Tried to get on the 8am bus for Abu Simbel but was denied. I was told that tourist weren't allowed on the bus (it isn't safe for us) and that the only way to get there was to fly. This despite talking to people who went yesterday and the day before. By the time the bus was due to leave there were twelve of us who wanted on. Aparantly someone felt a little threatened because five police showed up to escort us to someone we could talk abou the restriction with. Of course that person doesn't show up until 9, and all he can tell us is that maybe the road will be open next month, and unofficially that the bus company is not supposed to take tourist but sometime it does - maybe we could try again tomorrow.
The next eight hours are spent lounging in the sun and relaxing as the felucca tacks back and forth down the Nile. When it got to hot I abandoned my fear of swimming in the Nile and the afternoon is spent drying in the sun then getting wet again as we head North (the Nile is the only major river that flows North). We beach the boat and have a peaceful (and delicious) lunch of somekind of vegitable mush the captain has made. As the sun sets we beach the boat for the night. I get one final swim then it's time for dinner (a different, but still tasty, kind of veggie mush with pasta).
My traveling companions are the crew (two Egyptions), another American (Mark, he's just finished four year in the Peace Corps in Thailand), two Mexicans (Roberto and Alex from Mexico City), two Dutch men (Fuko and ? and an New Zelander (Hamish). The Mexicans and the Dutch guys are only interested in getting (or more accurately staying) stoned, but that keeps them mellow and the other two guys are interesting.
