For me, staying at funky hostels or B&Bs is always a fun part of any travel adventure. Jud and I tried one night at a more upscale place in Luxor, which had a beautiful view of the hills, all lit up, and the river. We decided it wasn't for us! For one-quarter of the price we could stay at a unique, modish, idiosyncratic hostel that was more our type, and usually more interesting. So the next morning we got situated at The New Everest Hostel.
There were some glitches, but they soon got straightened out. People who stay at hostels are friendly, from all over the world, the staff is helpful, the places are clean and tidy. We usually run into Peace Corps Volunteers, as we did in Cairo. And Jud is good at checking the hostels out online at Trip Advisor and www.hostelworld.com. This is a wise thing to do, and these internet sites are reliable. The hostels usually give recommendations and make arrangements for tours, restaurants, and things to do. It's a good thing to make sure your tour guide speaks English, which we learned from experience on our way to the Pyramids at Gize. Check Jud's blog for more advice!
The top photos are of the rooftop cafe at the New Everest Hostel in Luxor, where we had a hearty breakfast of eggs, rolls and coffee every morning. Mohammed, our young cook, made me feel special and I have a soft spot in my heart for him. He is from a poor rural family, trying to make it in the big city. May God go with him. It was also nice to listen to the music of Bob Marley, a favorite of our hosts at New Everest. The collage shows the location and the lobby, decked out in New Year's holiday finery. It is on an alley off of an alley, the real city. Once inside it is clean and cozy, and its smack in the middle between the Train Station and the Luxor Temple. Can't beat the location.
Our Cairo Hostel, Egyptian Nights, was also off an alley. We could see the Egyptian Museum across the street out of our window, a beautiful sight, day and night. It is also near the heart of downtown. The building seems in bad shape at first sight, but on second and third look you can see the beauty, in the entrance way, the high ceilings, the large doors and windows. It's not for everyone, but it was fine for Jud and me. Very clean, with a staff that wanted to please. And wi-fi, which was great.
Egyptian Nights. The name alone evokes dreamy images of the golden, magical and sometimes mysterious Egyptian past. Sergey Prokofiev's "Egyptian Nights" suite came to mind, and the hundreds of films set in Egypt, from Cleopatra movies to Mummy movies, Agatha Christie and James Bond movies, Death on the Nile and The Valley of the Kings. A swirl of images and sounds, like the poster in the photo collage (right). Now I want to listen to all the music and see all the movies inspired by and set in the Egyptian landscape.
Egypt seductive!
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