May 23, 2009 – Day 149 – Luxor, Egypt

The air was stale, hot, unmoving and the sun’s heat was beating down upon the city of Luxor in a most unforgiving manner. But as soon as my foot touched the rocking felucca tied up to a seemingly ancient dock, the air turned sweet and pleasant as if indicating what was to come. Our captain welcomed us above the Isis and introduced his first mate and youngest son, Ali Baba.

Ali Baba on the Isis

The wind from the Nile danced across my cheek and the afternoon sun seemed less harsh glistening off the water. The felucca gently, efficiently cut through the river’s tiny waves from passing motor boats. Completely under the spell of the Nile and watching the sails flutter with soft flapping sounds, I barely noticed when we landed at Banana Island. As its name suggests, Banana Island is home to a sizeable banana plantation where felucca tours, even private ones, insist on going to show tourists the ”wild bananas” and, more accurately, to kill a few hours until sunset. We weren’t terribly enamoured with the plantation or the ”free” bananas that someone half-heartedly pressed us to pay for and were eager to get back on the boat.

Boat on the water

We can be on land anytime but spending time of sailboats is something quite rare for us! After two and a half hours of reading books we had stashed in Saben’s daybag, we were finally beckoned back to the felucca to resume our delightful trip on the Nile.

Lin on the Isis

The Isis

It was a lovely sunset and we were reluctant to have to get off the boat and go back to our hostel. It was such a nice trip, although we only got to spend maybe 45 minutes on the water (the most fun part!) and well worth the money spent (around $10 pp before tip).

Sunset on the Nile