As is so often the case when something starts with Tom, it began with a wonderful email in my inbox at the last stop of a ten-day hike with my wonderful wife. Very briefly summarized, the email had the following content:
Dear friends,
Tom
I have fulfilled a dream and have recently become the owner of a wooden sailing boat on the Nile in Upper Egypt. It is time to plan a sailing adventure with men and
therefore I cordially invite you.
Sincerely
Your Tom
In der Email spürte ich die leuchtenden Augen meines alten Freundes und meine fingen auch an zu leuchten. Der trockene Kommentar meiner Frau auf diese Mail war: >Echt blöd, dass nur Männer mit dürfen:-)<
Arrival in Aswan
So at the beginning of October 2018, I met up with Tom and another friend at Amsterdam airport to fly to Aswan.
Once there, we were warmly welcomed with open arms by a driver at the airport. We collected Galal with him and were then driven through the hot desert night to our first accommodation.
After a short crossing in the middle of the night via a small branch of the Nile, we arrived at our simple but lovingly furnished accommodation with Achmed.
The inner courtyard of the accommodation. 
Our first traditional accommodation.
The next morning, after a very tasty, typical Egyptian breakfast, we set off to explore the surrounding area and take Horus for a short test drive. What silence surrounds such a sailing boat, no engine noise and otherwise no electronics on board. It was good for the soul and gave me a foretaste of our five-day sailing adventure.
We spent the first few days in Aswan and met up with Tom's local partners. We had a look around Aswan and went on a few short trips to the local sightseeing spots.
At the end of the day, we usually went to a café where, according to the owner, they serve the best mocha in the whole of Aswan. It was indeed a very tasty mocha. Much more impressive for me, however, was a heavily sweetened hibiscus tea, which you should dilute with plenty of water so as not to get sugar shock. Really delicious.
5 days on the Nile
As an old landlubber, I was a bit nervous when we set off on our five-day trip to Horus the next day. I had never been sailing before and basically I felt quite comfortable with solid ground underneath me. Once again, we were accompanied to the boat by Galal bin. There we were greeted with a hot tea and off we went.
What an impressive experience: over the five days we visited ancient temples, former quarries and impressive, magnificent burial sites. We had wonderful places to stay overnight.
old temple complex 
old temple complex 
Gravesite
Between stops, the journey continued northwards at a leisurely pace and the cook Mamduk prepared the most delicious, traditional Egyptian dishes for us on two simple hotplates.
The 5 days on the Nile passed quickly and eventfully. The nights were quiet, we had interesting conversations and encounters on and off the boat.
To round off this successful trip, we spent a few more days in Luxor in a beautiful hotel with a pool and visited another very impressive temple complex before setting off on our return journey three days later.
Luxor Temple at night. 
The garden of the hotel.
Thank you so much and it has been such a wonderful few days.
Conny