Aswan: Nile at its Prettiest

Aswan: Aswan is a strategic location which currently houses a garrison of the Egyptian army, but which has also seen ancient Egyptian garrisons, as well as that of General Kitchener, Turkish troops of the Ottoman empire, and the Romans. In Aswan, the Nile flows through granite rocks and around emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. People since ancient times have visited the city; and many have considered it a favorite winter destination. I got carried away taking pictures of the Nile in this fabulous location.

Hometown of Al-Aqqad: The famous Egyptian writer, Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad (1889-1964) was born in Aswan. Poet, literary critic, and politician, he was one of the most important modernist writers and thinkers of the liberal era in modern Egypt. Beginning in the early 1950s, Al-Aqqad established a salon in his home that met every Friday. Its participants, who included some of the leading Egyptian intellectuals and artists of the day, discussed literature, philosophy, science, history, and other subjects. One of the most contentious topics of the salon was the role of Muslim women in society. Al-Aqqad, who reportedly had great respect for women, wrote three books on the subject, insisting in each of them that women should have the right to participate fully in society, as opposed to the severely restricted role they were relegated to orthodox Islam. He argued that women should enjoy freedom of thought as well. Women: Women do have some freedom of movement in Aswan. I have seen them walking singly or in groups unaccompanied by males; women sell garden products and doves in the markets.

Nubian Village on Elephantine Island.