A Sunday Stroll

I was able to get away for a stroll around Luxor a couple of weeks ago. The weather has been very cooperative--perhaps it's payback for the horribly hot October and November we had last year. But whatever the reason, I'm grateful for the good walking weather. I processed down the Corniche from the front gate of CH and was intrigued by the work that has been done to turn this part into a pedestrian/caleche thoroughfare. I haven't been down to the lower Corniche yet, but the upper stretch looks pretty good. Still quite a bit of work to be done, but here are some shots:

Can you guess what this is going to be? More later!

Some of the shops along the lower Corniche

Another view of the mysterious installation

Plantings waiting to go in. Love the baby cacti!

Some of the sphinxes uncovered during the excavation of the Avenue of Sphinxes between Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple.

Many have been cobbled together from various bits and pieces (not necessarily from the same sphinx!) with a lot of cement in between. I still find it hard to understand why so many homes and businesses had to be torn down for this result. There are many more complete or almost complete examples in the areas close to the two temples.

And just opposite that sphinx, another door to add to my collection!

Some street scenes, one looking north on the eastern side of the avenue of sphinxes and another looking east along Emilio Hotel Street:

There's a lot of political graffiti around Luxor these days. Here's one sample:

After a congenial visit to Aboudi Bookstore, of course I headed up to The Roof for my first order of their delicious lamb chops. The ritual meal consists of fresh lemon juice, the lamb chops with Egyptian rice and grilled vegetables, all followed up by an apple shisha. And this is the view, particularly wonderful on such a clear day:

Mosque and First Pylon at Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple Colonnade with the sacred mountain in the background

Last picture of the day, a view of the mosque and First Pylon from ground level across the plaza in front of the temple:  

Mosque and First Pylon from ground level across the plaza in front of the temple