Blogs from Luxor, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa - page 10

Mohmed greeted us this morning, obviously relieved that we were safe. He had worried all night after dropping us off in downtown Luxor, in what turned out to be a hornet's nest. Cairo's protests were apparently massive. The army was called in to protect the Egyptian Museum after looters had attacked. A curfew was in effect from 1600 until 8 am and would last at least three days. The result of all this? Mubarak has dismissed his Prime Minister and his domestic ministers. This seems to have satiated Mohmed, who sees this as real, historic change. I wonder if the masses will be similarly satisfied? Will this appease the man who stopped long enough to yell "Mubarak" while slashing across his throat with his finger? Of note, while writing this at 1600, cell phone service was ... read more

First morning in Luxor. Our hotel is nice. We have a balcony off our room that overlooks the Nile river. The hotel is elegant, modern and comfortable. As mentioned though, it is strangely quiet. Very few guests. We wonder if this is a result of the protests happening through the country, scaring tourists away. We meet Mohmed, our guide, after breakfast. The plan today is for a tour of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple and Rameses Temple. During our ride, Mohmed mentions that the Muslim Brotherhood has called for protests today after Friday prayer, but he brushes off the chance of disruption or danger. We ask Mohmed what he thinks of all this. Mobarak's 30 year regime has been cloaked in democracy, but in reality has been an oppressive, autocratic dictatorship. One of the ... read more

Aamulla ei ollut ajastettua heratysta. Menin omaan tahtiin aamupalalle. Kun Anne oli siella, pyysin hanta mukaan ostoskierrokselle. Menimme ensin Televisiokadulle jalan ja yritimme loytaa kauppapaikan, jossa han oli kaynyt aiemmin. Se loytyikin, mutta sita oltiin vasta avaamassa, joten tulimme takaisin hotellin lahelle mikrobussilla. Ostin eilen loytamastani paikasta t-paitoja ja sen naapurista huiveja. Keskipaivalla kavin tietoisesti kattoterassilla ottamassa aurinkoa noin 20 minuutin ajan ja uin taas altaan halki. Muita uimareita ei nakynyt, auringonottajia jonkin verran. Lahdimme sitten yhdessa Luxorin museoon, mutta kun paasimme sinne, se olisi ollut auki enaa vajaan tunnin ja paatimme tulla uudestaan neljan jalkeen, jolloin se aukesi uudestaan. Kavimme paluumatkalla Alaan kaupalla papyrusostoksilla. Neljaksi sitten museoon, edessamme oli kymmenisen ihmisen jono, joka veti nope... read more

Nukuin klo 6.30 asti. Oli jo ihan valoisaa. Aamupalakin oli varsin riittoisa: oli mm. haudutettuja kasviksia, nakkeja, jotain paputahnaa. Jututin myos naapurihuoneessa majoittuvaa suomalaisnaista. Hanen ystavansa asuu taalla ja naimisissa egyptilaisen kanssa. Kavimme tekemassa pienen kierroksen lahikortteleissa. Matkustin sitten yksin lautalla Niilin lansirannalle. Polkupyorien kauppaaminen oli rasittavan tunkeilevaa. Tulin nettikahvilaan paa-asiassa siksi, etta saisin olla rauhassa. Kavin sitten Luxorin temppelissa (oli se ollut valtavan kokoinen aikanaan), paapostissa, rautatieasemalla, uima-altaassa, sitten kahvilla ja syomassa tuoreiden tuttujen kanssa. Naapurihuoneeseen on tosiaan majoittunut lappilainen Anne, joka on tullut tanne, koska taalla asuu hanen kaverinsa Teija, joka naimisissa egyptilaisen kanssa. Kavimme syomassa nelistamme. Kuvien lataaminen ei oikein onnistunut.... read more

10th Jan - Day 101 The plan was for a 6am start, we would sail across to the other bank, where we would have brekky and Stu would pick us up in the truck, the plan to get away by 7:30am. We got up and to the other side, not much wind to help with that though, we packed up our gear and Stu found us so we loaded the truck and then once the other feluccas arrived we all had brekky on one boat and were ready to go by 8:30am, not too bad I suppose. We did keep our guide Akmed waiting though. He was going to be with us for the next three days though so he didn’t mind. Our first stop once back on the road was the Kom Ombo temple, only ... read more