideal for putting some cattle out to pasture for grazing. After all, it’s not like they are about to wander off.

Sometimes we find a single cow…

Cow Island on the Nile

There is plenty of lush vegetation for this cow to keep it well nourished!

And after a good meal…

Rumination

It’s now time for a lie down and chew the cud. I imagine that watching the boat traffic is a source of relaxation for this cattle, as they are well-fed and entertained.

Along the Nile

While cruising the Nile, it was fun to capture fleeting glimpses of life along the river, highlighting the ongoing significance of the Nile to Egypt.

As we cruised up and down the Nile river, there were numerous photo opportunities to capture from our Viking ship, the Aton. Photographing some of these quick-takes provided a bit of what life along the Nile might be like for some of the Egyptian people. While these vignettes provide a rather incomplete picture of Egypt, I want to share them nonetheless.

Here’s one of those moments…

Boat Parking

The Nile is still a major transportation network for Egypt; most of the goods are now transported over the road with trucks, but there is still a connection to the river for many people. Boats, such as the one here, are frequently used to transport tourists to points of interest along the river. This one is parked for later use…

Thursday Throwback – Travel

Reflecting on the final stage of our Egyptian travels along the Nile. This trip exceeded expectations, leaving a desire for more time to appreciate the experiences and connections made.

As we’re in the final stage of our Egyptian travels, a look back at how people would have traveled in times past. Nowadays, we jet around the world, cruising in comfort whether in the air or on the river. We can still imagine that the pace might have been a bit different in previous centuries.

Here’s a taste of what it might have been…

Camels along the Nile

These camels were just happily grazing near the banana plants, foraging on all the tidbits that interest them. It would have been a very different experience for us, if we’d traveled by camel. I wonder if the slower pace would allow us more time to breathe in the culture, landscape and antiquities.

This trip to Egypt was nothing short of amazing, exceeding all our expectations. The only thing that could make it better is to have even more time to appreciate all we saw, all the people we met… Maybe next time?

A Nubian Village

A look at the impact of the Aswan High Dam on life in Nubian communities.

One of the interesting aspects of going on a cruise with Viking is the exposure to historical context at many levels. During our time in and around Aswan, there were a variety of visits that included more than just ancient temples. We visited a Nubian village as part of this immersion.

Here’s an image from this visit…

A Nubian Village

As part of the construction of the Aswan High Dam both people and temples were affected. Some of the temples have been high profile projects, such as Abu Simbel and Philae. What should not be lost is that many village were forced to move and these people needed to carve out a new living.

These Nubian villages were given plots of land, such as the one in the photo to re-establish themselves. As we were lucky enough to be able to visit one of their homes, we could experience a bit of this. More photos in the future on this subject!