Instead of getting into the felluca, we took an air-conditioned cabin aboard the Jaz.  Its one of many Nile cruise boats.  Not quite a ship.  But at 300 feet, too long to be considered a boat.  Anyway - here is the captain - navigating with absolutely no electronics (no depth sounder, no autopilot, no GPS) along the narrow and heavily trafficked Nile.  We were quiet when we visited the bridge.

Strange things began to happen elsewhere on ship, though.  We returned to our room to find that Lyell and Mason's stuffed friends had been busy with the towels.

Or was it that the towels had been busy with the stuffed friends - and the television?!

Its hard to say, but I suggest you try to dry yourself after a shower with one of these babies...

Nonetheless, the cruise was a total highlight.  Not only did they take good care of us and ferried us to places of historical interest, it was terrific just to sit on the deck and watch the Nile go by.

And all too soon, we were on our way.