The biggest so far!!!!

[Chocolate Eclair]

Yesterday the Electricity went off at 4.00am and came back on at 12.30am, everyone was melting waiting for it to come back on. After 3 hours it was thought there was a fault, and it was reported, the electric company knew nothing of it. Yeeaahh!!!! this could have gone on all day if no body had taken some initiative. When action was threatened it returned on withing 10 mins.... So beware in the future, of a new wave or method...

[DJKeefy]

did you mean 12:30pm

[Dusak]

What action could possibly persuade the electricity people to switch back on, on demand? This action could, effectively, cancel out every power cut in the future for us all if they react this quickly. Or is it only a Gorff thingy? The rest of us plebs having to swearingly sweat it out. :hot:

[Chocolate Eclair]

Sorry K you are right 12.30pm!

Nobody knew what was happening, tourists (4 of) were aimlessly walking about trying to find people with pools and asking if they could use them their pools. It was a bit chaotic. Feel sorry for tourists having to go through this, and think the travel companies should make them aware, it would be better for visitors to know rather than spend a few weeks holiday here and then go back and put scathing reports on the internet, what is happening at the moment.

[Dusak]

Sorry K you are right 12.30pm!

Nobody knew what was happening, tourists (4 of) were aimlessly walking about trying to find people with pools and asking if they could use them their pools. It was a bit chaotic. Feel sorry for tourists having to go through this, and think the travel companies should make them aware, it would be better for visitors to know rather than spend a few weeks holiday here and then go back and put scathing reports on the internet, what is happening at the moment.

[A-Four]

it is perhaps the heat, it must be quite dreadful,.........for all of you poor, poor souls out there,..........God bless one, and all of you.

With my good self, its usually the ,...............whether its hot or not.

[Zooropa]

I do not know if this will make you feel better or worse.

In Leicester, East Midlands, England, its been pi***ng it down most of the day!

[A-Four]

I do not know if this will make you feel better or worse.

In Leicester, East Midlands, England, its been pi***ng it down most of the day!

........but then again, Leicester has never been the same since they closed down Charles Street nick. .

[Zooropa]

Lol, you know Leicester A4?

wouldn't be a policeman would you?

[Chocolate Eclair]

Its far easier to keep warm than to keep cool Z.

A4 for your info was MI 5 or is that MX 5 by Mazda

[Helsx]

Sorry K you are right 12.30pm!

Nobody knew what was happening, tourists (4 of) were aimlessly walking about trying to find people with pools and asking if they could use them their pools. It was a bit chaotic. Feel sorry for tourists having to go through this, and think the travel companies should make them aware, it would be better for visitors to know rather than spend a few weeks holiday here and then go back and put scathing reports on the internet, what is happening at the moment.

I empathise with you all, it is not amusing when the power is off and on, in those extreme temps. I have been back in the UK for 7 weeks, as of tomorrow and have been quizzed by many people about Luxor. It really does seem a source of interest to most! But all those I have spoken with, really do not have any idea of what is happening there? They know there are problems, but they do not know details and are not phased at all when we talk about some of the current issues in Luxor. I tend to round the conversation off, by explaining the best times of the year to go and that being quiet, you do have the added bonus of less crowds at the sites/sights. Generally, people are thankful for that information and do see the positive side.

I have always been interested in this idea of people writing bad reports on the internet. I use the internet daily and keep an eye on what is happening in Egypt and as I have said, speak to people here regularly about Luxor etc. The TV does not have any news about Egypt and it's problems (Just the recent flight situation) From my perspective, I am not coming across any of these negative reports? Maybe sites such as Trip Advisor and forums, are the main source of these reports?

I think possibly, that this talk of people not experiencing the best in Luxor, go home and write reports on 'The internet' (Whatever/wherever that may be) is not the big issue that people think it is. I would be 100% happy, to say to Luxor people, that there are no damning reports about them and their Country. Quite the opposite. People have an affinity with Egypt and are still enthralled with it's history, culture and people.

[Chocolate Eclair]

I can understand everything you are saying "H", but there are horror stories leaking out of Egypt regardless. Last Christmas my wife was in the UK and many people spoke to her about Egypt/Luxor and told her their concerns, one said "What the Bloody Hell do you want to live in a ----- like that" it's these people that at one time may have been interested in visiting, but are no longer thinking that way they have this feeling of being unsafe, those that are not interested in visiting would not be concerned as to what happened. Some said they would still like to come but they still feared the security concerns, one was asking about the kidnapping's in the Sinai Area. they could not get their heads around the fact that the area's where the trouble's take place are many miles from Luxor, one asked if Hurghada was near to Egypt, because they had seen it advertised as "Holiday on the Red Sea"



Its difficult when you live in Luxor to convince people that the place is as safe as any other place, my wife was under the impression that pictures from the last Revolution that were flashed around the world did nothing for Egypt and many thought these problems were Countrywide. The other problem of course is the internet, including Youtube and the many sites informing the world of Egypt's trouble's.

Regarding living in Luxor, Yes! its bloody annoying going through blackouts, when we were first told was going to happen was last Autumn and nobody did anything. Its annoying to see tourists, what few we have in our area complaining about no Air Con and when they have it the system does not work because of the poor power supply, Its annoying to see what few tourists we have with long faces, whats wrong with them? Its annoying that the money supply seems to have drained completely and projects are not getting finished, Ramla Cornice is a good example, how long has it been stood unfinished?

