Aswan

We travelled from a relatively cool Alexandria (fleece grade) to a hot and sunny Aswan.  The town is on the northern end of the First Cataract marking ancient Egypt's southern frontier.  In ancient times it was a garrison town for the military campaigns against Nubia.  In modern times it might be more closely associated with Agatha Christie's writing of Death on the Nile!

A visit to the fabulous Nubia Museum gave a good foundation for seeing the area.  

The town is in a beautiful setting which we enjoyed from a felucca on the Nile.  We were off the felucca and onto camels to make the journey of a few miles across the desert to the Monastery of St Simeon.  The fortress like structure surrounded by desert sands was first built in the 7th century.  At its height 1000 monks were here. 

We finished the day having dinner outside gazing at the stars (no fleece required).