From Cairo, we flew down to Aswan so that we could go and see Abu Simbel.  In addition to the extraordinary views, Lyell got the ankh, which I think means he will live forever.  Or something like that.  My reading of hieroglyphics is not quite 100%.

Abu Simbel is just a day trip.  But we spent a few more days in Aswan, doing all sorts of things.  Like admiring how people carry things.

And how good things smell.

We took a rid on a felluca - a lateen rigged sailboat built for the Nile. 

Our captains took great care of us and were ready to take the boys all the way to Luxor aboard the felluca.

Im pretty sure that Mason would have gone if we would have let him.  Sailing on the Nile at sunset is pretty....

Heres what it all looks like from above.

However - we had things to do.  More smells to smell.

More historical artifacts to touch.

Or oggle, depending on your approach.

And even hills to climb.  Early, of course, before it gets too hot.