Coming home
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- Luxor4u God
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Re: Coming home
Sounds as though your journey and arrival has been ideal.
Hope you both have a great week with some relaxation along with the adventures.
Hope you both have a great week with some relaxation along with the adventures.

it is what you do with what happens to you.
-Aldous Huxley
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Re: Coming home
Had a lovely morning, I was up before the dawn.
2 cats sitting on one of my chairs by the front door keeping guard. They kept me company until the sunrise while I drank my water and just sat there taking in the ambience and woodsmoke. Watching the landscape appear as the light got brighter.
Already feeling a lot better now I'm here.
Already wishing we had booked 2 weeks and not one.
This place is pretty much the same, lots of old familiar faces. They never forget you, do they. ?
Went to Maxims last night, the place is suffering a lack of trade, but the food was superb.
Wandered around that end of town and found Jewel of the Nile, snobs etc.. not a soul in any of the places. Mamoud os keeping a very clean and tidy ship since Laura's departure, he was pleased to see us, so will probably dine there tonight.
The Jolie Ville has a few changes, nothing dramatic, mostly cosmetic revamps. The orange sunbed cushions outside the room have been sun bleached to a peach colour.
Not had chance yet to do my usual walk around the island to see what's new. I did notice that the scrubland at the end of the bridge has been cleared and concrete floor laid down for what looks like an abandoned idea for shopping centre complex.
Hopefully we will get out and about properly tomorrow, and have a day or 2 on the west Bank.
Alison wants to do a balloon trip, so after that, it will be an excuse to stay there for the day.
I'll look forward to going downtown properly around temple street and all that area we used to frequent, which is where I suspect we will see the biggest changes.
I remember going past Karnak temple on the coach yesterday evening and you couldn't even see the place.
The overall dynamic of the place on the east bank does not seem to have changed at all, the cars are
a bit newer, the roads seem a little busier than they were and there seems to be less caleshes around.
Round the corner from the old HSBC, it looks loke they finally started to build that hotel, but have up, so there is just a skeleton of a building, bigger than I thought it was going to be.
One thing I have noticed just by the Jolli Ville tirning on the main road, what looks like a whole row of pop up cafes and coffee shops have set up in a long row, and loads of locals enjoying themselves there. Lots of people, motorbikes and cars parked up taking up most of the side of the road, so traffic heading into town is down to single lane at best. Whatever they are, it seems very popular.
2 cats sitting on one of my chairs by the front door keeping guard. They kept me company until the sunrise while I drank my water and just sat there taking in the ambience and woodsmoke. Watching the landscape appear as the light got brighter.
Already feeling a lot better now I'm here.
Already wishing we had booked 2 weeks and not one.
This place is pretty much the same, lots of old familiar faces. They never forget you, do they. ?
Went to Maxims last night, the place is suffering a lack of trade, but the food was superb.
Wandered around that end of town and found Jewel of the Nile, snobs etc.. not a soul in any of the places. Mamoud os keeping a very clean and tidy ship since Laura's departure, he was pleased to see us, so will probably dine there tonight.
The Jolie Ville has a few changes, nothing dramatic, mostly cosmetic revamps. The orange sunbed cushions outside the room have been sun bleached to a peach colour.
Not had chance yet to do my usual walk around the island to see what's new. I did notice that the scrubland at the end of the bridge has been cleared and concrete floor laid down for what looks like an abandoned idea for shopping centre complex.
Hopefully we will get out and about properly tomorrow, and have a day or 2 on the west Bank.
Alison wants to do a balloon trip, so after that, it will be an excuse to stay there for the day.
I'll look forward to going downtown properly around temple street and all that area we used to frequent, which is where I suspect we will see the biggest changes.
I remember going past Karnak temple on the coach yesterday evening and you couldn't even see the place.
The overall dynamic of the place on the east bank does not seem to have changed at all, the cars are
a bit newer, the roads seem a little busier than they were and there seems to be less caleshes around.
