Hi everyone
I have some problems with the itinerary in Aswan. I just feel that I need to let you all have a say in the changes I am suggesting.
There was a change I felt WAS NECESSARY and this means readjusting our Aswan touring itinerary. This is on March 24th after we return from Abu Simbel.
Wednesday, March 24
A very early start but this is a good thing to beat the heat and the crowds at Abu Simbel. We will have private guides with us to tour the temple. I believe this will be a highlight of the trip.
Old Program:
The itinerary shows on arrival back at the airport from Abu Simbel at 12.50 pm we would then visit the San Simeon Monastery and the Nubian Museum BEFORE lunch then to Basma Island for lunch.
I feel this was too much in the schedule after the early start, nothing to eat since a very early breakfast, the flights and touring Abu Simbel. Plus we would not be eating lunch until very late probably 4.00 pm in reality. We would ALL be dead. Every instinct in my bones says NO to this plan.
New Program:
On arrival from Abu Simbel at 12.50 pm we will go straight to lunch at Basma Island. After lunch we go back to the hotel. Those that wish can visit the Nubian Museum before dinner.
This is pretty logical decision and I think everyone would agree with me and I have already made that change.
The PROBLEM
The problem lies in the fact that certain things are only open on certain days. The biggest issue is the San Simeon Monastery which is causing all types of changes in the rest of schedule to fit this particular tour in during our stay in Aswan. I really feel the rest of the schedule in Aswan is perfect as it is. The only other time we can do San Simeon is the morning before we board the ship.
At this time we have the Temple of Philae scheduled to do the morning before we board the ship. The Temple is one of the highlights in my opinion and a perfect tour in the morning as you cross over in the boat. If we make the change to fit in the San Simeon Monastery it means we have to tour the Temple of Philae right after we land in Aswan at 2.40 pm. I do not like that idea at all. I feel that The Temple will be more crowded and we will be rushed. I think after the flight in we should go to the hotel – settle in, enjoy that facility and those that want to visit the Nubian Village can do so at 6.00 pm. All makes much more sense to me.
I have not been to the Monastery. Not sure if anyone reading this has been there. All tour operators want you to see EVERYTHING and looking at the Monastery on the web based on all the other wondrous things we will see it I do not think cutting this out will be any great loss and will give us a much better schedule of our time in Aswan.
HOWEVER, it is in the schedule and I feel that I must run this by you before I direct the tour operators to take this out of the plans.
This is the website I found that had the most information available so you can see what this is all about.
http://touregypt.net/featurestories/simeon.htm Give me your vote:
Cut out San Simeon which will allow the following
March 23 – Retain the original itinerary: Arrival in Aswan, straight to the hotel and the optional included tour of the Nubian Village at 6.00 pm
March 24 – Abu Simbel as laid out above with new changes
March 25 - Retain original itinerary: Temple of Philae/High Dam/Obelisk tour the morning before we board the ship.
Keep San Simeon in the schedule which means the following itinerary changes
March 23 - Arrival in Aswan at 2.40 pm – straight to the tour of the Temple of Philae/High Dam
March 24 - Abu Simbel as laid out above with new changes
March 25 - Morning of embarkation tour San Simeon and the Obelisk.
Sorry to come up with this issue but I was very unhappy with the plans for the day of March 24 and just really feel this had to change.
I am going to be emailing a letter with lots of other information but this is the key thing I felt I needed to get the groups seal of approval on before I changed anything.
I will also email this out to everyone to be sure it is seen.
