We started to slowly sail down the Nile after lunch our 2nd day on the ship.  We sat ourselves up on the top deck with water and Kindles, ready to enjoy the strange and beautifully scenery of lush green river banks immediately next to the dusty Sahara Mountains.   As the boat made slow turns around the curve of the river, we kept moving our seats to chase the shade…because even though this is our 2nd week in the Sahara this month, we are still pale, pale people and have no problem staying that way!

The near empty ship meant that the deck was quiet and the only sounds we heard was the occasional call to prayer as we sailed by a Mosque…or that is what we expected.   Instead, we heard the pirates.  

The vendors at every temple and pyramid are quite relentless.   They almost chase you to buy a statue, scarf, or a book of postcards.  But we were away from all that until tomorrow morning and were happy for the break!  But not in Esna.   In Esna, the vendors will not be deferred.   They come into the Nile in their tiny little fishing boats and they row and row until they are in front of a moving cruise ship, and then drift up alongside it, and then they tie on, just like pirates.   And they yell..

“Hello!  Hello my friend!  Hola!  Where you from?  Hello!  Hello…”

It does not stop until one curious passenger finally peaks over the side to see what is causing the ruckus…and they they start with vigor, holding up dresses and shawls.  If you so much as show a glimmer of interest, they will take a plastic bag of their items and throw them 3 stories up over the top of the railing for you to pick what you want and toss the money back down!  

None of us on the boat bit but we couldn’t help but watch as they finally untied themselves and quickly rowed to catch the ship following us down the Nile…What a way to run a business!