Round the corner from the old HSBC, it looks loke they finally started to build that hotel, but have up, so there is just a skeleton of a building, bigger than I thought it was going to be.
One thing I have noticed just by the Jolli Ville tirning on the main road, what looks like a whole row of pop up cafes and coffee shops have set up in a long row, and loads of locals enjoying themselves there. Lots of people, motorbikes and cars parked up taking up most of the side of the road, so traffic heading into town is down to single lane at best. Whatever they are, it seems very popular.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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Re: Coming home
Giz us a bell, come for a beer..01016207914 or down Sharia abu Said the shack with the Obelisk. G
"The Salvation of Mankind lies in making everything the responsibility of All"
Sophocles.
Sophocles.
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Re: Coming home
You are reading my mind John as I was saying to myself why on earth just book 1 week. All my life I have never gone on holiday to either Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt for just 1 week. I also wondered if you might even approach your holiday rep to see if you can extend your visit. That building by the HSBC has been going on for some time now and a regular poster on Luxor4u forum actually posted pictures of the progress on non progress. On the opposite side to the HSBC building work started on a new St Joseph hotel but when I was last there work had stopped. Be interesting to hear if you take up Who2s offer to meet for a beer and a natter. Keep feeling better and enjoy.
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Re: Coming home
Thank you very much. I may well take you up on your kind offer. It will be nice to see you after all this time.
I only have Internet access, no phone capabilities as such. I may be able to call over the Internet though. ?
We are looking to do another balloon trip on Monday, so may was well stay on the west Bank when that is over.
Alison will hopefully be able to catch up with Bennu, it will be nice to see her again too, and we will have lunch at one of the old places like the Shereede, Fayrouze, etc..
I'm surprised how many of the old faces are still around. Sadly It seems Shakespear is no longer with us... PBUH.
All that area has now gone, Sindbads etc. including the little park on the corner of temple street.
It's taken a little while to get used to the costs of everything. Tipping and Taxis etc.
Wandering around with 6,000 in my back pocket is a rather nice feeling, until you realise you have to divide it by 62...
When I put my wish out to creation that I wanted to be a millionaire, I think I should have specified the actual currency.
We were downtown just after sunset. The good lady wanted to go to Macdonalds.
It was awful, but then my expectations were never set that high anyway, so not exactly a disappointment.
It would be nice to extend the trip, but I have too many work commitments, as I reduced my working week to just 3 days.
I do however have a lot of holidays owing to me, so I think a 2 week trip will be on the cards in the next 6 weeks or so, as I need to take all my holidays by the end of March.
Hopefully TUI will keep the Manchester fights going for the foreseeable future. There were about 40 empty seats, so even with those numbers the flights should still be economically viable.
Fingers crossed..
Thank you all for the responses.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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Re: Coming home
We had a superb meal at Jewel of the Nile tonight.
The new place is really clean and fresh, with nice decor. It's a little haven from the hussle and bussle of the east bank.
Probably the best meal we have had anywhere in a long time. Excellent service too.
We ran out of milk this morning, the hotel sold me a litre of milk for 380LE. I told them it was only 55 in town and I could accept maybe a 100% markup, and offered 100 LE. The lady wandered off and said they charge by the glass full, at 90le per glass, and this is how they worked out the price for a litre.
Imagine buying a bottle of whiskey using that logic at pub prices per shot.
In the end I paid up and got more today in town from a local shop at 50LE for a 1.5 litre carton.
We never enjoy the food here, so always eat out at night, we Have only ever stayed in all our years on a bed and breakfast basis.
They really do seem to be down on guest numbers, mostly Chinese and Egyptians plus a few Europeans.
I took a wander round the island, the north side seems to be unused now. Just the main pool in use. Beyond there is almost like the forbidden zone in planet of the apes..At the infinity pool, it was deserted, not a soul in sight. Beyond there the entertainment camp has gone and the toilets locked.
I am assuming these are supposed to be peak tourist months right now. ?
