Aswan, population 1.2M, is a modern city near the southern border of Egypt. The quarries of ancient Egypt located here were celebrated for their stone, and especially for the granitic rock called syenite. They furnished the colossal statues, obelisks, and monolithic shrines that are found throughout Egypt, including the pyramids; and the traces of the quarrymen who worked in these 3,000 years ago are still visible in the native rock.

Today we visited Philae Temple, yet another temple that was deconstructed, moved and put back together again to make way for an expanded Nile River due to the construction of the High Dam. It is mind-blowing to think that these temples were cut up, labeled, hauled, and put back together again, like a simple Lego set. The temple is an important site as it is dedicated to Isis, the goddess of healing, birth, and magic, as well as Osiris and Horus. The Philae Temple is also one of the last temples that practiced Egyptian religion, before it was converted to a Christian church in the sixth century during the reign of Justinian. There were many Signs of the Cross etched in the walls.

Aswan has a beautiful Corniche that runs along the Nile and provides docking spots for the tourism ships as well as local boats. We boarded a small motor boat to make our way to Elephantine Island to visit a traditional Nubian Village. Over 100,000 Nubians were displaced during the various damning projects across southern Egypt and this village was created to provide them with a place of their own. They performed and allowed us to visit a traditional home.

Next, we climbed aboard a traditional Felucca boat, which are used to navigate around all of the islands in the Aswan area. It was an awesome ride as we made our way down the Nile, on our way back to the ship.

This evening, we had a lot of fun dressing in traditional Galabeya gowns and dancing the night away.

Tomorrow: Karnak Temple, Papyrus Making, Luxor Temple