Post by RobertPost by TracyThis is getting sillier, me thinx! :))
Not until you post the picture of you at the tail-end of the Sphinx,
"Sphinxter!"
Corny or what??!!! LOL :P
Post by RobertDid you go to the light show? (I missed it).
No, missed it - was so blown away and hung around for 4 hours that got
exhausted and decided to go on to visit the bazaar and museum. Also,
it was the end of Ramadan and a huge concert was being organised, so
people were actually being discouraged to come back later!!
Bazaar was closed - due to the end of Ramadan - only a few choice shops
down the little, windy streets open. Rest of the bazaar was simply a
long line of open stalls selling plastic toys, masks and crackers (the
locals were buying them up like it was Christmas - er... yeah!).
No, I witnessed a couple of people riding and they were making really
funny noises and grimacing in a most painful way, so I gave that one a
miss.
I'll be honest, I had quite grown immune to the hassle (having being
initiated in Luxor) and polite utterings of "imshi" came frequently.
Difficult when kids with no shoes approach you and the camel guys were
hysterical: "You english?"; "Lovely Jubbly" ; "Tally Ho!"; "Welcome to
Alaska" LMAO
Post by RobertGo with one of those unauthorized "tours", crawling through tunnels
with candles and finding real bones? Great fun, that. Scary, though -
NOBODY around at all, it's nearly dark, and we're sneakin' around,
going around barriers and signs that for all I know say "Western
Trespassers Cursed and/or Shot On Sight". (Probably actually said
something more like: "Abdul now has Wednesday and Friday nights. Could
somebody make some new skeletons? And stop scaring the crap out of the
little old ladies. Thank you. Giza Tour Guide Union Local 1011.")
Tomb was closed that day. Mind you, I could overhear tour guides
actually discouraging people to go in as the crouched down position
lasts a long time and ends in a tiny chamber with nothing to see and a
rather uncomfortable scrabble back out again.
But arent those pyramids awesome - took my breath away!
Post by RobertGold vendors! Gold by the ounce, no matter how ornate!
Silver! Silver! Silver! Before I cottoned on about the commission
taxi touters who take you where you didnt ask to go, I got stung big
time. Forced to buy a couple of silver pieces, knowing I was being
stung, but did it anyway. A few days later, I had it all sussed and
politely shook head and waved hand - no thanks!
Post by RobertDoes the Nile retain that lovely odor? :)
In Luxor - the pollution wasnt so bad (maybe it was the time of year -
worse in summer months perhaps?) - the view of the Nile from my hotel
window was fantastic. Cairo was a different story - that place was bad
(what a dirty, dirty City), although the people didnt hassle so much.
And they were a lot happier, because by time I got to Cairo they had
broken their fast and everyone was a lot bubblier with food in their
bellies - well the more priviledged ones who had food in their bellies
anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to an Egyptian KFC - they were serving all the locals first - us
pale skins had to wait an hour to be served as more and more teenagers
came in to order their long awaited dinners!
In Cairo I managed to find a hotel (at 2am) 15 mins away from the
Pyramids and Sphinx - so I was a happy bunny cos those are the only
things I really ever wanted to see - but the whole experience in Luxor
and Cairo blew me away.
Post by RobertWonderful place, just loved it. Even our insane cab driver. Total
lunatic, wanted to learn new English swear words. Wore a sports coat
over his dish-dash, drove like a bat out of hell, told us to tell every
shop owner we were teachers so we'd get a discount....hehehe.
yes, insane, insane taxi drivers - they have to be. The ride from
Cairo airport to Giza was particularly scary. I am sure the guy took
me 20 miles out of the way, ended up down some real desolate and very
poor roads in the early hours of the morning. Didnt think I was ever
gonna get to my hotel - gulp!
I fell in love with Luxor and the people....... still missing it.
Taxi! Taxi! Taxi! Felluca! Felluca! Felluca! Caleches! Caleches!
Caleches! LOL
Post by RobertStella Lager....ugh. Formaldehyde in a bottle, yum-yum.
yes, I stuck to Heineken and bottles of water.
Post by RobertThe tourist-trap nightclubs were a hoot, right out of a Bond film,
complete with belly dancer.
Didnt get a chance really, wasted two days trying to get train tickets
to Giza - cos of the end of Ramadan scores of locals were buying up the
tickets to get themselves back home. Got to Luxor train station (which
looked like a war zone) and the ticket woman wanted $120 one way off me
- considering the locals pay approximately 80 egyptian pounds (£8) to
get to Cairo - cheeky cow!
Had to book a flight then but glad in a way - didnt really want to
spend 9-12 hours on a pee-riddled train to Cairo - no matter how much I
wanted the real-life experience!
But found some lovely "english" pubs/restaurants in downtown Luxor - if
you didnt mind walking past poverty-stricken people sitting on the
pavements before going to fill your belly with scrumptious food!
Anyway, I would do it all again - the people and the places are
amazing.
Would you go again, Rob?