With a bit of luck some tourists do not see these things or experience them, because they have other things on their minds, but if they had to live with these things they may think different.

There is still a lot of suspicion through out Egypt, more since the Revolution, people seem to have lost trust in each other, but then again there is nothing here to protect people against con merchants, who sell and trade a hyper inflated prices. Half the tourists go home not realising the dual pricing here, and certainly not realising how many times during their holiday they have been ripped off.

If you live in Luxor you do become aware of these things and protect yourself as much as possible, but it can be hard trying to keep your money in your pocket, and that's annoying.

When we look back and see what we spent as tourists, we really see how much money we spent unnecessary, even since we have been here and people know we live here but still try to drain you, so its not easy, you either pay over the odd's or get nowhere. if you get ripped off like many do and in fact like myself and wife did when we first came here, you have virtually no protection to get your money or belongings back unless you spend 10's of 10000's le and then you cannot be guaranteed you lawyer is not on the make.

So to sum up there is a difference being a tourist than living here, when you live here its 52 weeks of the year, when your a tourist its normally 2 -3 weeks of the year, so attitude's and thoughts are bound to be different.

"H" I have tried to put it delicately and hope I have succeeded. But really you know these things you live here most of the time, and even you yourself have fallen victim of the modern times in Luxor. I think my wife met many people that were interested to hear stories but not all that bothered about visiting, possibly they may belong to the Benidorm set!!

[BENNU]

Its difficult when you live in Luxor to convince people that the place is as safe as any other place...

I have tried to put it delicately and hope I have succeeded.

: I am very impressed. :lol2:

[Dusak]

As the saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted. If anyone goes into a shop anywhere in the world to buy anything, they pay for the item if they are happy with the price. So its the individuals choice. I assume Choc that you are referring to your lost wealth on your property deal that turned sour. If you were to buy land/property anywhere in the world you would probably deal with a registered agent, not some filly with the talk. We all make mistakes, some costly, some laughable, but non that should rule our lives. Double pricing is here to stay, as most of us are now that the banks are refusing to even give our own money to us if in foreign currency. We have to and bare it, otherwise we shall be meeting our makers far sooner than we would like. As for the talk concerning this place, if people want to really come they will, regardless of what people like us place on the net to be read. We have a potential billion plus that could come, but they don't feel the need to and not just because of the news. Holiday preferences differ in people, Luxor is a niche market, interesting the selective few only that places history high on their agenda. They quote the rising numbers, but we living here know that the vast majority go to the Red Sea area as it offers all that people need from a foreign holiday at a much cheaper package deal than Luxor offers. Luxor has never been family friendly as its not that kind of place for young families. Unless those families can afford two or three a year, one being of a cultural nature.

[Chocolate Eclair]

I fortunately no longer use Egyptian Banks, following the fiasco in Greece, I have turned to long distance Banking for both security and understanding. Don't forget to non locals the banks here are only places to get your money put in and draw out when you require, they are not even 1% of the British Banking system, when it comes to helping people, or even understanding the needs of people.

I always think that if trouble blew up in Egypt again, all the banking problems it caused when the trouble first blew up would rear their ugly heads again.

[Dusak]

Yes, you can put your money in in whatever currency you want, but can only draw it out in Le, unless you only need a £fiver. then they will give you that.

[Miss scarlett]

Luxor is definitely a niche market. We first came 6 years ago with my husband being interested in the history. I wanted to go to the Red Sea , with the offer of going to Luxor for the day. However husband convinced me it couldn't be done in a day, so off to Luxor we went, and never regretted it. Have caught the bug and been back every year since and love it, power cuts, hassle (well we have learned over the years how to deal with it,) and occasionally can afford to come twice a year.

After the revolution many people did quiz us on our choice of holiday, and the first sign of trouble in Cairo, and people thought our holiday would be cancelled. However now when I mention we are off to Egypt no-one mentions the troubles.

However, if I do meet anyone else who have been to Egypt, it is always the Red Sea area, with the option of going to Luxor for the day. Also to my despair, wherever people go in the world, All Inclusive is king! Everyone, but everyone, old and young want all inclusive. Does not appeal to me in the slightest, eating the same buffet food, day in and day out. The amount that get upset stomachs too, from these holidays, because they don't like to eat outside the complex! All that food sitting around for hours not good.

So in my experience the majority of people make no mention at all about trouble in Egypt. The vast majority like the Red Sea, in fact our neighbour goes every year for the windsurfing, but again he hates the hassle and goes all inclusive.

There will always be the few that go for the history, fall in love with Luxor and return. Whenever we go we try and encourage the frightened to try other establishments to eat, and yes to use a taxi or caleche for a trip round. I tell them to set their price before getting in, in LE, pay at the end, and then walk away. Have to say love seeing people then going out and exploring Luxor and loving it. Hassle is a big factor on people not wanting to come out of the hotel complex and spend their money. However, don't think that will ever change, no matter how many times we tell the Egyptians. I use a caleche who doesn't hassle me, and he is the one I recommend to people when over there.

So my view is that the majority people I speak to want all inclusive holidays with guaranteed sun, old and young alike.

[Brian Yare]

Any tourists visiting Luxor in Summer should be aware of the climate. I agree that they should also know about the power and water cuts, but they are not always mentioned. I'm not coming back until early winter, but may stay a long time.

[Who2]

........

[Chocolate Eclair]

To finish this off, at 12.15pm I txt'd the then Governor and low and behold 15 mins later the Electric came back on, a miricle, coincidence, or job well done? We will never know now..