Aswan (Day 2)

Technically, we're still in Aswan for the day, but options included leaving early to visit the temple of Abu Simbel. Quite early. 4 a.m. early. To travel deep in the desert to visit the site of two enormous temples, on the shores of Lake Nasser.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", the twin temples were carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. However, the complex was relocated (to avoid submersion) in its entirety in the 1960s.

Abu Simel is one of Egypt's top tourist attractions with references in popular culture - The Spy Who Loved Me, The Mummy Returns, Team America - and the fact that they're crazy old and incredibly beautiful. Seems like I really ought to go (and not just because of my unintentional habit of visiting sites from Bond films - the Schilthorn and Piz Gloria, The Palace Hotel in Udaipur, the Bahamas with Casino Royale and Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and The Spy Who Loved Me), even if it's a five-hour roundtrip drive to spend a couple of hours at the temples.

Then, again, we could fly...


Tag: Travel Egypt