Well, yes we're back! Back to our 'other' home, in much troubled Luxor.
I say "much troubled" but in actual fact, and from our experience so far, there isn't any actual trouble to report, unless we accept that the dearth of tourists in itself is trouble, which it most certainly is to those who make their living from the tourist trade.
On our way from the airport to our house, we had a new taxi driver who was keen to update us on the antics of the Brother Muslims and the effects which they had on life in Luxor. I'm sure that you will all be aware of the Horus Hotel, and the two nearby shops on Sharia Karnak, being burnt out. Well, some of the perpetrators were apprehended, apparently; and any further attacks by others of these outsiders were thwarted even before they were attempted, as Luxor residents armed them selves with the ubiquitous 'fighting sticks' (and heaven only knows what else?) and positioned themselves at either end of the town in readiness.
The taxi driver told us that he was a Muslim and although he had never had a beard, he considered himself to be as pious as the next man, but after the past year or so of Muslim Brotherhood rule; he hated 'Islam'! (The inverted commas are to differentiate between the Islam of the common people and the corrupted 'Islam' which the Brothers have been trying to force upon Egypt's timid population.) But the saddest thing he said was that he was appalled now, that for the first time in his 40 year life, he no longer wanted to attend prayers at his Mosque. Isn't that dreadful? I could have cried for him!
Our neighbours seemed very happy to see us, with Mr Ramadan the electrician slobbering all over me in the street! I have to admit that we're very happy to be back, not because we were sick of being at home in Windy Nook (although our son was glad to see the back of us, for sure!) but because we always miss the home that we're not in at any given time. Is that a concept that you can grasp, Dear Reader? Perhaps it's a measure of the unreality of our existence, or is it a case of the grass being eternally greener? Who knows?
Almost everyone to whom I've spoken would like to see General el-Sisi accept a nomination for the Presidency, but they all doubt that he will. Many would just love to turn back the clock, and give President Mubarak the 6 months which he asked for to put everything right! They aren't all that bothered that he was stealing their money left right and centre, at least they had enough to eat, and the opportunity to make a living without too much interference.
In reality, though, they are thanking Allah that the Egyptian Army answered their call, and came to their rescue. They are overjoyed to point out the armoured personnel carriers dotted about here and there, which are guaranteeing the safety of all the folks in Luxor. Terrorists are not welcome here, no matter whether they dress in Savile Row suits, army fatigues or Sayidi galabiyas.
Like many Egyptians, I suppose, I had honestly hoped (even believed?) that Mohamed Mursi would prove to be a man of his word, a man of vision and principle. But it transpired that whether he was or not was immaterial, as he was rendered unable, by one stumbling block or another, from bringing about his much vaunted 'Promised Land'; of inclusion, and fairness, and justice for all. What a pity! And how sad for the people of Egypt, who are even now suffering from a gross misrepresentation of their situation in almost all of the foreign press. Their only political fear now, is that the deluded apologists for 'democracy' who run the USA and Great Britain will back the 'Men with Beards' like they are in Syria!
So, it seems as though we've 'renewed our acquaintance' with the supporters of good-old 'Umbarak'! Is there no-one else, of stature, to lead this benighted country to the freedom and security that the population so crave?
I say "much troubled" but in actual fact, and from our experience so far, there isn't any actual trouble to report, unless we accept that the dearth of tourists in itself is trouble, which it most certainly is to those who make their living from the tourist trade.
On our way from the airport to our house, we had a new taxi driver who was keen to update us on the antics of the Brother Muslims and the effects which they had on life in Luxor. I'm sure that you will all be aware of the Horus Hotel, and the two nearby shops on Sharia Karnak, being burnt out. Well, some of the perpetrators were apprehended, apparently; and any further attacks by others of these outsiders were thwarted even before they were attempted, as Luxor residents armed them selves with the ubiquitous 'fighting sticks' (and heaven only knows what else?) and positioned themselves at either end of the town in readiness.
The taxi driver told us that he was a Muslim and although he had never had a beard, he considered himself to be as pious as the next man, but after the past year or so of Muslim Brotherhood rule; he hated 'Islam'! (The inverted commas are to differentiate between the Islam of the common people and the corrupted 'Islam' which the Brothers have been trying to force upon Egypt's timid population.) But the saddest thing he said was that he was appalled now, that for the first time in his 40 year life, he no longer wanted to attend prayers at his Mosque. Isn't that dreadful? I could have cried for him!
Our neighbours seemed very happy to see us, with Mr Ramadan the electrician slobbering all over me in the street! I have to admit that we're very happy to be back, not because we were sick of being at home in Windy Nook (although our son was glad to see the back of us, for sure!) but because we always miss the home that we're not in at any given time. Is that a concept that you can grasp, Dear Reader? Perhaps it's a measure of the unreality of our existence, or is it a case of the grass being eternally greener? Who knows?
Almost everyone to whom I've spoken would like to see General el-Sisi accept a nomination for the Presidency, but they all doubt that he will. Many would just love to turn back the clock, and give President Mubarak the 6 months which he asked for to put everything right! They aren't all that bothered that he was stealing their money left right and centre, at least they had enough to eat, and the opportunity to make a living without too much interference.
In reality, though, they are thanking Allah that the Egyptian Army answered their call, and came to their rescue. They are overjoyed to point out the armoured personnel carriers dotted about here and there, which are guaranteeing the safety of all the folks in Luxor. Terrorists are not welcome here, no matter whether they dress in Savile Row suits, army fatigues or Sayidi galabiyas.
Like many Egyptians, I suppose, I had honestly hoped (even believed?) that Mohamed Mursi would prove to be a man of his word, a man of vision and principle. But it transpired that whether he was or not was immaterial, as he was rendered unable, by one stumbling block or another, from bringing about his much vaunted 'Promised Land'; of inclusion, and fairness, and justice for all. What a pity! And how sad for the people of Egypt, who are even now suffering from a gross misrepresentation of their situation in almost all of the foreign press. Their only political fear now, is that the deluded apologists for 'democracy' who run the USA and Great Britain will back the 'Men with Beards' like they are in Syria!
So, it seems as though we've 'renewed our acquaintance' with the supporters of good-old 'Umbarak'! Is there no-one else, of stature, to lead this benighted country to the freedom and security that the population so crave?
Thank you so much for an update on the situation in Luxor unfortunately the expression 'Better the Devil you know' comes to mind.My thoughts are frequently with some dear friends and their families in these difficult times.x
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Helen.
ReplyDeleteA good number of Luxor families have a foreign 'sponser', but these are mainly families who have a member working in tourism, and often are consequently not the poorest by a long chalk! I have two friends who sometimes give me small amounts to pass onto a mutual Egyptian friend here, and I know that he and his extended family certainly are in need and also that they really appreciate this practical expression of their friend's love.
Thanks for dropping in.
Quite by chance went on to your website to find you are back,so welcome back.As Helen say's Better the devil you know,and I would bet it would be very very many people who would now be saying they would love to turn the clock back.At least Mubarak and his government knew how esential to the lifeblood of Luxor tourism was.And so after the killings on the West Bank in 1997 when all tourism stopped his (Mubarak's) government offered subsidies to charter companies to resume flying into Luxor.But with Mursi he just did not seem to give a damn about the sorry plight of the good people of Luxor and the absence of tourists.You yourself must be finding it hard.Any way welcome back.
ReplyDelete