I was woken really early this morning by very loud wailing. Then I realised it was coming from one of the mosques. Goodness knows why they were doing it so early!
I got back sleep then woke up to my alarm, had breakfast then left the hotel. I'm doing lots today so have to keep to a timetable!
I went to Kom el Hetan, the site of the Collosi to see Hourig Sourouzian. I had some things for her, together with a book from the Hierakonpolis Director. It was lovely to see her again as I had missed last year because she was so busy. We had only managed to wave to each other then.
She always greets me like a long lost friend, which is lovely! (Here's another coach of tourists offloading to the boats). I gave her the goodies and the book, we had a quick chat and then she had to go because some official visitors arrived. The site has changed a great deal since last year. A new, low wall and railings have been erected along part of the road. (I'm being distracted by the sight of a helicopter hovering over the East Bank, around TV St, goodness knows what that's doing. I've never seen a helicopter in Egypt before!)
Part of the wall has a viewing area so I don't know why so many people have got so upset about the wall being built. It's there to protect the site in anticipation of it being open to the public in the future.
Hourig told me to go to the new North Gate. This is right around the corner and past the Temple of Merenptah. Two statues that were found in a nearby field have been re-erected and are currently surrounded by scaffolding. I went round to see them and the Egyptologist explained to me that they could not acquire the land where they had been found, having fallen there after an earthquake in the distant past. They have been moved to a new site, adjacent to the main road and next to Merenptah. It is hoped that someday they will be able to be moved back to their original location.
From here I went to Malkata, the closed site of the Heb Sed Palace of Amenhotep lll. When I was Hierakonpolis yesterday I was told about the glass that has been found on this site. As I have glass factory and also collect crystal I was very interested. I arrived whilst the team were taking a break. I had been told to ask for Catharine Roerhig, one of the team leaders but she was off site. One of the others, Diana, had fallen getting off the very on Friday and badly broken her wrist, so she was staying with her at the hotel.
The site director, Peter Lacovara very kindly offered to show me around the site. I had visited it last year after the team had left and there was very little to see then. This time is had changed dramatically. There has been a great deal of work done on the mud brick exterior walls. Also the areas of the palace are now clearly marked out now by smaller mud brick walls. There is even some decoration, very low down in what they believe to be the king's room. It is a very big site which extends further under a cultivated field. I will add some photos from my proper camera tomorrow as I'm writing this at 11pm!
Due to my relationship with glass I have been asked to assist the South Assif team! Unfortunately, they only start in April but they want me to keep in contact by email - stunned!
I felt very privileged to have been allowed on this site and look forward to reading their blog for the rest of the season.
I returned to the hotel for a short break and to freshen up for my second visit to the Sunshine Orphanage. I couldn't get my regular driver on the East Bank so I just got the first taxi that stopped. He had his small son in the front with him. I told him how much I would pay and as usual, he wanted double. I walked off and of course he agreed. As I had some things for the children I asked if I could give his son one. He agreed and the child seemed happy enough. Then, the cheek of the man, he asked for more for his other children! I told him off for being so rude but he went on and on. Now I can go so far, but he crossed the line. I told him I would pay him when he picked me up so he decided to wait.
I saw my 'niece' at the orphanage and she was delighted with her gifts. It had been her birthday on January 1st, so she got double. I was really touched when she asked why I could not be there for her birthday. She's a quiet, studious, lovely girl who wants to be a doctor. She's 14 now and I am sure she will be, she's very determined. She wants to be a paediatrician as she wants to help the babies.
She took me over to the building that houses the babies. They have 13 at the moment, one is under 2 months. It is so sad to see these tiny mites in their cots in the room.
Soon after I made my goodbyes to all I met, promising to see them again next year.
I got back in the taxi and was dropped off at the Winter Palace where I was due to meet my Trip Advisor people. Suffice to say the taxi man did not get what he wanted but I gave him more than I originally intended, so I felt it worked out in the end.
Meeting people you have only conversed with in a Forum is very interesting. We clicked immediately and had such a good time together that I cancelled my plans for the evening. I found out what the helicopter was there for. The new governor was being inaugurated by a government minister. There were blacked out cars, men with guns and dark glasses, wearing the usual dark suits or black leather jackets. It was surreal when little old me walked up the sweeping stone staircase of the Winter Palace and just ignored them all and went to reception!
When it was time for me to go and view some cruise boats, my new friends came with me. We traipsed up and down gangplanks and in and out of boats to get to the ones I was being shown. One, the Amarco ll was very nice but they advertise it as being all suites - codswallop! They showed me one and it was no bigger than any other cabin I had seen and they wanted $50 more per night! It was nice but not that nice.
We finally came to the one at the top of my list, the Emilio. It's docked way past the Luxor bridge so it was a bit of drive, but well worth it. It's really lovely and whilst my man was negotiating, a passenger from Newcastle spoke to me. He loved the boat and told me about it. It was interesting to note that he had spent a week in Hurghada, which seems to be the way it's done now. So there's no money coming into Luxor from that route.
After making the decision to go on the Emilio we did the paperwork and then my new friends took me to Wenkies, the ice cream parlour. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I class myself as a bit of an expert on ice cream but I have never, ever tasted anything as good as this! The selection of flavours was amazing and some really unusual ones too. I can highly recommend it to anyone visiting Luxor. It on the road at the side of the Passport office, near to the Nile Palace Hotel.
We then went into the Sonesta Hotel for a hot drink. This used to be my old haunt before I discovered the delights of the West Bank. It was nice to be back, if albeit briefly. The staff actually remembered me, which was a bit of a shock! The hot chocolate was just as I remember it, and it comes in a pot, so you get about three cups altogether.
From here they accompanied me back to the ferry, which was very kind of them, as they could have just gone back to their hotel. I took the public ferry back over to the hotel and then got ready for bed.
I have had yet another wonderful day, so goodness knows what's going to happen tomorrow!
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