I may head over to the WB tomorrow on my own.
Alison asked on facebook where the ferry now departs from, I had a good idea, but as she's not so great at walking it's better to know exactly where the terminal has moved to.
We have the balloon trip booked for Monday, But there's a good chance it may be windy, and that could bleed into Tuesday.
They have not taken our money at the operator I used, so they must be pretty confident that the flights may not happen.
This afternoon at sunset there were clouds over the west Bank and it's a bit breezy this evening.
We shall see what tomorrow brings.
The new place is really clean and fresh, with nice decor. It's a little haven from the hussle and bussle of the east bank.
Probably the best meal we have had anywhere in a long time. Excellent service too.
We ran out of milk this morning, the hotel sold me a litre of milk for 380LE. I told them it was only 55 in town and I could accept maybe a 100% markup, and offered 100 LE. The lady wandered off and said they charge by the glass full, at 90le per glass, and this is how they worked out the price for a litre.
Imagine buying a bottle of whiskey using that logic at pub prices per shot.
In the end I paid up and got more today in town from a local shop at 50LE for a 1.5 litre carton.
We never enjoy the food here, so always eat out at night, we Have only ever stayed in all our years on a bed and breakfast basis.
They really do seem to be down on guest numbers, mostly Chinese and Egyptians plus a few Europeans.
I took a wander round the island, the north side seems to be unused now. Just the main pool in use. Beyond there is almost like the forbidden zone in planet of the apes..At the infinity pool, it was deserted, not a soul in sight. Beyond there the entertainment camp has gone and the toilets locked.
I am assuming these are supposed to be peak tourist months right now. ?
I may head over to the WB tomorrow on my own.
Alison asked on facebook where the ferry now departs from, I had a good idea, but as she's not so great at walking it's better to know exactly where the terminal has moved to.
We have the balloon trip booked for Monday, But there's a good chance it may be windy, and that could bleed into Tuesday.
They have not taken our money at the operator I used, so they must be pretty confident that the flights may not happen.
This afternoon at sunset there were clouds over the west Bank and it's a bit breezy this evening.
We shall see what tomorrow brings.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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- Luxor4u God
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Re: Coming home
I saw the post by your wife on the other site, and also the response of suspicion by someone else. You might want to keep your eye on that in case anything else comes up.

it is what you do with what happens to you.
-Aldous Huxley
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Re: Coming home
A driver was waiting for me at Hurghada Airport. After a beautiful sunset in the desert, we were home.John Landon wrote: βThu Jan 23, 2025 9:02 pm
Hurgharda has nothing to offer other than the sea.
An unsightly town and a desert.
...
How is your trip going ? Will you be in Luxor soon ? X

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Re: Coming home
Just to be clear my suspicions have not been about the original poster but directed to the person named Hazel Parry who seems to have a not too positive attitude to the fact that some times as a European she is asked to pay more than locals for instance on the ferry.
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Re: Coming home
I don't read other sites, but as far as I know it 15 LE for tourist and 2LE for local, one way. The ferry port on the east bank is next to the General Hospital, which is towards Karnack.
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Re: Coming home
Thank you all.
The Facebook issue has been cleared up, no hard feelings, and of course one must treat some things with an element of caution.
I'm glad you are sorted out now Bennu, Alison was a little concerned as she knew your travelling arrangements. She was happy to hear from you when you finally got everything sorted.
At least she can contact you on WhatsApp messenger and hopefully sort out meeting time and place.
Having another easy day, I may still pop across to the WB today, but I can't phone or text anyone, just use Internet and WhatsApp when Internet us available.
If we do come back, my lawyer friend will get us both a SIM preloaded with Internet and we can call egyptian phone numbers.
Our phones both have dual SIM capability.
So, we shall see how today pans out...
I have managed to sort out plenty of cash for tips and ferry etc, as I think AFour mentioned, the banks are just giving out 200LE notes, and that's non too convenient when paying for taxis, water and milk. That's Laban in egyptian by the way.
