Luxor is filled with Chinese tourists – a novelty for Egypt. These Chinese New Year tourists in Karnak Temple, walking around a sacred scarab seven times while making a silent wish, are dressed in stand-out fashion in a land where women are robed, albeit colorfully. How big are their suitcases? The fashion style is Japanese Harajuku (goofy punk). Sash observes that the Japanese have become the stylesetters for China, no matter how much the Chinese claim to dislike them.
In the Royal Bar, Winter Palace Hotel. Lord Kitchener and Winston Churchill are glad you could make it.
I am a mummified centerpiece at the Crocodile Museum, Kom Ombo. Please note my ivory eyes. I agree that I look much better all wrapped up than I do in real life.
We stumble upon the grave of the Shah of Iran in a room of the mosque of Al Rifai. The tomb is being cleaned and bouquets arrive in time for a visit that evening by his wife.
Menu and cover for Abou El Sid, Ottoman themed restaurant in Zamalek; very atmospheric; food just OK.
Seriously. I am everywhere. In the fields. On the road. Hauling stuff. Kids on my back. I am the GM truck of agricultural Egypt.
Felucca (uniquely Nile single sailboats) boatman in front of Old Cataract hotel, Aswan
In the Aswan souk after lengthy discussions (and heavy bargaining for statues of Horus) about life in no-tourist Egypt
King Farouk approves of our staying in his room, with its original furnishings, at the Winter Palace hotel, Luxor
With Rasha Hamid our guide in Cairo and tour organizer