Highlight Reel Day 3

The next day we were up bright and early to catch a charter flight to Abu Simbel, flying south across the landscape.

You can see here how the Nile's surrounding land benefits from the river's resources before giving way to desert sands.

Then we got to Lake Nassar, which at 500 miles long is the world's largest man-made lake.

The temples at Abu Simbel, originally carved out of the rock in the 13 century BC, overlook this lake, impressing and intimidating visitors who arrive to Egypt from the south.

The archeological site is comprised of two temples -- one as a monument to Pharaoh Ramesses II and the other to his queen Nefertari (though, frankly, Nefertari is completely overshadowed and outnumbered in representation at "her" monument by her husband).

After a few hours and lunch at this site, we hopped back on the plane for a 20-minute trip to Aswan to catch our cruise.

The newly-married couple, along with our group of just under 100, received a warm greeting at the dock -- more dancing, singing, clapping, and music.


And then it was time to set sail!