Tour on a Schedule? Not Sure it Works for Us

After setting own schedule for the last 6 months it is not easy to give up that responsibility – or more specifically, that level of control over our lives. We get up fairly late, we eat what we like, when we like and how we like; we go places we want, if we’re happy we stay longer, if we don’t like them we leave. We’ve avoided most of the touristy places in order to experience the way people live locally … though we keep ourselves well sorted out by being able to go back to our own enclave on Tara.

Now we’re in Egypt we’re on someone else’s schedule, looking at things that they want, when they want and we’re chafing a bit around the collar. Things are not made easier by being in Egypt. The difference between what we’re used to and day-to-day life here is immense. Every building is incomplete – ostensibly to save taxes; litter is everywhere; vendors accost you to an extent it is highly unpleasant. It’s enough to drive you quite crazy – but then looking back on the photos, it’s also an unbelievable place, the level of antiquities is nothing short of amazing, and we’re with a good group of people.

Perhaps it’s the level of intensity – the pace at which we’re seeing things, or perhaps getting up really early, or perhaps it’s that we’re not being fed regularly enough. Although as Marina quipped this morning: AFR, AFT (something we learned from our friends Gerry and Ellen, Another eFfing Ruin, Another eFfing Temple). Our daily lives on Tara is a mix of wandering, touring, day-to-day living, and going places at a restrained, reasonable pace. We also mix in physical education (tennis, basketball, soccer, etc.) with touring and we generally try to have a good mix of different things to do. Maybe it’s because we are on such a different schedule than most, but I cannot help but feel that we’re happier to go at a pedestrian pace instead of that of a sprinter.

We started the tour on Saturday and have seen:
Day 1:
The Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx
The Egyptian Museum
Overnight Train to Aswan

Day 2:
Arrive at Aswan at 9:00
We skipped the trip to the Northern Dam and a temple
Camel ride across the desert; pickup truck ride; dinner at a Nubian Villager’s home

 Day 3:

03:30 wakeup call to go to Abu Simbel
04:00 depart Aswan by bus for Abu Simbel
7:30 Arrive at Abu Simbel
9:30 Leave Abu Simbel
14:00 Arrive back at Aswan board Felucca for sailing trip up the Nile


Day 4:
06:30 Wakeup call on Felucca, dropped off on other side of River for bus
9:00 Bus ride to Kom Ombo and the Temple of Kom Ombo - tour the temple
10:30 Bus ride to Edfu and the Temple of Edfu - tour the temple
12:30 Bus ride to Luxor, arrive 14:00, retire to room for a beer and a pizza, get ready for dinner

Especially when we are comfortable with getting up late, eating when we like, and going where we want – It is definitely an adjustment!