"Aswan, Egypt" a Aswan Travel Page by Court94403

Aswan has a laid-back feel to it, Aswan reminds me of a quiet little town in the country. Aswan is calming and relaxing, it's charm I believe is it's friendly people. Due to it's extreme heat, Aswan is very quiet during the day and seems to come alive at night, especially the Corniche. Aswan after dark resembles a big city equipped with automobile horns honking, horses and carriages, donkeys and carts, taxis, buses, cruise ships and people everywhere!

Aswan is sometimes known as Nubia or Upper Egypt. Nubia because Aswan is in close proximity to the country of Sudan, Northern Sudan is called Nubia or in ancient times, Kush. A large amount of the residents of Aswan have darker skin and are known to be decendents of Sudan. Aswan is called Upper Egypt because the beginning of the Nile originates in the South and flows to the North and to the Nile Delta and into the Mediterranean Sea. The River Nile is the only river that flows from South to North.

In Aswan, there are two languages being spoken by local Egyptians; Arabic and Nubian. Most Egyptian that live in Aswan speak both languages. Nubian, is a very difficult language to learn because there is no written alphabet for Nubian and therefore hard to speak. The only way to learn Nubian is by hearing

To me, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in Aswan. This building towers high above the Nile on the southernmost point. The Mausoleum is built in the Fatimid Style. Inside, are two marble tombs engraved with writings from the Quran. In one tomb, The Aga Khan is buried. next to his tomb is his wife.

The Aga Khan was the 48th Imam of the Ismailis. He was born in Pakistan in 1885, he died in 1957. Every day after his death, roses were flown in from Europe at the request of his wife, and placed on his tomb. His wife Yvonne Labrousse, a former beauty queen from France was known by the people of Aswan as "Umm Habiba" (Mother of the Beloved). Her name was later changed to the title of Begum (Queen).

The Mausoleum has been closed since April of 1997 to visitors. Begum Aga Khan died in July of 2000, and now fresh flowers are laid by both tombs.