Wednesday – February 13, 2019
The Mojito spent the night in Kom Ombo and early the next morning our riverboat cruised northward back toward Luxor. We were now moving with the current. The day was a little overcast, but it didn’t deter the vendors on the river.
It had been after dark a few days ago when we passed through the locks on the Nile River southbound on our way to Aswan. But today we all watched our boat maneuver through the narrow passageway.
It wasn’t quite the magnificent Panama Canal, but nonetheless, fun to watch The Mojito “squeeze” into the lock. Trucks and donkey carts passed over the bridge above us.
Afterwards, Jeff and I settled into comfortable chairs on the top deck and relaxed and watched the ever-changing shoreline of the Nile.
Sometime in the afternoon, Maged called us to visit “the Bridge” and give our regards to the captain of The Mojito. He was an older gentleman who had worked his way up the ranks of Nile River boats since his youth. He had started with rowboats and feluccas, then skippered larger dahabiyas and other motor boats. He has been piloting and steering large commercial tourist boats for the last 15 years.
It was interesting to see the Bridge and the crew’s ‘bird’s-eye view.’ The captain sat with his legs folded beneath him on a high wooden chair. As our group entered the Bridge, he smiled but kept his intense gaze on the river.
Tonight, we had a special dinner of duck prepared by the very proud chefs. Pigeon had also been on the menu another night.
The entertainment for the evening was a three-piece musical ensemble playing for a belly dancer and a Whirling Dervish.
The sunset over the west bank of the Nile River tonight was spectacular!