Private joke.
TTFN.
The Facebook issue has been cleared up, no hard feelings, and of course one must treat some things with an element of caution.
I'm glad you are sorted out now Bennu, Alison was a little concerned as she knew your travelling arrangements. She was happy to hear from you when you finally got everything sorted.
At least she can contact you on WhatsApp messenger and hopefully sort out meeting time and place.
Having another easy day, I may still pop across to the WB today, but I can't phone or text anyone, just use Internet and WhatsApp when Internet us available.
If we do come back, my lawyer friend will get us both a SIM preloaded with Internet and we can call egyptian phone numbers.
Our phones both have dual SIM capability.
So, we shall see how today pans out...
I have managed to sort out plenty of cash for tips and ferry etc, as I think AFour mentioned, the banks are just giving out 200LE notes, and that's non too convenient when paying for taxis, water and milk. That's Laban in egyptian by the way.
Private joke.
TTFN.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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Re: Coming home
I note what you say about the price of milk at your hotel John, but you don't get any local shops there. On my most recent visit my hotel were charging $3 for a can of coke, when the real price across the road are charging 10 LE, God only knows what they charge at your place.
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Re: Coming home
A-Four wrote: βSun Jan 26, 2025 9:42 am I note what you say about the price of milk at your hotel John, but you don't get any local shops there. On my most recent visit my hotel were charging $3 for a can of coke, when the real price across the road are charging 10 LE, God only knows what they charge at your place.
It's extortionate, no idea what a coke woild cost, but 55 LE for water that only costs 15 LE in town.
I have however covered that base and given our room cleaner a generous tip on our fist day. He is now keeping us well supplied with water and coffee, so that tip has more than paid for itself.
I will take good care of him while we are here.
The food isn't that good and again extortionate.
I don't buy a thing if I can help it. It's all so much cheaper in town.
We ate in Jewel of the Nile last night, and for a 3 course meal for the 2 of us,
Mains were 2 steaks cooked to perfection with all the trimmings in lovely surroundings and all the extra bits and pieces thrown in for free, we paid about 16 UK pounds.
You won't even get one meal here for that price.
Now I do love this place, the rooms are quiet and very comfortable, we are in the huts as usual not the new 2 storey building they put up on the old farm on the south of the island.
If they were more reasonable with the prices we would probably eat and dine here occasionally.
The place does not seem to be as it was in its hey day. I get the feeling they are hanging on, as with lots of businesses in Luxor, the dynamic in Luxor I knew from the early 2000's through to 2012 when we were last here has changed. Obviously we all saw that happening post 2011 revolution.
Hopefully it won't get any worse and the place will adapt with the global changes that are emerging.
The golden days pre 1997 are well behind Luxor now, but it's pulled through, and still growing, so it's a very resilient place.
10 years from now we will know a lot more. In more ways than one.
Anyhow, just showered and am heading out to the WB for the afternoon. The good lady wife will be chilling out at the hotel. I know she feels safe here. One of the main reasons we stay here.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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Re: Coming home
I looked up TUI flights for November and they are still running but Tuesdays this time. I did a random fare for 2 weeks but it was around Β£700. Egyptair from Manchester was around Β£535 using netflights.Hopefully TUI will keep the Manchester fights going for the foreseeable future. There were about 40 empty seats, so even with those numbers the flights should still be economically viable.
Fingers crossed.
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Re: Coming home
Good to hear.
I'm hoping to get back for a proper 2 week stay very soon after this trip.
Hopefully Alison will be sorted very soon after we get back to welsh wales, So she can enjoy the next trip a bit more.
I was over on the west Bank today.
What a difference. !
It's like Bob the builder and a thousand of his mates turned up and snorted a couple of kilos of Colombia's finest cocaine and went on a building rampage.
Quite a transformation and much busier than I have ever seen the place.
I took refuge in the Sherezade for a while, and wandered up to the Doctors Hacienda.
