It's a long way to Luxor from the port of Safaga, about 3.5 hours. It's only 200km in distance, but there are sections of the road, through New Qena in particular, where you drive for 200 meters, go over a pair of speed bumps, then continue on for another 200 meters.
The paired speed bumps really slow traffic down entering intersections, allowing the free-for- all that is Egyptian traffic to be really free. I guess you don't really need a speed bump exiting the intersection but my observation was that if the speed bump was lower in the oncoming lane, that's where our driver went.
The first 100km from the pier was pretty bleak desert with nothing except police checkpoints to break up the journey. They were definitely looking to make sure no one was sneaking into Egypt from the Red Sea.
Most Egypt power comes from the Aswan High Dam further up the Nile.
We began to approach the Nile and the road paralleled an irrigation canal. Lots of agriculture appeared.
As did tut-tuts. This is one of those speed bump protected intersections. The tut-tuts need all the help they can get..
A more traditional way of travel, although with a truck axle forming the carriage. They also needed help at the intersections -- acceleration was definitely lacking.
Two boys with a bicycle on a donkey.
Enough water to grow rice
In the city of Luxor they are excavating the 3km road between the temples of Karnac and Luxor. The road was originally lined with lions.
A passenger ferry crossing the Nile River
After lunch we visited our first temple, Karnak.
Second stop, Luxor temple
Original paint job
International cuisine with an interesting way of describing its location
This little girl jumped up to stare at the horses going by
Our hotel, the Royal Sonesta St. George, was right on the Nile Our buffet dinner was served near the pool with a view of the Nile (except that it was very dark by then).
Sunset on the Nile. The mountains in the background are just west of the Nile, and that's where the Valley of the Kings is located.
The paired speed bumps really slow traffic down entering intersections, allowing the free-for- all that is Egyptian traffic to be really free. I guess you don't really need a speed bump exiting the intersection but my observation was that if the speed bump was lower in the oncoming lane, that's where our driver went.
The first 100km from the pier was pretty bleak desert with nothing except police checkpoints to break up the journey. They were definitely looking to make sure no one was sneaking into Egypt from the Red Sea.
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