Louts or Touts

.. in the words of Leo. It was summing up Luxor for us yesterday anyway. As much as we adore the Sheraton, after feeling like the only westerners in Cairo when we arrived the Sheraton felt almost too 'Brits on Holiday' to handle. After all those headscarves I think I had adopted some Muslim humility because seeing some of the shapes beside the Sheraton swimming pool.... Leo was in the jacuzzi today when a tattoo emblazoned English man began to wash his trainers in it - classy

and the touts? Well self explanitory really! Taxis literally chase you down the road. I had a nosebleed today and they were still trying to sell me plastic sphinxes.. honestly!

But we have raelly loved Luxor. We took a felucca again last night and tonight we loved it so much and we used the same sailor man with his son whom we bid adieu tonight as we leave for Dahab tommorow.

Here we have visited the Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple and today the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hasephut (spelt completley wrong!) The heat was incredible today especially in the Valley it rose to about 45 degrees and you are just walkign around the desert with no shade - I had my hat mashallah! We went to three tombs, included in the price of your ticket, and paid extra for Tutankhamun. We thought we might not pay extra for it as it is the smallest tomb in the valley but we were glad we did. It was the only tomb with his mummy on display, and the sarcophagus with the full mask and everything inside. It was actually really sad because his mummy was so tiny - I prayed for him not to give us the curse!

We got the local ferry over to the West bank (where the valley is) to save getting ripped off with a driver who would wait around for you al day. It was actually very straightforward and easy to work but I think they were so amazed to see us use it. There was lots of girls about my age who just couldn't help staring at us but when you waved they would laugh and smile and wave back - they were just so curious. I ended up using my camera to photograph some of them which I normally would not feel comfortable to do but they all loved it and all the old men are waving away in the photos!

We have just walked back from dinner and are looking forward to Dahab tommorow purely because there will be a lot less hassle, quieter, fewer taxis etc. We had a gorgeous meal last night but there was 4 waiters to 1 table - its very quiet here because its low season - and they asked us how everything was every 5 minutes. Even with room service they rang to the room three times to check we were doing ok! But you definitley can't fault their service.

Oh! and i promised I would do this to our felucca man - anyone going to Luxor? Ask for the 'Moustache' and he will give you good price haha.

Danny - thanks for your comment but why does it call you Maeve?! I hope you and Ann enjoyed the 4th July and returned safe to NY

Also - to everyone else I hope this blog isn't too boring. I am currently sitting in an internet cafe that looks like the Moulin Rouge with a man offering Leo his business to marry me so it can be a bit distracting to write anything good!

love to all xox