I left a packet of tobacco with Aidea.
Hopefully she will pass it on.
Maybe catch up tomorrow ? And Bennu too.
Hopefully Alison will be sorted very soon after we get back to welsh wales, So she can enjoy the next trip a bit more.
I was over on the west Bank today.
What a difference. !
It's like Bob the builder and a thousand of his mates turned up and snorted a couple of kilos of Colombia's finest cocaine and went on a building rampage.
Quite a transformation and much busier than I have ever seen the place.
I took refuge in the Sherezade for a while, and wandered up to the Doctors Hacienda.
I left a packet of tobacco with Aidea.
Hopefully she will pass it on.
Maybe catch up tomorrow ? And Bennu too.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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- Luxor4u God
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Re: Coming home
Gordon292, Thanks for clarifying that.Gordon292 wrote: βSun Jan 26, 2025 1:41 amJust to be clear my suspicions have not been about the original poster but directed to the person named Hazel Parry who seems to have a not too positive attitude to the fact that some times as a European she is asked to pay more than locals for instance on the ferry.

it is what you do with what happens to you.
-Aldous Huxley
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Re: Coming home
See you tomorrowJohn Landon wrote: βSun Jan 26, 2025 3:47 pm
I ... wandered up to the Doctors Hacienda.
I left a packet of tobacco with Aidea.![]()
Maybe catch up tomorrow ? And Bennu too.

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Re: Coming home
Having been back for almost a week, I have been thinking about my return to Luxor and what is has meant to me.
The travelling experience was one of the best I have ever had from the moment we were picked up from our house.
We walked into the airport and weighed our bags, attached a ticket to each luggage item and placed said bags on a conveyor belt and wandered into security, which was also a breeze.
Enjoyed a couple of coffees in terminal 2 and a ciggie, then off to the boarding gate.
The flight was great, and we got through Luxor airport no problem.
At the hotel, we were greeted by a few familiar faces and made ourselves at home in one of the Nile side bungalows, then headed off to Maximes for a meal.
I noticed that there was only one member of staff, and the restaurant only has one floor now.
However the dining experience was a really good one, and it was feeling good to be home.
Most of the rest of the experiences I have previously posted.
We enjoyed another balloon trip, bit didn't get far as there was no wind, but still fun.
We met up with one of our friends here on the forum and we enjoyed ourselves on the west Bank, visiting Habu temple and then enjoyed a late lunch in one of the cafes opposite. That was one of the highlights of the trip, as well as meeting up for the first time in 12 years at La Fayrouze.
To summerise my own experience and observations.
Luxor town does indeed seem to be thriving and the powers that be do seem to be investing in its future.
The extended corniche gives a very good impression when you see it, it's well built with displays and murals on the walls. Lots of nice looking touristy shops, bars and restaurants. No hassle at all down there.
There is an area from the corner of Temple street leading down to the now derelict Luxor hotel that provides dedicated shade and shelter for the calesh horses and it seems fresh food too.
All paid for by Brooke in Holland according to the sign.
Hame's and Sindbads are long gone, which was a pleasant refuge from the streets, and a great meeting place.
Heading east and south past macdonalds, and very little has changed there.
From the Television street area, we were able to use the old route through the winter palace gardens and into the hotel, and back onto the main road.
There are less calesh's around, and those that are around seem to be very busy and taking the Chinese tourists around the city.
The hotels seemed not to have many week or 2 week tourists.
The majority of guests were mostly one or 2 night stays who would then go off on a cruise.
As a result, lobbies of hotels were usually full of suitcases and at times, busy receptionist booking guests in and out.
My mate who was there for a week back at Xmas time mentioned this as well, and said it was a problem getting a decent sleep due to guests moving about with suitcases all time.
This situation seemed to benefit the Jolie Ville, as they have a captive audience and as such were dining in on the evenings that they were there, whereas Alison and I would head into town each night.
This however must make it more expensive for the hotels, as they are having to do a full room clean each day or 2. We can get by with one set of bedding and towel change during our 7 day stay and no deep room clean.
