WBA in Egpyt: Aswan Part II

One of the highlights of Aswan is Elephantine Island-- an island in the center of the Nile that is home to the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti. People have lived on this island since 3000BC. Today, there are approximately 5,000 inhabitants in the two Nubian villages. It is a small, intimate community where everyone knows everyone else. It's a small, quiet village that preserves a provincial lifestyle I thought long extinct. The majority of the islanders are Muslim, consistent with the rest of Egypt.

Mud huts for animals.

Sheep, chickens, and other animals roam freely along the dirt paths.

Views of the Nile.

Our lovely guide Akhmed-- a 22-year-old Nubian just released from the army.
"I only give tours to pretty girls," he explained.

This is roughly the site where Akhmed tried to convince us to change our travel plans (both to Luxor and our return to Israel), stay in Aswan for a few more weeks, and smoke "dangerous Maria" with him instead.

Best travel buddy ever.

Strolling the alleys of the village.

The Nubian House--
tea house decorated with stuffed Nile crocodiles.