Then to Karnak.
Ther were only a couple of private cars in the carpark. It was quiet this morning. I only had to pass one souvenir seller, and he was not too pushy.
I wanted to view the temple of Ptah, which is by the northern side of the enclosure wall. I started walking up the path from the north portal of the Hypostyle Hall, but there was a 'no entry, dig area' sign, and the security official was not happy to let me pass. I could possibly have found a different way through, but did not wish to upset the hosts so soon after the revolution.
I walked round the east to the Tuthmosis III festival temple, stopping in the botanical room, but the light was in the wrong direction for good photographs.
I got some good pictures further on, where the sun was striking the hieroglyphs at a good angle.
After a drink at the cafe - I was the only customer, and a stallholder was catching small fish from the sacred lake to feed to the cats - I moved down the outside of the eigth pylon to avoid the security barrier into the working area beyond. I entered the courtyard in front of the 9th pylon, pictured, which is still being restored. This is where Akhenaten's taletat blocks were reused as infill, but I did not see any lying around waiting to be photographed. I was not sure if the security guard was waving for me to go away, so I ignored him and headed through the 9th pylon into the next courtyard. He put his finger to his lips, so I knew that I was alright to proceed with caution on provision of some baksheesh.
Five tourist coaches now arrived from Hurghada, probably only half full, and about 100 visitors were spoiling the ambience, so I slowly left the temple, was met by Tayaeb, and we headed to the West Bank, avoiding the centre of Luxor where a demonstration was taking place against some local Sheikh. The afternoon was spent with a few friendly Stellas and a superb lamb tagen at Mahmoud's new restaurant. The first guests arrive for his hotel tomorrow, so I hope that he can give it a name. It is off the main road beyond the Tuthmosis III temple dig, adjacent to Sheik ibn al Gourna porcelaine shop. I have now identified it on Google Earth.