Wednesday 21st March 2012

It's our last day today :-( so it's up early and packing the suitcases, mum's is over the 20kg luggage allowance (it's the box of 100 tahina biscuits) but she ditches a few bits and bobs (not the biscuits tho lol!!!) and her case is just under 20kg.

We spend most of the morning lazing about the hotel and taking a few photos.

Mohammed - one of the brothers who own the hotel

El Mesala Hotel (Mesala is Arabic for Obelisk)

I'm packing my camera and lenses away when mum shouts on me, there are around 5 little bee eaters flying about in front of the hotel, with my camera packed away I let her take the photos.

(c) 'the auld yin' 2012 

I thought I would crop and enlarge this one for you so you could see it better..............

The Bug Eating Bee-Eater

We have really enjoyed our time here on the West Bank, it's definitely far more laid back and hassle free than staying on the East Bank, so easy to get out and about and walk for miles without being stopped and hassled to take a caleche or felucca.  The El Mesala Hotel was also a great choice, close enough (5 mins) to the ferry, a motorboat jetty opposite, a warm and friendly welcome and home from home atmosphere from owners and all the staff  plus a rooftop restaurant which serves absolutely delicious food.  We will most certainly be back.

The mini bus comes to collect us around 2.30pm and we make our way back to the airport, like I have mentioned before I couldn't live in Egypt but am always so sad to leave (I manage no tears this time)

On checking in at Luxor airport there was a screaming match going on, a lady who had 2 carry on bags and a large suitcase was shouting the odds with the check in staff,  her case was most definitely overweight, she wasn't disputing that - what she was disputing was the fact that she had to PAY for the extra luggage, apparently she was a 'travel agent' and never in her life had she heard anything so ridiculous than people being charged if their luggage was overweight, if she hadn't been so infuriated I would have asked her for a business card (just to ensure I never booked with her company - LOL!!). 

The call to gate was IMO way too early, as on previous visits staff called 'speedy boarders' and 'special assistance' to queue first - this means that 'everyone' jumps up and around 6 different queues which begin to merge into one form.  After standing for 20 minutes - they finally allow the S.A. group on first followed by us speedyboarders.  Mum and I take a seat near the back of the plane, stow our luggage and take our seats.   The plane takes off and I get my last view of Luxor for a few months..........

I chat to the lady at the end of our row, it's been her first time in Egypt and she was on my favourite boat which I have cruised on several times the 'M/S Presidential Nile Commodore' - I ask her how she enjoyed her holiday.  

On day one the hassle from hawkers in the Valley of the Kings had been so bad she had wanted to return home there and then but as the week had went on she had grown a little more used to the hassle and both her and her mum had had a superb time and would return again.  Infact listening in to the chit chat on the plane people seemed to be quite positive and had really enjoyed their time, most seem to have been on cruises where I think you do get sheltered from a lot of the hassle anyway, but the main point is most seemed to have had a really good time.

After a bacon baguette and a beer I fall asleep, missing a kerfuffle of some sort at the front of the plane, I'm not sure exactly what happened but mum saw the flight attendants rushing about then one walking to the back of the plane with an empty vodka bottle and there were no less than six police officers waiting to arrest someone at Gatwick airport when we disembarked (I think they were letting everyone off before going in to arrest him) Some passengers we had met at the Winter Palace last October were being questioned about the incident (not that they were involved in any way,  police were just questioning them for further evidence)

No major queues at immigration and it was only a short walk to the comfort of the Sofitel Gatwick, quick shower and sleeeeeeep!!!!

Thursday 8th March 2012

I wake up around 7-ish after an excellent night's sleep, I lie there for a bit and can hear birds twittering and the sun shining in through the curtains, I pull them back and watch Luxor spring into life, people crossing the Nile on the ferry and motorboats, coaches driving past Luxor temple.

Eventually I drag myself from bed and have a long shower before heading up onto the roof terrace for breakfast.

With the El Mesala being a small hotel there is no buffet like you would find at some of the bigger hotels on the East Bank.

Breakfast consists of:-
A freshly cooked omelette,
Bread,
Cheese,
Tomato or Cucumber,
Yoghurt,
Jam,
Banana,
Orange,
Tea or Coffee.

Its more than enough to fill me for a days exploring which is just we decide to do and head off for a walk to explore the West Bank a little, temperature is just nice and there is a good breeze.

We start off by heading along the area known as 'The Ramla'

Before turning at El Salam Camp, and walking up the side of a banana plantation

And then following the canal back along to the main road

When we get to the main road we notice more queues for gas, one side of the road is completely blocked so traffic is going two way on the other side.  We continue walking back down to the Nile and along to our hotel.

