A village on the banks of the Nile. Most of the low buildings are constructed using locally made mud bricks; the 2 storey buildings are made of a reinforced concrete frame and mud brick infills. 

Luxor Temple - being dismantled as the foundations are in need of repair as they are being weakened by water from the Nile. This temple is 3,000 - 5,000 years old.

The Nile at Esna showing a new promenade being built. Note the builders are working barefoot and using very little, if any, mechanised tools. There is an important temple at Esna, dedicated to "Horus".

A horse drawn carriage called "Caleche" at Esna, used to provide a taxi service for tourists, from the Nile cruisers moored below to the Temple of Horus. 

A small building site showing the basic structure made from reinforced concrete and either mud or clay bricks to form the walls. Concrete is only poured at night, when it is cooler. If it was poured in the heat of the day it would probably set too quickly.

Some buildings in Esna opposite the entrance to the Temple of Horus. Esna is about 50 miles south of Luxor, on the Nile but on the opposite bank. There is a dam in Esna, used to control the water in the Nile. 

A bar / cafe in Esna. As Egypt is predominantly a Muslim country, alcohol is not generally available. 

A shop in Esna - how many "Western" products can you spot?

Donkey carts are very common as you can tell from this street scene. The Egyptians look after their animals well. 

A market stall is Esna selling water melons. 

A street in Esna

Market stall selling clothes and souvenirs to tourists. the rule here is never accept the first price, if you want to buy then haggle!

Train heading towards Aswan, taken from a Nile ship. As the ship headed south (upstream) towards Aswan the fertile strip of land  either side of the river became much narrower and the desert was much nearer the river. 

Hydroelectric power station at Aswan High Dam. There are 2 dams at Aswan; the "Aswan Dam" was built by the British at the end of the 19th century and the "Aswan High Dam" built by the Russians in the 1960s. The High Dam formed lake Naser which is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world.

Buildings in Aswan showing the infilling using either mud or clay bricks. The use of clay bricks seems to be taking over from the use of the mud variety.

Inside a spice and perfume shop in the bazaar in Aswan - it is called "Isis Spices"

Street scene in Aswan Bazaar - taken from the driving position of the horse drawn caleche. 

From a caleche in Aswan - the Nile is just to the right of this picture. 

Balconies on a building in Aswan. Note how close the power supply cables are to the balconies. 

Bazaar scene in Aswan

Egyptian man wearing traditional clothes

Street scene in Aswan showing a small mosque

Nubian boy in home made canoe on the Nile in Aswan

Apartments above a corner shop

Rowing boat on the Nile just below the lock at Esna

Street Bazaar at Esna

Lock at Esna - there is a small dam here that is used to control water levels in the Nile

Donkey cart

External facade of the main temple at Abu Simbel