Take a felucca in Egypt

“Each of us brushed our teeth with water from a bottle and spat over different sides of the boat. Six people (we picked up another from the other felucca) managed to layer up, unroll sleeping bags, put our small belongings in the center of the boat safe from harm and maneuver ourselves so each had enough space. Baby wipes were passed around to wipe off the days sunscreen, sweat and make up. We slept soundly through the night nestled under the watchful eye of Mother Nature, and our guards and awoke at sunrise to the light bouncing off the water. After grabbing our clothes and changing inside of our sleeping bags we unzipped our nighttime cocoons and readied ourselves for the continuing journey down the river. It was then that I started itching…everywhere.”

“I was hesitant to go all the way into the water–a burn from my summer job had opened up and I wasn’t too keen on the idea of getting a flesh eating bacteria or some other terrible thing that I couldn’t imagine. At some point, the moment took over. Everyone was living for that moment and absolutely nothing else: our minds were nowhere but that small beach. Five, four, three….I dunked my head under the water and experienced a coldness that I hadn’t felt in days. Within seconds, it changed from cold to comfortable. We were swimming in the Nile!”