Time to go home

In six days that we sent in the desert we met many people. Local fisherman’s that live by catching fish and living in the hard conditions, local guides, our colleagues from England who were fishing with us.
One thing we knew for sure is that we are all the same - people who like fishing and that’s all that matter. Back then it didn't matter who we are Jew, Muslims, Christians the only thing that matter that we are all people.
We thought that we will have tranquility far from civilization, from technology, from people and from problems. The reality is that you can't escape from yourself and even in deserted place between freezing water and hot rocks woun’t bring you what you don’t have.
On our way home our guide started to sing Jewish song. We asked him how come he knows this song and he replied we are all people and nice songs belong to everybody.
Unfortunately for most people perception is reality what I found it is not always true. We met nicest people in Egypt who were patient what they were doing and who tied to help us any way they could.
Who know may be someday we will be back.

Five days on the lake. We caught so many fish we couldn't imagine. Every thing comes to the end. I am on a way home. In about 6 hours we are back in civilized world. Hot bath, air-condition rooms and swimming pools. In the world that, so close and so far from most of people.
Even in the desert we met people who are happy with what that have because it is not that important if you have a car or million dollar house what important is how you feel in this world. Most of the local people don’t have money but what they have is families, friends and jobs that they like.
On the way back we were passing by some modern villages that became deserted right after westerns build them. Our guide told us that locals prefer to stay in the traditional houses because they more comfortable in this climate.

crock

Another night on Nasser

Chris and his dad who cought largest fish from shore (80 lb)

Gena and tiger fish
Tigerfish are related to the feared piranhas of the Amazon but few people would equate them with the neon tetras commonly sold as aquarium pets. This large family of fish, the Characins are found in South America and Africa and include a huge range of diverse species. The scientific name of tigerfish translates to "striped water dog" and with their ferocious rows of sharp conical canine teeth they certainly resemble their namesake.

We had to let it go.
When Gena hooked this fish on very deep water it took about 20 min. for our guide to bring it to surface. At that point you don’t know who has to have more skills you or the guide.
High waves make it very difficult to keep boat in one spot. He has to maneuver the boat to make sure that line is always stretched.
Usually people use 40 lb line but imagine when you hook 125 lb fish on 40 lb line.
Once fish was floating on the top without taking it out of the water we towed it to the shore to make some pictures.
Suddenly couple of local fisherman came to us and started to talk. Even though fishing season was over and fishing is restricted in that area they were still there. For a lot of local people fishing is the only revenue that they have. Government relies that and don’t really care.
We took some pictures and our guide said that we have to take fish back on the deep water because locals will probably take it. One the local market fish like this would cost about 120 lb.
Fish was too tired and was floating on top. After half and hour in the deep water he let it go. All that time locals were watching from the shore and hoped we live so they can take fish.

Me , Gena and "mermaid"

And THE ONE. Gena's 125 lb pearch

Another one

Our fist trophies

Our supply boat took off first thing in the morning and we went fishing.
Supply boat that was provided by the company had everything: kitchen, shower, and toilet (even though you could use "De natural"). There were about 5 people on the boat. Cooks, maintenances people. They had to have all these people on board because we were two far from the town.

Me sleeping in the morning. Luxury accommodations

Morning

Night on the Lake

After full day full travel and fishing we finally had to stop for the night. Nice dinner and shower was waiting for us.
Even though we it was our 10th day in Egypt we couldn’t get use to the weather in the desert. All day in hot, dry climate with constant wind help you to appreciate what civilization brings you (air-conditions). Sometimes during the day it felt like we are in the hell. After one day we started to understand why locals wear their traditional cloth.
Fishing in the first day wasn’t that good. We caught couple of fishes but it was very exiting to see Nile Perch in the first time. We also met our colleagues from England Chris with his dad and Bob.