I think this is the reason why the north of King's Island is now neglected and the facilities there abandoned.
The sun beds are still usable bit faded and the rooms are nice. The ceilings I noticed are now of a solid construction and not that rubberised sheeting they used to have.
What was missing for me, and this may seem somewhat esoteric, but that energy that I could tap into very easily was missing or very intermittent. It would give you a permanent buzz after a day or so, and that buzz would last for weeks afterwards.
I am pleased to say that we were able to assist our very good friend of almost 20 years with their baby son, due Alisons special care baby unit experience, and we were able to assist in expediting a much needed visit to a hospital in Cairo where this babies condition can be diagnosed and treated. This was something we were unaware of prior to our visit, and if the synchronicity we experienced around this event and the calling to come home, then it was all worth it.
They are still in Cairo having being able to leave 2 days after we visited them, and we are hoping for the best for them.
On balance, with all we experienced I am glad we came and we certainly enjoyed some of the time we spent there.
It's good to see Luxor and it's people doing well, and that appears to be down to the large influx of Chinese visitors, who I found to be lovely people. and to some extent, the day trippers. Numbers of visitors are indeed well and truly up from the early 2000's and most certainly post revolution.
The west Bank area no longer has that village feel to it. It's now following trends of other west Bank city areas in the world and attracting wealthy visitors and residents. As such it will never be the west Bank many of us have known in the past.
The farmers are only too happy to sell up thier land, and I can see why, even though the land is cheap, I know what the farmers are being paid, and I can see why they would sell up.
This trend will continue into the foreseeable future. Riverbank land attracting the higher prices.
I assume that there will be investment in the necessary infrastructure to supply all these new builds, if there has not been already ?
With regards to that village feel on the west Bank.
One only has to stroll down the side road to places like La Fayrouze or the Sherezade, and sit in the gardens at the back and be back in a time once remembered.
My enthusiasm for another return has not really been reignited I am sorry to say.
I have enjoyed all my time in Egypt and wouldn't change anything about it.
I have travelled all around the world and always enjoyed every place I have ever been to. Egypt was certainly number 1 for a very long time, and it's been wonderful. But all good things come to an end, and as one door gently closes, others open up.
Where to next. ? There are other re visits I would like to make, and lots of others places we need to see. Too many for one lifetime that's for sure.
The travelling experience was one of the best I have ever had from the moment we were picked up from our house.
We walked into the airport and weighed our bags, attached a ticket to each luggage item and placed said bags on a conveyor belt and wandered into security, which was also a breeze.
Enjoyed a couple of coffees in terminal 2 and a ciggie, then off to the boarding gate.
The flight was great, and we got through Luxor airport no problem.
At the hotel, we were greeted by a few familiar faces and made ourselves at home in one of the Nile side bungalows, then headed off to Maximes for a meal.
I noticed that there was only one member of staff, and the restaurant only has one floor now.
However the dining experience was a really good one, and it was feeling good to be home.
Most of the rest of the experiences I have previously posted.
We enjoyed another balloon trip, bit didn't get far as there was no wind, but still fun.
We met up with one of our friends here on the forum and we enjoyed ourselves on the west Bank, visiting Habu temple and then enjoyed a late lunch in one of the cafes opposite. That was one of the highlights of the trip, as well as meeting up for the first time in 12 years at La Fayrouze.
To summerise my own experience and observations.
Luxor town does indeed seem to be thriving and the powers that be do seem to be investing in its future.
The extended corniche gives a very good impression when you see it, it's well built with displays and murals on the walls. Lots of nice looking touristy shops, bars and restaurants. No hassle at all down there.
There is an area from the corner of Temple street leading down to the now derelict Luxor hotel that provides dedicated shade and shelter for the calesh horses and it seems fresh food too.
All paid for by Brooke in Holland according to the sign.
Hame's and Sindbads are long gone, which was a pleasant refuge from the streets, and a great meeting place.
