Day 10 Luxor
The day started early again with a pickup at the boat dock in front of the Hotel. We took a boat much like the one we rode to the Nubian village from the East bank to the West bank. This was an opportunity to get take a picture of all the cruise ships lined up at the Luxor Nile and that there is a moratorium on any new ones, because of the strain on the docks and locks. New docks are being constructed almost everywhere we stopped.
In this picture alone I counted 19 cruise ships.
I learned so much about what it take inflate launch, fly, land and de-inflate a hot air balloon.
- Put down large cloth tarps to protect the balloon
- Place the balloon at the far end of the tarps.
- Off load the basket and turn it on its side.
- Use very large fans (4 of them) that have propellers like an airplane to inflate the balloon with cool air.
- Keep inflating until the balloon is 3/4 full then attach the propane tank to the basket burners and shoot hot air into the balloon until it turn the basket upright.
- Now you that you have balloon upright the caption arrives you board the basket and receive you instructions.
Enjoy……. Very cool. Our ride was 45 minute over the Nile valley west bank. The ride is smooth and silent except when the Captain inflates the balloon to keep it up in the air. None of us said a thing almost the complete ride except for awesome. When you land they make you get down in the bottom of the basket and brace your self just in case the basket tips over. The Captain told us in advance. I do not know where we will land and I do not control the wind.
The landing went pretty much like this.
- Deflate the balloon so it's about 15 feet off the ground.
- Drag the basket thru sugar cane so that it just touches the bottom of the basket. This was very cool it made you feel like a bird slowly sailing over the landscape looking down.
A look straight up into the Balloon.
- Find spot that you want to land. Want is the important word here.
- Cast off the lines to the farm workers below so the can attempt to keep you out of the crops.
- Land in the crops anyway because the (Farmers) can not control the direction of the big balloon when the wind blows.
- The truck arrives with and army of people that hold onto the lines and the captain inflates the balloon again so they can tow the balloon to a better place for de-inflation.
- Thank the tourist that would be us, and ask for tips for the ground crew.
We gave 100 Egyptian pounds about $19.00 US. Much of the time in Egypt you must give tips and they are expected. The wages are so low that the workers can not really live on their salaries. Knowing this I understand the need for tipping but the constant pressure to tip starts to wear on you. You are always opening your wallet during the trip. The tip for the ground crew was given gladly and with a smile. We also tipped the Captain, driver and tour guide etc. etc. etc.
- Pay a landing fee. Not us but the Balloon Company.
We landed in a farmer's field and the crew told me they will pay a landing fee to the farmer. I wondered why the farmer looked so happy after we had just smashed his crops.
- Deflate the balloon and pack everything up to do it all over again.
You need the army of men to do this. Lay out all the traps again, Deflate the balloon and pack it. I can only imagine how heavy it is once it's packet up. Lift the very heavy basket on the truck as well as all the propane tanks.
Our van showed up and the returned us the Hotel for breakfast. Yes we did all this before .
After the balloon ride and some breakfast we were ready for more so we board a carriage again for a site seeing tour of Luxor.
(Sorry Kids) Time for school….
Next stop was at an Internet Café so they could get some school work completed. There have been only a few opportunities for the kids to study for the classes they are missing. Once some home work was completed we jumped on another Felucca for a sunset cruise with some Egyptian tea to keep us warm.
This is one of the boys how ran the Felucca and he also made our tea. Yoseph was his name.
Another colored Nile sunset with a felucca mast in the background.
Last train ride we had we were tired forgot water and enough food. This time are better prepared for the trip back to Cairo on the train. We tried to upgrade to sleeper train for the return trip but the price kept changing so I detected monkey business and stopped the deal. We stopped at a super market in the back streets of Luxor to stock up on food for the train. This shop had barcodes and fixed prices so this was a welcome site. Getting the so call tourist price for everything in Egypt is a problem and out of control. Finding a place with the prices posted is a welcome site and you end up paying ½ the price for everything. The shopping list included; Water, Bananas, Pomegranates, Pistachios, Crackers, Cheese and Chips. We should be better prepared this time.
Entering the train stations.
Everyplace you go including the tours sites has a metal detector at the door which is completely ignored. Sometimes you put your bag in it and sometimesyou don’t either way your bag is never checked. Crazy why bother.
Below is Luxor Train Station during the day.
Once on the platform you stand waiting for the train. The car numbers and seat are pretty easy but the train number is announced in Arabic over a load speaker. If you don’t understand Arabic then you will need a guide to help you. We found our seat and after some tipping we were able to get a curtain for the door. This train was packed and had people sleeping between cars and in the isle. It’s funny how you evolve during a trip. Having people all over the floor on the trip coming from Cairo was a little intimidation but now it nothing. You just step over them without much thought and move on.
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