Part IV - Esna Lock - Luxor

Day 2 - cont'd:

Listening to: The hum of the engine

There's like a million ships that pull into Esna and depending on how busy it is will depend on how long we wait. It's been a fabulous day up on deck watching life on the Nile go by. It's all over too quick really. We're very happy that our trip hasn't been the nightmare we imagined. Obviously those reviews are based on our standards and not Egyptians which we are well acquainted with.

So for us it's been pleasant. Basic but very pleasant. Once our ship got the go ahead to move into the lock, out came our cameras and we did walkabout of the deck capturing the excitement and fandangled method of passing through the lock. Yelling hellos and waving to fellow passengers on other ships and the locals yelling from the banks of the Nile was fun :)

I don't know all the details and technicalities of it but basically the lock is part of a very long bridge/wall that spans the width of the Nile and restricts the flow of water so it can be used for agriculture, electricity etc.

The water level is higher on one side of the lock and lower on the other so ships coming from Luxor have to be raised up to the height of the river and from Edfu lowered before the ships can pass through a specially built cement enclosure.

This is a time consuming and congested exercise due to the traffic of ships travelling to and from Luxor. Quite exciting!! especially as our ship hits the side, we crash and bang against the cement, Police are blowing their whistles madly and I have crazy video footage to prove it LOL.

We cruise into Luxor just as night falls and dock for the night. We have our last evening of Egyptian dance which includes a very, slightly nervous belly dancer whose moves were awkward and clumsy with the ugliest outfit ever! The highlight was the male dancer in his very colourful costume who spins and spins and spins. I was dizzy just watching him. He dances with baskets and then weaves layers of his costume up and down and turns it into an umbrealla that he spins above his head all the while he's still spinning and spinning. Getting dizzy yet? I've no idea what the dance is called and am endeavouring to find out.

Unfortunately, Dave missed out due to 'The Pharoah's curse' (King Tut's tummy). I managed some video footage so he didn't miss out completely.

We're now in Luxor, on land (although it feels as though the floor is moving) in one of the beter hotels we've stayed in since leaving Australia. We had the best shower since home. It's amazing what you appreciate when you don't have it :)

We're both now struck down with 'The Pharoah's curse' which has required anti-biotics (we suspect the buffet dinners on the ship as they're a risky way to eat in undeveloped countries) so this hotel is a nice place to rest and regain our strength for all the amazing sites yet to come!!

Midnight rambler saying 'ma' is salaama'....