Luxor
Trip Start
Jul 31, 2005
1
23
209
Trip End
Sep 05, 2007
Luxor,
Egypt
Monday, September 19, 2005
So, we set off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon in a Service Taxi to Sharm El Sheikh, where we would later that evening be catching a ferry across the red sea to the town of Hurghada, when we arrived in Hurghada we were met and went to the guys friends hostel to wait until we needed to go to the bus station, we strolled down to the centre to have some dinner and then off to the bus station we trot! It was a manic place and we were both delighted that we had some locals with us who could help us with our tickets and get onto the bus! So, we sat awhile in the bus station to wait for our bus which was coming from Suez, the bus arrived late! But we got seats which was good, as some of the locals stood up the whole time, it was uncomfortable and cramped, my seat was broken so whenever I moved the seat came with me, Matts foot is and was still sore and so he was uncomfortable! And our air con diddnt work! What could we do but settle down as best we could for the overnight journey across the Eastern Desert to Luxor.
We got to Luxor just after 4.00am, instead of being dropped at the bus stop like we were promised, we were dropped off just after a police checkpoint, along a river in the middle of the countryside! Matt sang to make us feel better!!!!
We assumed that we were near Luxor because there was a sign for Isna that I knew was not too far away, we walked along a country lane for a bit, listening to the sound of a cockrel, and then decided that as it was 1.
Ali and Matt at the Temple Of Hatshepsut
early hours of the morning, and 2. we had no idea where to go, that we would walk back to the checkpoint where the police would be able to hopefully direct us! We jumped into a minibus that drove through the countryside and eventually turned into the busy streets in the city centre of Luxor, there were people everywhere at this hour of the morning, all in a huge market!
We got to our hotel, which is like luxury! It has a rooftop pool, and our room has a balcony overlooking the Nile, air con, a fridge, bath and Ideal Standard taps!!!! Its soooo posh that today they even cleaned our room and we have only been there one night!
At first they couldnt find our reservation, but we had the mobile number of the guy who is looking after us here in Luxor and so he came to the hotel and sorted it all out!
We slept for much of yesterday, and last night went to the sound and light show at Karnak Temple, it was just fabulous to see the temple at night and all lit up, but there were hoards of typical English holidaymakers who kind of ruined the atmosphere a bit!
Yesterday, we found an English style pub called the Kings Head.....what did we eat??!!!
SUNDAY ROAST!!!!!!!!!!! Beef, Yorkshire pud...sooooo nice....still watching our tummys after eating too much of the local stuff!! Hahaha!
So, this morning we awoke at 6am and enjoyed breakfast in our hotel, before venturing across to Luxors West Bank, where we saw the Valley of the Kings and Queens ....the most amazing hieroglyphics ever, we also visited the Temple of Hatshepsut with was quite amazing too, and when we leave the internet cafe we are going for dinner and to visit the Mummies Museum, where they explain the full mummy proccess and had a mummified 21st dynasty king!
We are in Luxor until Wednesday night when we take a overnighht train up to Cairo.
So, for now............LOVE HUGS KISSES ..........
Alanna and Matthew!!!
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Ali and some Hieroglyphics
