Luxor, Egypt

As we stood at the rundown train station in Cairo, I questioned our sleeper car train ride to Luxor. The worst looking dilapidated trains would pull in full of military guys with guns hanging out of broken windows. Our train didn't look much better from the outside, but it was nicer than the trains we had seen earlier. We took an 8-hour night train to Luxor.

Our hotel in Luxor is elegant. I have never stayed in any hotel as nice as this and our breakfast was fancier than any meal you get on cruises in the States. But as soon as we stepped outside, we were swarmed with taxi and carriage drivers. We had a guide to show us around the temples on the East Bank of the Nile that first day. In the evening we enjoyed a nice dinner which was a step up from our McD's for lunch, which was also enjoyable.

The following day we toured the Valley of the Kings and the Temploe of Hitchisou (pronounced like "hot chicken soup" on the West Bank of the Nile. Hitchisou posed as a man in order to became King! It is sorta like the Disney movie, Mulan. Those tombs were so hot; no wonder all those kings DIED!! We are going out on the town tonight with the Prime Minister, who just happened to come to town when he heard that we were here. Hope he likes McDonalds & beer! It is hard for me to describe Egypt thus far. Crowded, dirty, goats, cats, sheep, taxis, hassling kids and adults, junk, noise, tractors, carts, beat up cars, pyramids, temples, synagogues, smog--just not quite Colorado--But happy to be able to witness it all firsthand. Everyone should be able to see it!