Day 43
Luxor, Egypt
The sun awoke us early this morning and by 6:15 a.m. we could already feel it burning our skin. They anticipated temperatures at 115 degrees fahrenheit today — and that prediction might have been on the conservative side. We had a quick breakfast, gathered our bags and bid farewell to our felucca captains at the pick up point.
Our 3-hour bus ride to Luxor was another white-knuckled police-escorted convoy. We somehow managed to luck out again with a driver who pushed his minivan to absurd speeds but was defensive at the same time. We arrived here at around 11:30 a.m. — all it took was one step off the bus and the dry, stifling air was suffocating. We’re staying at the Little Garden Hotel, a small and clean family-run place. Our room offers a view into the heart of the city. This is Luxor, Egypt.
We had a quick lunch and then headed for the Karnak Temple, the largest in the world. It was built over 400 years as the capital of the New Kingdom. There was an overwhelming number of obelisks, columns and carvings.
Unfortunately, the stone structure was radiating heat and the sun was just too stifling to stick around for long, so we hopped back in the van and grabbed an ice cream at America’s greatest contribution to the world.
We’re having a dinner and belly dancing show at the hotel tonight and then turning in early. It’s been an exhausting day, the food and sun are beginning to take their toll on us, and we start at 4:15 a.m. tomorrow.
Marc Zawel 
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