The Omar El Khayam is much better equipped than the Mayfair which we were on earlier this week. On the top deck there is a quite a reasonable sized swimming pool, 2 spas, lots of deck chairs with shade as well as a bar where I can see an espresso machine. Maybe I can get a decent latte later on. But first thing this morning, our ship starts sailing at 7am for a short journey to be right in front of the Abu Simbel Temples which we saw last night and where we had the Light and Sound show. The early morning sun on them makes them very photogenic. After breakfast, our time is our own until lunch time except for a safety drill at 10am. We can swim, use the little gym, have a massage, play pool or simply laze around which is a pleasure after having been on the move for the last 5½ weeks. The alarm rings at 10am and we rush to the top deck with our life jackets as instructed. The crew counts the people present and that's it! No instruction about what to do if there is an emergency! Let's hope there isn't one and judging by the weather forecast, I think we are very safe......blue skies and temps from 22 - 36.

I take the plunge and order a cappuccino or latte from the bar on the pool deck. The Nubian bar tender does his best but sadly it is probably the worst coffee I've had on this trip. He uses full cream milk but I think the cow must have been incredibly low fat for no sooner as he presents the coffee to me, the froth totally dissolves leaving a muddy bitter tasting liquid behind. Not wanting to offend him for trying so hard, I drink most of it but declare "only tea from now on!" The masseur wanders around the deck trying to drum up business from the 32 passengers. I feel sorry for him but decide that I would prefer a female masseur thanks very much. Instead I give my custom to the shop keeper on board for some silver Nefertiti earrings and a silver cartouche which is a oval pendant with my name in hieroglyphics.

Lunch is a buffet which allows us to try all sort of Egyptian and other culinary delights which are hard to resist and are definitely not good for the waistline! Oh well - only in Egypt once. Our shore excursion today is to the Temple of Amada, the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia constructed in 1500 BC. A tender takes us to the sandy shore and we trudge along a rocky path in the sand to the temple which was moved in one block to where it stands now. The monument was separated from its base and set on wheels to be moved 6 miles on tracks which took 6 months to do. Once again we stand in awe at the ingenuity and artistic abilities of the ancient civilization and the dedication of the international team which came up with the solution of how to dismantle and re-erect this ancient monument.