Once again across the Nile to the Nubian village area, from our hotel which is on an island in the middle of the Nile. From the boat it is a stp and slippery climb up sand dunes to wher the camels wait. You can hear some of them groaning and moaning as camels do while they sit and wait for the crazy tourists. First you run the gauntlet from all the hawkers of hand made wares - or should I say stagger :-) it is not easy to run in sand - then the 'cameliers' start to call you to ride their particular camel. Of course you have no idea which camel is which or what and just go to whoever calls the loudest.
My camel's name was Bob Marley, and the Camelier Moustafa - but it seems 3/4s of the handlers are 'Moustafa', we haven't worked that one out yet!
It is a bit scary when they stand up, you feel like you will topple right off over the camel's head. You have to lean back as the camel raises up on his front feet, then rock forward and back as he raises his back legs. Sounds easy but it isn't as you feel like you are about to go flying and kiss the sand lol!
When the camels start their lolling gait you have to adjust to the movement AND for us novice camel riders hang on for dear life!
The track they walk is atop of the sand dunes along what seems to be a very narrow ridge. The rolling gait makes you feel like you are about to slip over the edge any second, right into the Nile below! After a while you do relax into the ride ( still hanging on for dear life though!). We rode atop of these tall 'ships of the desert' for about 25 minutes, until we reached the Nubian village itself.
What a pretty 'ancient other world pictureresque place. The Nubians live as their ancestors have done for generations, by choice. They do have the odd mod con, a small fridge here and there, ceiling fans, and in the tea house they have an air con, which looks decidedly odd in such a place.
We all had photos taken standing next to the camel we rode, Bob marley was grumpy when i stood next to him and patted his head, he grumbled and groaned, but lazily. Christy's camel really carried on a piece about the whole affair, they really are characters. Each camel has a distinct personality.
I'm running out of internet time so will edit and add to this later as I have more to tell. I also want to add to an earlier post... until later
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