I managed another substantial buffet breakfast this morning.
I had a different selection this morning, including rolls, butter, cheeses, cold meat, pate, fruit juice and coffee. I headed outside to the omelette station which was doing a brisk trade. It seemed very well organised. And I couldn't resist sampling from the sweet pastry section.
Oceanus tours had sent my limousine from Luxor, staffed not only by a driver but also a manager! It was a very new large car, with 4 plush armchairs in the rear. 2 were facing rearwards while the other two were forward facing. There didn't seem to be much legroom, so I insisted on travelling up-front. The velcro on my sandal straps decided to attach itself to the carpet, so this had to be removed.
We stopped on the outskirts of Hurghada to pick up cold water and snacks. The staff were insistent that I have some although I really did not need or want anything. My water and biscuits eventually got forced on me at Luxor, so are now in my fridge. (I had brought water from the hotel for the journey.)
Security on the desert road was being enforced and we had to stop at every check-point and present our documentation. Normally we would not stop more than once or twice.
We stopped at the halfway point for the staff to have a loo, coffee and smoke break. Again I didn't need this, but they will have been on the road since before 6a.m.
Arriving in Qena I was annoyed that they took the east-bank road rather than crossing the bridge to Dendera and the Western Desert Road. Apparently they did not have the necessary documents for the West Bank. :-(
The east bank road has many road junctions, all equipped with "sleeping policemen" and is really slow and uncomfortable. I convinced the staff that we should cross the Nile on the new bridge between Qus and Nagada. Of course this route was quiet, smooth and fast, with no check-points. :-)
But then, the exit onto the Western Desert Road to Luxor was closed. They are upgrading this to dual carriageway so we had to exit northwards and find somewhere for a U-turn.
We did not stop at any checkpoints on the way into Luxor. Traffic was light. The road is generally good although showing signs of deterioration since it was opened 10 years ago. Progress on the 2nd carriageway was generally good, although I doubt it will be complete this winter.
A quick phone call to Tayeb and I was on my way to the RRH. The first cold Stella tasted really good. And several of my friends and acquaintances turned up to greet me.Soon the sun set, the mountains were lit up, and everything was normal - except that they forgot to light up the saff tombs.