Aswan, Egypt

For someone, Aswan is may be just a short night stop on the route to Abu Simbel. But the truth is that two or three days are worth spending here, where a busy street market, paradise river islands and stunning pharaonic landmarks are gathered in one place. 
Aswan is located on the First Cataract, which is one of the six Nile rapids, in a place impossible to cross by boat. Aswan is a border town, the entrance to Africa. Its geographical location is so favorable and in the past it was quite capable of its prosperity.
Watercraft have stopped in Aswan and over the centuries the city has developed as a thriving trading post. This is how his name was born - the Copts called it "Xuan", which means "trade", which the Arabs turned into Aswan. 
The city also played the role of an important military garrison and this lasted until the second half of the 19th century. Around this time, Aswan appeared on the tourist map and began to become popular among wealthy Europeans as a winter resort, and its dry and hot climate was increasingly preferred because of its healing properties.
Archaeologist Gaston Maspero disapproves of the flow of foreigners to Aswan, as he believes this is a prerequisite for Aswan to become a copy of the French Riviera. And he turns out to be right. 
New construction began and its beginning was marked by the construction of the most beautiful and picturesque riverside panoramic road - Nile Coastal Boulevard, in order to provide a port for incoming steamers. 
At a certain distance by land is the Sharia el-Suk market - a unique combination of arched colors and enchanting scents. At the end of the boulevard is the Weekly Garden, which is a quiet open park perched on a low hill.
Next is one of the jewels of the early era of tourism - Old Cataract Hotel. It was opened in 1899 and is a large pink building with Moorish interior, wide corridors and the most amazing living room. 
It is built on a steep bare rock and offers a unique view from its old wooden terrace, suitable for an evening drink. In his guest list can be found names such as Francois Mitterrand, Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as the unique Agatha Christie, who wrote part of her novel "Death by the Nile" during her stay in Aswan.
In Aswan in 1997, one of the last additions to the Aswan Cultural Map, the Nubian Museum, opened its doors. You find it an expression of a desire to honor the culture of the local population in the region, which went through an almost deadly blow when the High Wall was erected in 1960. 
South of the museum is the Nubian House - a restaurant that overlooks the river and the First Cataract, and a great place for an evening aperitif. Down from the museum in Aswan is the large Fatimid Cemetery, which is a burial park with many small ninth-century mausoleums.
One of the most interesting sights in Aswan is the Unfinished Obelisk - a huge obelisk, almost 42 meters long, supposedly intended for Karnak. The Aswan Museum is an unpretentious museum that has donated its most valuable artifacts to the Nubian Museum. It is famous for being the home of the English architect of the Aswan Wall, William Wilcox. The river is considered to be a real attraction of Aswan.
A great way to relax is to visit the islands of Elephantine or Kitchener. The first waterfall of the Nile is located in Aswan. After the waterfall is the island of Elephantine, which is believed to have its name from the ivory trade in the past or from its shape, which resembles an elephant's tusk.