You know what was odd, not odd in a nasty or horrible way, we spent two hours just wandering, stopping to take photos and not one bit of hassle or aggro anywhere, people did stop and speak but it was always a friendly 'good morning' , 'welcome' , a smile from local women, a 'hello, hello, hello and waves from the children' - This is a completely different side of Luxor, one I hope many more tourists will come to see.

Back at the hotel we put our feet up and read our kindles.

Reading my kindle with feet dipped in the pool

We don't actually unpack our suitcases properly until early evening before heading out for some dinner.

And another solid sleep.

Wednesday 7th March

I have decided I don't like Gatwick Airport,  it has a fair range of shops (essential), eateries and bars (also essential) but it's just too big and every time I seem to go through security my bra underwire set's off the beepy machines leading to a 5 minute delay - seriously can security not see from looking at me my bra is going to have a larger than normal underwire, yet every time they have a puzzled look about their faces. I get frisked down (again), I have also learnt my lesson about asking for the dishy looking male security attendant to frisk me instead of the lady, no jokes with airline security!!!!  I don't set off the beepy machines at Edinburgh, Manchester and Luxor airports - just Gatwick!!!!

Anyway, as we got our return flights to Luxor with Easyjet for £140.00 per person including luggage, Gatwick it is.

I keep looking at the screens for 'call to gate' - there are a few people crowded round the screens, from their chit chat also heading out to Luxor - the gate no. comes up and everyone breaks into a speedwalk.

There's a woman who sends her son racing ahead at a fast jog.  Unfortunately she hasn't banked on us 'speedy boarders' and people who need 'special assistance' getting onto the plane first - she wasn't even first to gate (despite the sons fast jog to get their first in an attempt to get them on the plane first) but she still thinks they should be on the plane first and an argument erupts as mum, the other speedy boarders and I head down the tunnel onto the plane.  

We sit ourselves near the front (just incase they run out of bacon baguettes and ham and cheese toasties) and make ourselves comfy.

The woman and her son then sit behind us.............. oh the joys!!!!! 5.5 hours worth!!!!  The plane is fairly full and there are only a couple of free seats. 

Luckily things quieten down and we have a fairly uneventful flight, I have a couple of bacardi and ginger beers along with my cheese and ham toastie while flying over the Alps (with it being early March they look stunning with all the snow) and before we know it the coast of Africa, then the Nile and then Luxor comes into view.

On arrival at the terminal building we get our visa's and change some money, we would normally wait till we got to Luxor but as we are staying 'on the side of the dead' this time we know there is no bank there and  decide to change a little to do us a few nights.

We clear security quickly and go to get our luggage, as normal mum's come's off first and she rushes off to get to duty free for cigarettes (much to my disgust) - my case comes off, I go to head out of the building and am stopped by a customs officer who looks down at my small suitcase which is filled with pockets and rather bulging at the seams.

He asks to see my passport and see's all the visa stickers and tells me 'I have been many times 'uuuhhaahh, yep',  then asks what's in my case - I can assure you all it's just 'clothes and shoes' and a few bags of ginger sweeties and jelly babies for our friends Edward and Freda, nothing untowards at all.  

I'm made to open the case to show what's inside, I have to feel sorry for the poor customs man, when I open the case he finds my bras (not the smallest size on the planet) on top and female sanitary items.  The man blushes, to save him any further blushes, I lift a few items and show him that there is nothing more than essentials contained and he tells me all is OK and I can go!!!!

The problem (as discussed recently on Trip Advisor) is that there are some ladies who are married to Egyptians who take rather expensive gifts in for their husbands and customs was checking I wasn't doing that.  (PS - I don't have and have no intention of getting an Egyptian hubby!)

Our transport is waiting for us and we head out of the airport, all set for a new adventure in Luxor.  First thing we notice - queues for Gas (petrol) we hear there are shortages, we see quite a few stations with huge queues and that continues wherever we travel over the next 2 weeks.

For this trip we have decided on a change and have opted to stay 'on the side of the dead' much has been said about 'West being Best' so we thought, why not see.  Mum and I decided on the El Mesala Hotel, 5 mins walk from the ferry (just south of the Nile Valley Hotel) and with direct views over to Luxor Temple and the Winter Palace.

Check in is quick, we literally dump our cases in our room (no. 203) and head upstairs to the roof terrace for a natter with Edward and Freda and another ex-pat lady called Hazel who lives nearby the hotel.

We chat for ages before deciding to order some food.  

The food is good, conversation flows well and I begin to relax.

I also have one of the best nights sleeps I have had in a looooooong time.

The El Mesala Hotel - Home for the next two weeks