Fishing on Lake Naser

The main reason why we decided to visit Aswan was fishing. Lake Nasser one of the main destination for anglers from all around the world. Nile perch is one of the biggest fresh water fishes in the world growing up to 250 lb.
We thought it would be good idea to spend some time in total tranquility in the middle of desert on the river.
It sounds crazy but water is freezing cold with strong currents and air is about 105F with dusty wind.
Waves on the lake sometime reach 2m so sometimes it feels more like ocean then a lake. Lake connecting Egypt with Sudan. We had to travel about 6 hours from Aswan to fish. Our boat had two beds. We stayed not far from our main supply boat.

Aswan dam. Build by russians

One of the ancient temples

Aswan View from our Hotel

Aswan

Our last destination Aswan.
Aswan (ancient Syene), city in southern Egypt, capital of Aswan Governorate, on the Nile River, near Lake Nasser. Under the pharaohs, Syene was an important city near quarries that furnished the granite for many Egyptian temples. The period of greatest prosperity, however, was under the Romans. Modern Aswan contains many ancient architectural remains. The city's industries use hydroelectricity produced at the nearby Aswan High Dam. The Higher Industrial Institute (1962) is in Aswan. Population (1992 estimate) 220,000.

me

One of the largest Obelisks in the temple

Gena and sphinxes

Gena

The Hypostyle Hall
The hall is considered to be one of the world's greatest architectural masterpieces. Construction began during Ramesses I reign. He was the king who founded the Nineteenth Dynasty and was king for only one year. The work continued under Seti I (1306 - 1290 BC) Seti I also built the Temple of Abydos and many other temples. The hall was completed by Seti I's son, Ramesses II The effects that are produced inside the hall are much different than they were originally. The huge architraves are not above the capitals that tower above. Toward the center of the hall several architraves and windows that have stone latticework still remain.

Gena and statue of Ramesses II with his son between his feet.

Gena at the entrance of Karnak temple

Gena at the entrance of one of the toumbs

Luxor

Our next destination Luxor. About one hour flight from Cairo. Small town about 15000 people located on bank of Nile. It is famous by the Temple of Karnak and valley of the Kings. Some tombs still remain closed.
It was about 104F hot and 0 humidity. In spite of the heat we decided to visit tombs

Gena and me - rolling the boat

Cairo at night from Nile

At night we decided to take bight Nile cruise.

Gena and Cairo

Cairo


When you look at the Cairo you will se a lot of areas that look more like war zone. Gray houses some of them have two floors with the second floor never finished. Our guide told us that inside most of the houses are very nice. When people building a house they don’t finish it on purpose, so they don’t have to pay government taxes. They never report that house is finished. Cleaning outside of the house is very expensive and people don’t want to spend money for their house to look nice. That is why it looks pretty bad but almost every house has satellite dish next to it.

Gena inside of the mosque

mosque Mohamed Ali

It was built between 1828 and 1848. Perched on the summit of the citadel, this Ottoman mosque, the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th c., is, with its animated silhouette and twin minarets, the most visible mosque in Cairo.
It's outer courtyard is an ornate clock donated by the French, in exchange for the Obelisk that now stands in the Place de la Concorde, Paris. Unfortunately, the clock has never worked!

Gena outside of Cairo Museum

Tutankhamen mask

Me next to Sphinx.

Me (one the right ) and Gena

Sphinx

Egyptian special forces

Me an One of the Pyramids

Cairo

We had an early flight from Israel to Egypt. Because of the recent Israel antiterrorist activities plane was empty.
All we knew we are going to muslim country were jews are not welcome. But we didn't care.
Plane landed in Cairo international airport. We were very surprised when we saw armed people serounding our plane. Our flight attendant explained it is for extra security.
In airoport our travel agent met us and took us to one of the best hotels in the city on the bank of Nile. Shepherds hotel was build in 18's and located right next to US embassy.
Cairo one of the biggest city (about 20 million). It is very safe for tourists. You ca see army everywhere. Travel industry one of the biggest parts of the economy.
there are about 80% Muslim and 20 Christians living together without any problems. One of our guides - Muslim was singing Jewish traditional song and when we asked them how he knows the he replied - these great songs belong to all people. What the difference he said you and me we all have red blood. If you don’t talk about my god and I dont talk about your god we will all live happy.
In the morning we were going to see pyramids