Luxor
Trip Start
Mar 08, 2008
1
17
25
Trip End
Mar 24, 2008
Luxor,
Egypt
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
As soon as we arrived in Luxor, I rang my friend in Cairo who told us the maximum prices we should pay for the items we wanted and he also made arrangements for us to be collected and taken firstly to a jewellery shop. We received wonderful service and were greeted on entering. I got the jewellery so cheaply. The items came from a stash hidden under the counter not what was on display. It seemed like below cost! When the shop owner learned that I had paid for Mum's holiday, he gave her a silver chain (which we had already agreed to buy) for nothing!
Mum remained at the jewellers while I went to the ATM to take out money to pay for the jewellery. She said that while I was away an argument broke out and it seemed that it was about the low prices but as soon as my friends name was mentioned that they calmed down
Mustafa and I in his shop
.I gave the jewellery store owner several badges for his grandchildren and he gave me an Egypt badge.
We were then collected from the jewellery store by another friend and taken into the local markets. At his shop we were given tea and shown the correct way to hold their cups and drink in Egyptian style without burning your hands. I bought an authentic Belly Dancing outfit, which has been hand sewn and beaded by a local Nubian. It is just georgeous and very very heavy. Nothing at all like the tourist crap which is on show in most of the markets. I only paid a fraction of the price I would pay at home and it is real!
Deb then arranged and paid for a taxi to take us back to the boat as we were going to be late for dinner. He will take us around the market and find whatever we want and get good prices tomorrow. No haggling or hassling. So much nicer than the stress of haggling to get the best price and still not knowing if you have paid too much!
We rushed back to the boat. As well as St Patricks day, it was also one of the other groups birthday so there was a bit of a party. The crew played drums and sang Happy Birthday Egyptina style. It was so loud but really energising and entertaining.
Everyone was either dressed up or wearing green. Mum and I wore green t-shirts we had purchased, with our names in hieroglyphics.
There were lots of games and laughs.
