Switching Hats: Setting Up Base in Ancient Syene
Taking a “second breakfast” just across the street from the Colossai of Memnon in Luxor.
Our "Biblical Egypt" tour group safely headed back to the States last night. They were a good bunch!
Instead of joining them, I packed my bags and flew back to the deep south of Egypt. I just checked into my room in Aswan for the next eight days, and was pleased to discover my front door is just 35 feet from the Nile River. I’m looking out my window at Elephantine Island as I write these words.
I plan on using this location as a scouting base to explore the region for future tours.
View to one branch of the Nile with Elephantine Island on the far side.
The Biblical Connection
During the late Old Testament period, Aswan was known as Syene. It holds significant history and is explicitly mentioned twice in the prophetic book of Ezekiel (29:10 and 30:6).
Stay tuned, because I will be sharing more about the history of this place in the coming days.
River row at the Obilisk Nile Hotel for the next week.
Surviving the Deep South
Of course, scouting new location comes with its own challenges.
The bad news: It is currently a scorching 119°F (48°C) outside.
The good news: It is a “dry heat” and my laundry dries quickly.
We plan to be back in Egypt in 2027. Group excursions are planned for Jan 1-9, Jan 22-Feb 3, Mar 30-Apr 8, and Oct 19-28. Seats are available. To learn more about these or other trips with Bible Land Explorer, follow the link here. Discover the place where faith begins!
