- The Egyptian People Really Are A Teacher To Anyone Who Wishes To Learn -
The Convoy to Luxor
We said goodbye to our old home town of Hurghada and continued on to Luxor. We had looked into taking the bus to Luxor, but they weren't allowing foreigners on the buses due to the not so recent kidnapping all the way down by the Sudanese/Lybian border. So we exhausted many options including flying, limo service, van, car with driver, etc and finally decided to rent a car. It turned out to be the most comfortable and convenient way to go. Maya slept comfortably in her car seat while we took in the scenery. We had a mostly uneventful drive through the desert until a car tried to overtake our convoy. He cut in behind the lead police truck and was weaving around wildly trying to pass. The 6 vehicles in the convoy came to an abrupt halt and all the army/police in the lead & rear police trucks got out with their hands on their weapons. So we sat like sitting ducks until it was determined that the vehicle trying to pass wasn't a threat. We were soon on our way and passed the offending vehicle that was ordered to sit on the side of the road until we passed again. It turned out that it was just a family with couple of young kids that didn't know that you couldn't pass a convoy.
We stopped at a rest area mid way and handed out toys to some of the local kids. At first there were only a few, then the word spread of toys & pencils being passed out and soon upwards of 20 kids were there. The locals also brought their camels, donkeys and goats. Maya loved the animals and kids so much that she didn't want to leave. We continued through 2 hours of desert before hitting the town of Qena on the Nile. The lush green palm trees, fields of sugar cane and village life was a drastic change of scenery. The whole town seemed to shut down for the convoy as all side roads were shut to local traffice until we passed. All sorts of people were standing at the side roads blocking the traffic. They were dressed as farmers, army, police and plainclothes policemen. All carried rifles, shotguns or AK-47s.
From Qena it was another 60km to Luxor where we drove through the east bank before heading over the bridge to our hotel on the west bank. We have an amazing rooftop patio with an unobstructed view of the Nile. Directly across the river is none other that Luxor temple which looks amazing lit up at night. We had a quick dip in the pool as it isn't heated and it's not hot enough to heat it through during the day now that it's almost winter here.
A quick ferry across the Nile and we were heading for Luxor temple. It was spectacular at night as the heirogliphics seem to pop out and everything just seems more magical. Maya was so excited to see the temple that she wanted to jump out of our arms at the ticket gate. She finally got to see some of the things out of her movies. She kept running around saying "temple, pillar, heiroglyphics.' We spent almost 2 hours at the temple before heading back on the ferry to our hotel on the other side of the Nile. We all had an early night after all the excitement of the convoy & ancient temple.
We stopped at a rest area mid way and handed out toys to some of the local kids. At first there were only a few, then the word spread of toys & pencils being passed out and soon upwards of 20 kids were there. The locals also brought their camels, donkeys and goats. Maya loved the animals and kids so much that she didn't want to leave. We continued through 2 hours of desert before hitting the town of Qena on the Nile. The lush green palm trees, fields of sugar cane and village life was a drastic change of scenery. The whole town seemed to shut down for the convoy as all side roads were shut to local traffice until we passed. All sorts of people were standing at the side roads blocking the traffic. They were dressed as farmers, army, police and plainclothes policemen. All carried rifles, shotguns or AK-47s.
From Qena it was another 60km to Luxor where we drove through the east bank before heading over the bridge to our hotel on the west bank. We have an amazing rooftop patio with an unobstructed view of the Nile. Directly across the river is none other that Luxor temple which looks amazing lit up at night. We had a quick dip in the pool as it isn't heated and it's not hot enough to heat it through during the day now that it's almost winter here.
A quick ferry across the Nile and we were heading for Luxor temple. It was spectacular at night as the heirogliphics seem to pop out and everything just seems more magical. Maya was so excited to see the temple that she wanted to jump out of our arms at the ticket gate. She finally got to see some of the things out of her movies. She kept running around saying "temple, pillar, heiroglyphics.' We spent almost 2 hours at the temple before heading back on the ferry to our hotel on the other side of the Nile. We all had an early night after all the excitement of the convoy & ancient temple.
Comment
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Comment by R & K on November 23, 2008 at 11:25am -
Wow again! everything sounds so amazing & "priceless" if that makes sense...K you write so beautifully; it's as though I'm right there with you...I love it! I'm so glad you're all doing well, and are staying safe! And I can just picture Maya running around saying everything...except "heiroglphics"?!? Crazy lol! Tell her that, her Uncle Randy is very impressed she can say that! We're excited to see pictures! And then of course to have scrapbooking sessions in the New Year yahoo! ;)
So, this next note is about life on our end & getting things ready for Christmas of course!!! As you know my mom swore she would never host anything again after the stress of Thanksgiving...however, after much talking & discussion with everyone (except you guys) my mom has decided to host the last Christmas for the Thiessen Family, but in an altered way...in hopes of pleasing everyone & avoiding any stress!
It will be a focus on having a short one on one visit with G & G for everyone (in a quiet room for Gramma's sake), and then an evening of fun for the cousins only (and possibly your mom if she can get the night off) So, my mom will be making a dinner for G & G on the 24th with just her kids from 4pm-6pm, then has invited the Aunts & Uncles to come see G&G from 6pm-7pm for a quick dessert, after which U. Darryl will drive G & G home, and the grandkids/cousins are welcome to come from 6pm to stay for the evening for dessert/games/lots of appies/visiting with each other either at her place or mine & R's...If you think it's too late for Maya, you guys are more than welcome to spend the night in our guest room :)
If anyone else wants to host G & G for a dinner or just a visit, then they of course can arrange it...I think your mom is going to have them over for coffee or lunch earlier on the 24th, and hopefully Darryl will have them over Christmas Day with Reg & Beth.
Sorry to take up your trip time with family politics, but we thought you might like to know what the plans are so far & if you have any opinions to please voice them soon, as you guys are the only ones my mom couldn't call personally...everyone else was happy with the arrangement, and Gramps is adamant this is our last Christmas altogether, and so wanted to make sure he & Gramma had a chance to see each of their grandkids individually.
Anyways, as usual my message is longwinded! Sorry :{ But at least it's informative, right?! lol ;) So, I hope I filled you guys in on all the proper facts...the only thing left is...I had hoped you wanted to exchange gifts between our girls again?? And we can do that in the evening if you'd like :) Let me know cause I plan to go shopping soon!!!! Yay!!!! I'm excited for Christmas with us cousins, I think it'll be alot more fun & relaxed than usual, and possibly a nice tradition to start?
Take care!!! Lots of love, K & R
ps And we should take the girls to the Christmas Train at Stanley Park!!! Can't wait til you guys are back!!!!
ps again! Have a fun-filled fabulous kind of day!!!! Have a coffee on me ;)
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