What is all the hype about Abu Simbel for > is it worth
purchasing a plane ticket to go there? It's sout west of
Luxor, right? Could someone please inform me about this.
Furhtermore, if i fly into cairo, should I go up to
alexandria, before making my way down the nile?
thanks
Kolte
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A few years ago, don't know exactly when, you could drive
or bus to Abu Simbel. I think, but I was asleep for the
entire 4 hour journey, that it was by convoy, such as
between Luxor and Aswan. Since the massacre in Luxor last
year it seems that the road has been 'closed' and tour
companies are now flogging flight packages to visit the
site. Now, beacuse the visit to Abu is effectively an
optional tour people are questioning whether they should
pay to see it. Personally, I've seen it once and that was
enough, but it is quite spectacular and worth the visit. No
doubt the road will re-open one day and people can again do
the long drive there and back. As to Alexandria, I like the
place. It lacks the hustle and bustle of Cairo and I have
been there at the end of a trip around Egypt. I had heaps
of trouble finding a decent bottle of whiskey in the town,
but maybe things have improved now. It has a few
interesting monuments, and a nice, usually uncrowded,
museum of Greco Roman history. Being on the seaside, it is
cooler than elsewhere in Egypt. My advice would be to try
and get to Siwa. Then you'll see something really
different...I hope it's still as nice as it was 4 years ago.
Yes take a boat from Assouan to Abu Simbel; I did it and it
was a wonderful trip . The probleme, is you need about 3
days. During the trip you stop to visit other temples very
interesting and without tourists because it's impossible to
visit them expect in going on boat.
An d if you do thaht don't forget to have a swim in the
Nasser Lake; it's really clean and the water is not to
fresh.
After the visit you can come back to Assouan with α bus ;
it's about 4 hours across the desert.
I think the boat should be a little to expensive and you
need to get some informations in your country ( travel
agency)
Post #2 is risking her health by swimming anywhere in
Egypt!! You can easily easily easily catch a nasty parasite
which causes a very debilitating disease called
schistomiasis.
.
This is what the Centre for Disease control
says:
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, is found in fresh
water in the region, including the Nile River. Do not swim
in fresh water (except in well-chlorinated swimming pools)
in these countries.
I have swum in the Nile on a number of occasions. I had the
ususal trepidation about catching nasty bugs but our
boatdrivers (?) used the Nile as their bath. They explained
to us that the nasties tend to inhabit still water,
particularly in the Nile Delta and lake areas. If you have
ever swum in the Nile then you will know just how
incredibly strong the current is. I personally feel no
threat to follow the advice of these healthy locals. Do
some of your own research into these threats and make up
your own mind.
Yes I am after had a bath in the Nile and in the Nasser
Lake. It's true you should be carefully if the place is next
to a city or if the water is still. Usally I'm really
carefully with disease but I trust my egyptian guide for thr
nile part; About the lake don't be afraid it's really clean
since only 2 or 3 boats are allowed to go from Assouan to
abu simbel!
At least we were 8 persons and everybody was safe even after
one year.
Bilharzia may be a problem in other parts of Egypt, but Lake
Nasser is free of it, so you can swim there. Just watch out
for the crocodiles, and don't take any home with you, or
you'll have trouble with customs.
I think the orignal question was "is Abu worth the
effort?" The answer is yes, but if you can spend the
night, much more so. The road is closed and plane is the
only access. Egypt Air pumps people in all day long, but
it quiets down and sunset and sunrise (when the temple are
at their most sublime). I believe personally it is worth
the effort to get their if at all possible.
PS thousands of Egyptian locals die or become ill each year
as a result of swimming in either the Nile or Lake Nassar.
You are taking an enormous risk.
Kolte,
Abu Simbel is a must!!!
I had exactlty the same thoughts as you "Its for south"
but Im telling you, you'll not miss it. It is worth every
penny.
Ellen