Take the Egyptian Yale river wheel, and let the morning and dusk line of the Nile connect you with the dusk and dawn of ancient civilizations under the watchful eyes of pharaohs and gods.
Every dusk, as the sun slowly sinks behind the huge stone pillars of Luxor Temple, the pigeons perched in the niches between the pillars will take off on time. They draw a “V” in the coral sky, circling along the skyline, circling and circling the most important religious shrine of ancient Egypt. Following the track of the pigeons, my eyes landed on the “Avenue of the Gods” connecting Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple. On both sides of the avenue, solemn statues of ram heads silently guarded. On distant festivals, ancient Egyptians used to follow this path, thanking the generous gifts of the Nile and performing sacred rituals. When we walk through the banks of the Nile River, those temples standing among the river beaches, sand dunes and green fields all show the wisdom and piety of ancient Egyptians beyond the times. Even in the mausoleum 200 meters underground and composed of hundreds of tombs, every carving on the wall is still exquisite, without any compromise. Time flies, and the Zahra, a brig with a 50-meter-high mast, is trying to reproduce that extraordinary spirituality and aesthetics in contemporary design language. It was created by local Egyptian designers and invested by local rich people, symbolizing the “comeback” of the glory of ancient Egypt in modern times. Every corner of the ship is a tribute to ancient Egyptian civilization: from the drawer wrapped in papyrus to the tapestry hanging in the cabin; From the embroidery depicting panoramic views of the Nile, to the starry ceiling that echoes the tomb of Seti I. Almost all the objects on board were made by Egyptian craftsmen: teak floors, hand-woven carpets, carved plaster washbasins, Hermes cushions inspired by ancient Egyptian symbols, and even dining table inlays all borrowed from the decoration of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. There is also a sauna hidden on the main deck, and the study is like a desert oasis outside the living room. The ship accommodates up to 12 guests and features four double cabins and two suites. What’s special is that all cabins are located below the waterline, so you’ll wake up with a view level with the Nile. In the days of the Pharaohs, it was believed that ships could carry light across the sky and bring the gods to earth. Staying here seems to have experienced such a sacred journey. Tranquility is the main theme of the 200 km voyage from Luxor to Aswan. The Yale has no roar of engines and is only towed silently by a tugboat. At night she moored beside secluded islands; Early in the morning, you will wake up to the sound of birdsong or buffalo calls in the river. 🕳
