Today we arrived in Aswan. Had some really beautiful cruising through Nubia to get there, and it was another lovely day. We were all pretty keen to get out and explore, but were a little handicapped by a lack of maps, direction, and the major problem of not having any idea what we were supposed to be doing that day, so we didn't want to miss a tour activity by going ashore without knowing when to come back. Once again, we watched the lucky Dutch with their tour leader who knew how to get up before midday leave the boat armed with maps and instructions to do what they wanted and be back by midday for a felucca trip. We on the other hand, hung around waiting. Eventually we got fed up, and went and knocked on our tour leader's door, only to discover that the cabin was unoccupied (We later found out he'd moved cabins without telling anyone). Anyway, we ended up asking the boat captain for some directions to an ATM and pharmacy for some of the tour members who were by now quite ill, and set off. Went to the souk, and really enjoyed it. Very much more laid back and friendly than Luxor, and we got some good stuff (more scarves!) and Tamz got a carving of a boat she was after. She also bought me a black cat carving to cheer me up (I was getting really unbearably cranky about our ludicrously bad tour leader).
Went up on deck to lie by the pool when we got back - most of the tour were heading off on a Felucca cruise and then to the Nubian village for dinner, so it was just Nick and I for most of the afternoon (and the sick tour members hanging out in their cabins). Had the Galabeya party that night - very quiet, but the Sufi dancer was amazing.
