But I digress.
I was woken yet again at around 4am by a phone call! I tried to contact a taxi driver the other day but got no reply. Since then he's phoned me twice at the same time, clearly trying to find out who had phoned him! I haven't answered off course due to the time but boy, is it annoying. I can't switch the phone off because it's my alarm too.
I got over to the travel agent, Jolleys, and saw the young man who had been doing his utmost to help me get a good boat. Basically, the original boat manager reneged on the deal, he wouldn't give me the cabin at the front that I booked.
Jolleys actually found me a better boat, the Nile Premium. This was once owned by the Minister for Tourism and he always travels the Nile on it himself. To my amazement, they've given me the top cabin deck and the first at the front, right next to the suites!
The boat is very different than any I've sailed on before. It's all monochrome and dark wood, like a floating Hilton hotel. It's a bit tired if you look but overall I'm really pleased for what I paid.
On the surface it's very good but when you really look at it properly it is, like so many others, in need of some TLC. The food is fine, not fantastic though, as it was described to me. The best are the desserts. OMG, when I got on the boat I had only eaten two full meals in a week, as I tend to just eat bits when I feel like it on these trips. Now I'm having three meals a day so I'm lucky I'm only on here for three days! The best thing on board is the shower, it's so powerful it nearly knocks me over!
I had intended to return to Luxor on the train,but the one I wasn't end to go is at 3pm and checkout from the boat is at 8am. My agent has said he can send a car for me,so I think I will take up his offer, get back early and then I won't have wasted a day.
The people on the boat are a mixture of Spanish, German, American and a few British. I seated at a single table so I just read a book when I'm dining. It's nearly full I think and when we sailed another boat followed us, so that's promising.
As I said the before, there are young children on board, just the age to spend their time steaming and running about all the time. The problem is that the sun loung ros are by the pool, the kids are by the pool and so there's no escape. I decided to use my earphones and listen to an audio book to drown them out. It doesn't work very well!
The worst was one of their mothers. I was totally stunned to see her on a lounger next to the pool and strip off her white T shirt! She was wearing a lacy black bra and decided to stay like that the whole afternoon! And this is in a Muslim country where there are strict rules regarding women's dress. I couldn't believe how disrespectful and rude she was being, particularly when a waiter served her. The trouble is that it's a big family party of about ten people so although I would tackle her myself if she were alone I'm not that brave to do it with so many of them!
It was really cloudy day sailing down the river. There were the usual sights on both river banks, men working on the land with their hoes, cattle wandering in the fields, children waving at the boat as it sailed past. Some of the houses are built right up to the edge and the colourful washing is thrown over the tops of the highest walls to dry in the sun.
It is such a 'gentle' way to get down to Aswan and I truly love the experience, despite the noise!
Things don't change though. I had found a quiet seating area at the back of the boat, a perfect little place to read with only the sound of the engines and the water as the boat ploughed down the river. Suddenly there was the sound of shouting And of course I looked around to see what was happening. Things don't change! There they were, the usual two men in a boat, hanging on to the side of our boat and shouting to tp get the attention of the passengers. On this occasion they were trying to sell galabiyas.
They travelled alongside for about half an hour then they gave up. There was no way they could make a sale as they were too low down and the cabin windows only open at the top.
Tonight is the Boat Manager's cocktail party at 7.30pm, so it's smart attire I think. After that it's dinner at 8pm.
I went down later for the party, which was just as well, as everyone was together in groups. I just got my welcome drink, sat in a corner and looked up the news on my phone. Once 8pm came I went down to dinner, then off to my cabin. I have a few films recorded so I watched half of one and then snuggled down for a good nights sleep.
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