I am typing this on one of, I think, the original computers ever so bear with me. The keyboard is different too so if I make a lot of mistakes don't be surprised.
We took a taxi through some absolutely terrible traffic to the Giza train station last night. We had seats on the first class night sitting train to Luxor. Remember, the sleeper was sold out. I expected worse than we found but people not used to traveling in poor countries would be shocked. Anyway, after I convinced an old man that he was in my seat (took about 5 minutes) we were all genuinely pleased with how comfortable the seats were. Until we tried to sleep in them. They did recline back, but some of the people were loud, they never turned the lights down, and a few people were smoking. The train was very jerky too. Sometimes violently. It makes me laugh to think how to describe it. Imagine yourself just falling asleep and someone comes along and shakes you as hard as he or she can. It was very random too. Couple that with Tate and Cora being cranky and arguing with each other. Overall, we only got snatches of sleep. Once we found our hostel and rested a bit we went back to the train station to organize our trip back to Cairo and they had sleeper cabins available for our trip back! Yeah! All day the thought of that has made me very happy.
Think back to Cairo now. We met a couple on the platform. He is from England and she is from China. They were staying at our same hostel. We talked with them while we waited for the train and then they were in a different compartment than us. Once we arrive in Luxor, nobody announced it so we had to hurry and pack up all of the things Tate had strew across the train and get off quick. We were the last ones off. As usual, we turned the wrong way out of the station and then went too far down the road once we got on the right track. Luckily, the couple we met on the platform that they had not seen us so the hostel owner came out on a motorcycle to look for us. I think we would have found it eventually, but it was nice not to have to try.
We are very pleased with this hostel too. Again, standards are different, but it is all what you are used to. We have a hot shower with good water pressure, a small balcony so we can hang out some laundry, and there is a rooftop bar/hangout that is wonderful. We all showered, had some breakfast on the roof, and got settled. We met a couple in their 70's from Staten Island and talked to them for quite a while before deciding to head to Karnak Temple.
We walked to the temple because everyone told us it was an easy walk, but it turned out to be quite long. Especially on little sleep. The temple was very, very impressive. Amazing hyroglyphs, huge columns and reliefs, many statues. Very impressive. Kid friendly too. They were able to run around and dig in the dirt. We were there for two hours and could have stayed longer except for tired kids.
We took a horse and carriage back and my bargaining skills and jaded regard for how things work here really was put to the test. The haggling was hard and then the driver wanted to drop us off way too soon. We had to refuse to get out of the carriage. I am proud of how I can handle myself in the markets and with transportation now, but it does get so exhausting.
We had a late lunch and relaxed on the roof for a few hours before heading out to see Luxor Temple lit up at night. It was very impressive. The Nile was right behind us, the weather is warm enough for a skirt and sandles, and a beautiful ancient temple before us. Perfect.
Tomorrow we are going to Valley of the Kings to visit burial tombs and Hutshepsuts Temple. We have arranged a tour through our hotel so we don't have to worry about anything tomorrow except getting up on time. The couple from England/China are going too so it should be a good day. Now it is early to be so we can be ready for a long day tomorrow.
We took a taxi through some absolutely terrible traffic to the Giza train station last night. We had seats on the first class night sitting train to Luxor. Remember, the sleeper was sold out. I expected worse than we found but people not used to traveling in poor countries would be shocked. Anyway, after I convinced an old man that he was in my seat (took about 5 minutes) we were all genuinely pleased with how comfortable the seats were. Until we tried to sleep in them. They did recline back, but some of the people were loud, they never turned the lights down, and a few people were smoking. The train was very jerky too. Sometimes violently. It makes me laugh to think how to describe it. Imagine yourself just falling asleep and someone comes along and shakes you as hard as he or she can. It was very random too. Couple that with Tate and Cora being cranky and arguing with each other. Overall, we only got snatches of sleep. Once we found our hostel and rested a bit we went back to the train station to organize our trip back to Cairo and they had sleeper cabins available for our trip back! Yeah! All day the thought of that has made me very happy.
Think back to Cairo now. We met a couple on the platform. He is from England and she is from China. They were staying at our same hostel. We talked with them while we waited for the train and then they were in a different compartment than us. Once we arrive in Luxor, nobody announced it so we had to hurry and pack up all of the things Tate had strew across the train and get off quick. We were the last ones off. As usual, we turned the wrong way out of the station and then went too far down the road once we got on the right track. Luckily, the couple we met on the platform that they had not seen us so the hostel owner came out on a motorcycle to look for us. I think we would have found it eventually, but it was nice not to have to try.
We are very pleased with this hostel too. Again, standards are different, but it is all what you are used to. We have a hot shower with good water pressure, a small balcony so we can hang out some laundry, and there is a rooftop bar/hangout that is wonderful. We all showered, had some breakfast on the roof, and got settled. We met a couple in their 70's from Staten Island and talked to them for quite a while before deciding to head to Karnak Temple.
We walked to the temple because everyone told us it was an easy walk, but it turned out to be quite long. Especially on little sleep. The temple was very, very impressive. Amazing hyroglyphs, huge columns and reliefs, many statues. Very impressive. Kid friendly too. They were able to run around and dig in the dirt. We were there for two hours and could have stayed longer except for tired kids.
We took a horse and carriage back and my bargaining skills and jaded regard for how things work here really was put to the test. The haggling was hard and then the driver wanted to drop us off way too soon. We had to refuse to get out of the carriage. I am proud of how I can handle myself in the markets and with transportation now, but it does get so exhausting.
We had a late lunch and relaxed on the roof for a few hours before heading out to see Luxor Temple lit up at night. It was very impressive. The Nile was right behind us, the weather is warm enough for a skirt and sandles, and a beautiful ancient temple before us. Perfect.
Tomorrow we are going to Valley of the Kings to visit burial tombs and Hutshepsuts Temple. We have arranged a tour through our hotel so we don't have to worry about anything tomorrow except getting up on time. The couple from England/China are going too so it should be a good day. Now it is early to be so we can be ready for a long day tomorrow.
Comments