Heading east and south past macdonalds, and very little has changed there.
From the Television street area, we were able to use the old route through the winter palace gardens and into the hotel, and back onto the main road.
There are less calesh's around, and those that are around seem to be very busy and taking the Chinese tourists around the city.
The hotels seemed not to have many week or 2 week tourists.
The majority of guests were mostly one or 2 night stays who would then go off on a cruise.
As a result, lobbies of hotels were usually full of suitcases and at times, busy receptionist booking guests in and out.
My mate who was there for a week back at Xmas time mentioned this as well, and said it was a problem getting a decent sleep due to guests moving about with suitcases all time.
This situation seemed to benefit the Jolie Ville, as they have a captive audience and as such were dining in on the evenings that they were there, whereas Alison and I would head into town each night.
This however must make it more expensive for the hotels, as they are having to do a full room clean each day or 2. We can get by with one set of bedding and towel change during our 7 day stay and no deep room clean.
I think this is the reason why the north of King's Island is now neglected and the facilities there abandoned.
The sun beds are still usable bit faded and the rooms are nice. The ceilings I noticed are now of a solid construction and not that rubberised sheeting they used to have.
What was missing for me, and this may seem somewhat esoteric, but that energy that I could tap into very easily was missing or very intermittent. It would give you a permanent buzz after a day or so, and that buzz would last for weeks afterwards.
I am pleased to say that we were able to assist our very good friend of almost 20 years with their baby son, due Alisons special care baby unit experience, and we were able to assist in expediting a much needed visit to a hospital in Cairo where this babies condition can be diagnosed and treated. This was something we were unaware of prior to our visit, and if the synchronicity we experienced around this event and the calling to come home, then it was all worth it.
They are still in Cairo having being able to leave 2 days after we visited them, and we are hoping for the best for them.
On balance, with all we experienced I am glad we came and we certainly enjoyed some of the time we spent there.
It's good to see Luxor and it's people doing well, and that appears to be down to the large influx of Chinese visitors, who I found to be lovely people. and to some extent, the day trippers. Numbers of visitors are indeed well and truly up from the early 2000's and most certainly post revolution.
The west Bank area no longer has that village feel to it. It's now following trends of other west Bank city areas in the world and attracting wealthy visitors and residents. As such it will never be the west Bank many of us have known in the past.
The farmers are only too happy to sell up thier land, and I can see why, even though the land is cheap, I know what the farmers are being paid, and I can see why they would sell up.
This trend will continue into the foreseeable future. Riverbank land attracting the higher prices.
I assume that there will be investment in the necessary infrastructure to supply all these new builds, if there has not been already ?
With regards to that village feel on the west Bank.
One only has to stroll down the side road to places like La Fayrouze or the Sherezade, and sit in the gardens at the back and be back in a time once remembered.
My enthusiasm for another return has not really been reignited I am sorry to say.
I have enjoyed all my time in Egypt and wouldn't change anything about it.
I have travelled all around the world and always enjoyed every place I have ever been to. Egypt was certainly number 1 for a very long time, and it's been wonderful. But all good things come to an end, and as one door gently closes, others open up.
Where to next. ? There are other re visits I would like to make, and lots of others places we need to see. Too many for one lifetime that's for sure.
Don't look back. That's not the direction you are travelling towards.
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Re: Coming home
There are many foreigners who could attest to the wisdom (or lack of it) of buying farmland, or land near the riverbank on the West. A great number of these happy holidaymakers have returned to their multi-thousand pound villas only to find that they have been bulldozed into oblivion, as the land had never belonged to them, nor the folk who sold it to them!
Buyer beware, big style!!!!
Buyer beware, big style!!!!
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- Luxor4u God
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Re: Coming home
Thank you John Landon for your Trip Report. I always find it interesting to read other people's experience of somewhere I know, and in particular of people who are returning after a long period of time.

it is what you do with what happens to you.
-Aldous Huxley
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