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Aswan is the southern-most city in Egypt. It has a scenic location on the eastern banks of the Nile. Looking across the Nile to the west bank, one can see the desert descend the hillsides to the greenery that hugs the banks of the river. Several islands are sprinkled along the Nile here and rock outcroppings add to the beauty of the surrounding scenery. The fall and winter climate is ideal when near the river - warm, with slight breezes that propel feluccas up and down and across the Nile. The population here is largely Nubian, a distinctly different flavor from Egyptian, more African seemingly.

The spice markets in Egypt are very colorful, with a wide variety of spices - saffron, cinnamon, pepper and paprika, etc.

The shopping here is almost entirely outdoors, unlike an American shopping mall. But just as you would expect of a shopping mall, anything and everything you'd want can be found. Clothing, textiles, toys, items for home improvement, food of all kinds, perfumes, car parts, live chickens and turkeys....yes, it's all here.

And make no mistake about it, the Egyptians are as shrewd at business as any people you'll meet anywhere. Very social, very engaging and very business oriented they'll actively engage you to look and make an offer. They know the price they'll refuse to sell for, but they'll gladly sell for anything more than their minimum and do everything imaginable to make you think the minimum is far above what it really is. Bargain hard, and decide in advance what YOUR minimum is.

I've wandered markets in many places around the world and enjoyed the Egyptian markets as much as any.

Aswan is largely Nubian. And I had the sense that it was in some ways distinctly different from the rest of Egypt.

Maybe there's common ground here. The Egyptians love their water pipes. Some tourists do too.

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