Hello and welcome to this bedtime story.
This bedtime story takes you on a journey on a Nile through Egypt.
In doing so you can relax,
Let go and release the baggage of everyday life.
Everything is recorded to participate for this moment and you as the listener can directly enter the journey.
Before we start find a nice position,
Relax and make yourself comfortable.
It's time to explore this beautiful part of the world.
Months of planning and finding out everything there is to know about this place has finally paid off.
It's time to explore this beautiful part of the world.
It's a sunny and hot morning and you are ready to board a Nile cruise.
You are waiting to explore the Nile on a boat and you are looking forward to making wonderful memories.
Now is your chance to experience the wonderful beauty of Egypt.
The passengers around you are already excitingly waiting for this journey to begin.
It's a rather small ship so everything is a little more personal than on a large fleet.
Now it's time to experience all the signs that so many have only read about or seen in movies.
Finally you are off on the adventure of your lifetime.
You walk along the deck on the ship and wait for it to leave the dock.
For over 5000 years the Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt and there is probably no better way to explore this wealth of Egyptian history than with a Nile cruise.
After what feels like an eternity the ship sets off from the dock.
Everyone is full of excitement and wonder as they look out over the horizon from the beautiful ship.
You hear the happy laughter,
The splashing and the voices of the passengers.
As you walk to the railing of the ship you see a handful of children soaked from head to toe,
Splashing each other with water with big smiles on their faces.
As different as every part of the world seems to be we all love to play in the water.
There is just something about the water that everyone loves,
No matter where we live.
As the ship sails down the Nile you can see fishermen in rowboats a few feet away.
Farmers in long robes,
Leaked donkey carts loaded with sugarcane along the shore and there are black buffalo and pure white herons in the shade,
Standing in the shallow water.
It's a glorious day to explore this amazing part of the world and now is the opportunity.
Guests wave to passengers on the huge cruise ships that pass by,
Drafting our small but lovingly designed wooden ship.
The wooden ships like ours were used a hundred years ago when the enthusiasm for Egypt was still new by vacationers who visited the river,
The tombs and buildings at a leisurely pace.
The Nile is 4000 km long and flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
It is one of the few major rivers in the world that flows north and has given life to millions of people who have been on its banks for thousands of years.
The Nile is most commonly associated with Egypt but it also flows through a number of other African countries.
Without the Nile ancient Egypt would not have existed.
The magnificent pyramids of Giza were once completely encased with white limestone.
This limestone comes from as far as 1000 km away and has been brought to the pyramids on the Nile.
The beautiful ship consists of only six cabins making it different from the normal cruise ships.
It is bright and colorful in design with a friendliness that fills every part of the ship.
On its trip,
Because of its size,
You are closer to the water.
Everything feels much more personal.
Because the number of passengers is so small,
The crew can easily learn your name and what you want during this excursion.
No one is rushed,
No one is in a hurry and everything is peaceful on this cruise.
Passengers take photos of the horizon and the passing cities.
Everyone gets a glimpse into the lives of the locals.
For some time you just sit on the deck.
Here and there a fresh breeze brushes your skin,
While the warm rays of the sun warm you.
You close your eyes,
Enjoy the sound and the peaceful atmosphere.
After some time on the river,
We arrive at the site and embark on a short tour.
Most sites are even more breathtaking in person and this one is no different.
The monuments and decorative flowers are breathtakingly beautiful.
The columns and sphinx are even more myesthetic in full size than photos could ever show.
You let your eyes wander over the sides,
Taking in all the colors and smells and allowing yourself just to be,
While you enjoy your surroundings.
There are more than 60 tombs in the valley of the kings,
But only a few are open to the public.
As we slowly enter the tombs,
Your heart is flooded with many emotions.
This is something that many have always dreamed of,
But never thought they would ever get the chance to experience.
Being here and now is a dream come true.
The tombs are more breathtaking than you should ever imagine.
The impressive chambers shine in the light of the brilliant sun.
Everyone wants to take in as much of it as possible.
There are several staircases and a long corridor.
Every inch of the walls and ceilings tells a story.
Nothing is left undone.
The burial chamber is full of colorful scenes on the walls and astronomical depictions on the ceiling.
Even if you try to look at everything,
You know you'll miss something because there's just so much to see.
You could spend days there without seeing everything on the walls and ceilings.
Many try to stay as long as possible without slowing the group down too much.
After visiting the tombs,
You'll have some time to explore on your own and browse the local market.
The market is right on the Nile.
The shopkeepers are very nice.
Hangling is a fun part of the experience.
There are the handmade bags of all colors and many tables of clothes,
Jewelry,
Shirts,
Clothes,
Statues,
Spices and everything else you would expect to find in a local market.
You spend some time just enjoying the sun and the lapping of the water on the shore.
At a bathing spot,
You will see the occasional tourist bathing in the Nile.
You might buy a book at the market to read while listening to the water lapping or just enjoy the time to pause and take in the surroundings.
It's nice not to be in a hurry,
Not looking at a list of things to do,
Just being.
Nothing more.
Just like that,
You enjoy the surroundings.
Pause,
Close your eyes and rest for a moment.
A whistle blows and everyone in the group knows the boat is about to leave.
Like on the ship,
Everyone is happy with the experience they've had.
You enjoy a cup of tea on deck with a breathtaking view of the river.
Letting the silence of this situation take over,
Enjoying the surroundings passing by.
Everyone is exhausted and it's quieter.
You notice the sounds around you.
Breathe in and out deeply.
The sun is slowly setting and everyone is tired after the busy day.
As night falls,
You decide to go to your cabin.
It's bigger than the usual cruise ship ones.
Lots of natural wood and colonial style fixtures with a touch of the Orient.
There is no TV in the cabin,
Which is probably fine.
You get to escape the world after all and it can't matter what's on during prime time.
It doesn't have to bother you that there is no pool on deck,
No fancy dinner shows,
And that's fine too.
Gratitude unfolds for this time.
Gratitude for being able to rest and relax.
Gratitude for a small,
Cozy ship where you can experience everything so close.
Gratitude to explore faraway lands and see the wonders of this world we all dream of.
You're just grateful and make yourself comfortable on your bed.
Rest and dose a bit.
Darkness settles over your surroundings like a gentle veil.
Out of your window you see a flicker here and there,
Lights of the cities pass you by.
The stars reflect in no clear water.
You are exhausted after this long day and the many impressions.
What remains is the feeling of peace.
Already tomorrow a new day is waiting for you,
When the boat docks in Luxor.
Until then,
Sweet dreams.
Have a good night.
