Day 9 - Luxor

If this photo is crappy it is because I chose not to bring a camera with me to Egypt this time, thus any photos are from my phone. Oh yes, I am THAT professional.

So we survived El Minya and two nights in their only 4 star hotel, and from what I can tell only habitable hotel, and it was crap. The hotel that is. Our guide gave me the option of a room in the main building or a room in a garden chalet so, being a selfish git, I chose the garden chalet option. I've stayed in a couple of hotel garden chalets in Egypt and without fail they have been roomy, in beautiful surroundings, big comfy beds and nice bathrooms. In El Minya the garden chalet resembled a 1950s prefab in a Stephen King version of "Hi-De-Hi".

The exterior decor came in two shades - bloodstain red or H-block poo-stripe yellow/brown; I was allocated poo-stripe. Once I had managed to force the door open, using a combination of room key and my shoulder, I was immediately assaulted with a vivid aroma of damp and camel dung. I should also mention that positioned reassuringly outside my room door was one of those smash the glass fire alarms with the glass conveniently pre-smashed. The bathroom consisted of a shower delinated by a 2-3cm high cement basin edge, which combined nicely with a shower curtain that stopped roughly 30cm above ground level. Upon attempting to use the shower I discovered that the shower-head and shower-hose were not entirely connected, resulting in a simultaneous downward and sideways jet of water, and that the water temperature was a little fickle.

Did I mention that the garden chalet was at the rear of the hotel garden and only about 3m from a wall separating us from El Minya's main thoroughfare? First night a car did some astounding backfiring at 3.45am, second night Egypt won an international football match.

But the bed was comfortable, if a little short.

Now we're in Luxor and I have a room in the main building. It's lovely.

Oh, and we spent 7 hours in Luxor and Karnak temples today. Wonderful!

Tomorrow it's tomb time! My favourite.

Adios!