I am back in the internet cafe for a few more minutes before we take a carriage ride through the streets of Luxor then board the overnight train back to Cairo. So I will try and pick up where I left off.

Our dinner in Aswan was so fun. We took a boat to an island in the Nile and had the restaurant all to ourselves. There were so many traditional Nubian (southern egyptian...what used to be Sudan) dances and songs and even some crowd participation. It was so fun to dance to the music and clap along. The next morning we had to wake up at 3:30am to be a part of a convoy to Abu Simbel. It is only forty miles away from the Sudanese border, so we met up with some armored cars (the tourist police are everywhere, so we always feel quite safe). There were about fifteen other buses in our group, so it was kind of exciting. The drive was three hours, so we got to watch the sunrise over the desert before we arrived at the temples. They were actually moved in order for the high dam to be built. Lake Nasser currently covers the original location, so seeing the immense temple and realizing it had been moved was incredible. And the lake was so beautiful...it is the largest man made lake in the world!

After visiting the temple we returned back to Aswan and boarded our cruise ship. We it was so beautiful, had super good food, and a pool on the top deck so we could swim with views of the Nile. That afternoon we took a boat ride to a Nubian village. We were able to sit on the roof of the boat and we rode around all these beautiful islands and then came to the village. We went to the school and learned the arabic alphabet (which I don't remember at all) and then went to someone's house for some nice cool drinks. They had an crocodile in the middle of their house and we got to hold the baby ones, so now I can say that I held a nile crocodile! All the little kids came up and tried to get us to buy things. That is one really hard part about walking the streets here, having people, especially young children, come up and ask you to look at their shop. I always feel so rude and ache for the kids who are always on the streets working, so I guess you could say I am doing my part to support the Egyptian economy. Good thing I have a job lined up this summer...

After the boat ride we watched the sunset, ate dinner, then went back to the market place. I managed to come away with only two minor purchases...well, three, and so I felt pretty good about that. That night Jocelyn and I went to the deck of the boat and wrote in our journals, and ended up falling asleep up there. Woops!

The next morning we woke up early again to visit more temples...this time the temple of Philea. We got to take a boat out there again so that was nice. Then we saw the high dam (Aswan Dam, pretty famous for modern egyptian history. And built by communist russia so there are some interesting monuments in the area). Then we went to the Al Fayed perfume palace and saw how they made pure perfume and aromatherapy, as well as lovely glass blown bottles. Jocelyn and I made quite a few purchases there as well, and while we were finishing up the bus left without us! We went out the door and saw it going down the street, but luckily we were given many offers of help and marraige so we wouldn't have been destitute. And it did turn around. We went to one more temple which I forget the name of and then continued our cruise and sat poolside, soaking up the glorious egyptian sunshine. Whenever we passed villages the children would wave and some locals would even try and swim out to the boat. It was pretty fun. That night on the cruise after dinner was Egyptian night, and we all dressed up like Egyptians and there was music and dancing and games....it was wild!

The next day we woke up early, as usual, and visited Edfu temple. Then we went back to the boat, cruised for a while, went to a market, and then went back to the boat for pool time. I also indulged in an hour long massage and 15 minute facial for less than $30. It was so amazing! I do feel a bit spoiled and in the lap of luxury here. That night after dinner there was belly dancing, and a few of us girls from Fox were brought up to the stage. Needless to say my dancing skills hardly rival the egyptian lady next to me, but it was still quite memorable.

Yesterday we left the boat and went to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and saw all the ancient tombs. The paintings on the walls are intact in many cases and it is so fascinating. They are thousands of years old, and still incredibly beautiful and full of detail! It is illegal to take pictures (this is the case in a lot of the temples) but I tried to sneak a few illegal photos. After that we went to an Alabaster factory and saw how they made Alabaster. I think the locals know I am a softie because when it was time to shop, they came straight for me, called me Shakira (that was weird) and gave me necklaces and soda and promised to make a good deal. I managed to get them down to less than half of what they originally asked for, but I definitely had to bat my eyelashes a few times :). After that we visited the temple for Hatshepsut, a famous female pharoah, and pretty much were dripping with sweat. It was over 110 degrees! Needless to say the air conditioning of the local mcdonalds where we had lunch felt quite nice (I know...McDonals. But I did order a McArabia, pita bread and chicken, so hopefully that wasn't too American).

After lunch we went back to our hotel and the pool was beautiful again! Jocelyn and I grabbed our books and journals and went down as quickly as we could and it was so refreshing. We even ordered some strawberry lemon sherbert brought to our pool chairs! That night we had a bible study with our group and it was a good time of sharing and discussing the differences of being blessed and spoiled (it has been difficult to see the poverty while we are essentially living the high life). I do pray that God can take these experiences and what I have seen here and show me more of His love for the world and His people. I will definitely come home changed and with a new appreciation for the arabic culture and peoples, as well as for my own family and lifestyle. As a group we talked about how to those who have received much, much will be required. I am excited to see what great plans God has for each of the people on this trip, and how He will equip us for the much that he has required.

After the bible study we saw luxor temple at night, all lit up, it was gorgeous, and then went out to eat along the nile. Today we woke up early and saw our final temple then were free all day to nap and lay by the pool. it was great. well, my internet time is up! I can't wait to be able to share pictures with you all....it has truly been an experience of a lifetime!