More on Luxor

Turning myself inside out to keep you all in the know on what we are doing.....I am thankful for many things and even in this short time I am very glad technology is somewhat more cooperative at home than it is here.  I think perhaps a phone might have been a better option for staying in touch but I will tough it out with the iPad.

Today's ride also included passing through the fairly large town of Qina and we were pretty glad to have caught up with the large group riding in a peloton approaching the town.  So all we had to do is follow the herd through muddy streets, past donkey carts, milling crowds, around buses, waving kids and speed bumps.  We were quite an attraction at lunch, galabayah-clad locals were taking OUR picture.

Once we arrived we wasted no time lining up a room while some others of the group opted to camp in the courtyard.  The room was pretty basic but the shower was hot and we even have a balcony which is our laundry drying area.  Once a few chores were done and we were all cleaned up we headed out in search of food and entertainment.  It will surprise no one that Wayne struck up a conversation with a friendly local who ended up taking us to a restaurant then to his shop which wasn't actually his but he gets a bit of help from the sales guy if he brings customers in.  Wayne wanted to buy a galabayah to wear while riding, but it had to be shortened, so we had tea and a visit with the salesman while the alterations were done.  He figures he paid too much as the guy threw in a head wrap - FREE!  He even showed us how to wrap it so we walked back to the hotel with Wayne all dressed up like that, which attracted just a bit of attention.  We are calling him half Egyptian since he only has a half a galabayah and I can only imagine what it will look like with spandex bike shorts underneath.  Well that is that day after tomorrow's worry,tomorrow we are off to the Valley of the Kings.