Ok! We Go Now!

Well, with barely a nap in all of us, its off to the night train and down to Luxor for another day of pain. The mystery meat on the train didnt do much to sate our appetites. As we woke up with the sun speeding through the desert we watched the landscapes of sand give way to lush fields of sugar cane and palm trees. Donkeys pulled carts piled high with bricks or bags. Bicycles outnumber cars, people plow their fields by hand, and building scatter the landscape half finished.
Soon enough we arrive in the city and meet up with our Egyptologist (aka tour guide), Mouhammed, who has the habit of walking fast (VERY fast!), making fun other tour groups, and shouting things like: Hello! Ok! We Go Now! Hurry Hurry! Americans 7 stars, pretty girls 10 stars! I have secrets! Hurry We Go NOW!
Quite the character but so knowledgable I caught about a 1/3 of everything he said. We started the morning at the West Bank with the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Nobles, an alabaster factory, papyrus factory, and the Temple of Hatshepsut. All impressive, though most of the tombs were closed in the valley of the kings, including Ramses II. We did however get into Tuts tomb, and since it was low season the four of us had the place to ourselves, with the exception of creepy Tut. We wandered into the tombs of a couple nobles which were so beautifully decorated and intact. Unreal! The afternoon was spent at the Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple which used to be connected by 2 miles of spinxs lining the way. We were all awestruck at both, but Karnak stands alone in my mind as the highlight. There is such a grandness and mystery to it, not unlike the pyramids. I tried to piece the walls back together in my mind and imagine its glory days, when Pharohs and priests roamed the walkways. The women in their elaborate outfits and wigs. What a sight it must have been! I could have wandered the columns for hours. but..."OK! We Go Now!" Back to the train, back to the mystery meat.