Wake up call - 2:50AM to join to convoy of vehicles heading across the desert to the famous Abu Simbel. At the front of the convoy there is a police escort and checkpoints throughout the journey, keeping an eye on who is travelling and whether or not they have a permit.
The journey to Abu Simbel is 280k along a road boardered by desert only. Very funny (and frightening at times) as each bus competes for its place in the convoy. Every couple of minutes we would be passing someone and then that very same bus would be passing us again. They are very competitive drivers - suppose it passes the time! I decided that it was best not to look, so took the chance to grab a bit of catch up sleep, until I needed to go to the toilet that is - no toilets enroute, so the bus had to stop whilst I found a rock to hide behind. The girls had a good laugh at my expense - I've never had a very strong bladder!
Abu Simbel is something that should not be missed. We rounded the corner and there it was in all its glory..... The Great Temple is dedicated to Ramesses II and a statue of him is seated with three other gods within the innermost part of the rock-cut temple. The temple's facade is dominated by four enormous seated statues of the Pharaoh (each over 20 metres or 67 feet high), although one has been damaged since ancient times. Alongside his temple is a small temple Ramesses had built, which he then dedicated to his favourite wife, Nefertari.
On return to Aswan later that afternoon we decided that it was high time to kick back on the sundeck next to the pool overlooking the nile with a bottle of champagne.....so that's just what we did.
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