Is it worth it? Yes. Is it dangerous? Not at all. Fortunately, we picked right since day one. We stayed at the City Max Hotel in Aswan, which probably has the best view and location around the city. Moreover, their customer service is top notch and they will accommodate all your needs. Trust me, I am usually a very picky customer and I am definitely not affiliated with any hotels. This one just stood up to me. Especially in Egypt, where tourists are just used as ATM’s.
This hotel checked us in before the regular hours, and provided us with a very comfortable room that had a welcome gift: a plate full of fresh fruits. Exactly what we needed as we were very hot and had been on the road for hours. As we freshen up, we noticed that the hotel had a pool service and a 24/7 on call doctor! What are the odds!
We went up to the pool (it was a freezing) at the end of our first day in Aswan to watch the sunset across the Nile. Impressive, gorgeous, unforgettable. Then asked the reception for the breakfast hours. We were leaving to Abu Simbel at 4 am and wanted to know if there was a chance to get something to eat before hitting the road. Turns out that the hotel usually prepares pre-packed breakfasts that you can take in a very pretty box. They also offer the wake up call service.
The next day was not hassle. Our boxes ready to go as soon as we went down. Inside they had some bread, pastries, fruit and juice. Yummy! Very good start. As it was still dark, I didn’t eat. I slept most of the way. The 4 am schedule is regular for tourists as buses need to be following an early morning convoy. The total trip time was almost 4 hours.
We arrived to the location a little after 7 am. The place was barely crowded, so we got our tickets and started with The Temple of Ramses II with no one else around! The temple was not very big, but it didn’t disappoint. The main corridor lead us through a hallway that ended with a four well carved structures. On the sides we found enclosed rooms, that seemed more like a carved caverns with low light, but incredible details.
We took amazing photos and suddenly were approached by the guard. He asked us for a photo pass that we didn’t know we needed. We offered to go back and get it (although the entrance was far away). As usual, he just asked money in return. The bribe allowed us to continue with the adventure, no questions asked.
Next to Ramses II stands The Temple of Nefertair, which is very small and compact. Rich in detailed carvings, it is well woth to visit. The twin temples were built in the 13th century BC to commemorate Ramses II victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Indeed, a must see!
Wookitu 