Curious Crawling Critter...

There seems to be no end of "wildlife" at CH! Over the Eid, I spotted this character crawling across the driveway:

When I passed the spot later there was no caterpillar, but there was a suspicious stain. Oh no, you don't think...

First Impressions...

I've been in Luxor for two weeks now and it's been crazy: getting the library ready to open (24 October), moving into my new room, general settling in...

In any case, I thought I'd share some images which make up my "first impressions" on returning to Luxor and CH.

Cats, of course, come first! Within a day of my arrival I'd had good "face time" with several of the cats. My new room has been the "hot ticket" for them, since the previous resident did not welcome cats! I don't think any of them had ever been in the room before. These photos are of cat encounters on the grounds:

Buttons (who seems rather bored with the whole thing!)

Ozzie

And what's that "whoosh" I hear? Hot-air balloons, of course! Beautiful rainbow-striped balloons right over CH, one coming across from the Nile, the other appearing behind Healey House:

And lush bougainvillea:

First sunset and shisha of the season:

A typical Saturday morning street scene in Luxor:

Caleches on the Corniche (with cruise boats in the background):

This narrow strip along the Nile is so incredibly fertile! These plantings were only twigs when we left in April:

Some more luxuriant plantings:

And here's Ozzie again. He came back to CH in April, ostensibly to spend the summer and then be reclaimed by his person. But I think he's here to stay! This is his usual manner of relaxing, with paws crossed before him:

I'm so happy to be back in Egypt, in Luxor and at Chicago House! Homecoming is sweet...

BREAKING NEWS! Pork in Luxor

I am in "hog heaven"! My friend Jane Akshar just posted this article on her blog:
http://networkedblogs.com/oTnP4
I've been salivating over the product list! Kent is off to check it out and will report back.

Graffiti fervor reaches its city of origin, Luxor

Interesting article!
Graffiti fervor reaches its city of origin, Luxor

Pyramid Scheme? What's Next for Egypt's Artifacts

A current article from The New York Observer:
http://www.observer.com/2011/08/pyramid-scheme-what’s-next-for-egypt’s-artifacts/
I noted a couple of errors but it's still an interesting piece.

The Rise and Rise of Street Art in Cairo

"Cairo’s street art scene has seen a renaissance of late. Before graffiti was mostly of the ‘Hamada loves Lulu’ variety with some local gangs logos making appearances and shout outs to the likes of Eminem and Metallica, political statements were far and few in between. Today you can’t get away from the political and social statements boldly being made on bridges, under-passages and walls. From stencilling to coloured murals Egypt’s capital has been witness to a cascade of artistic expression that accurately reflects the current mind-set and thoughts of most."  The full article is below:

http://www.palebluenews.co.uk/2011/08/15/rise-and-rise-of-street-art-in-cairo/

PHARAOHS USED THIS AVENUE - British Pathe

Check out this little gem from British Pathé filmed in 1964. From the website description:
"GV The Temple of Karnak on the banks of the Nile. Nearer shot ditto. LV The pillars in the Hypostyle Hall. LV From top of the pillars. GV The Luxor Temple at one end of the Avenue of Sphinx. SV Arch with very clear inscriptions on it. GV The Temple of Karnak at the other end of the avenue. GV Pan. From the temple of Karnak along the avenue where men are still working digging out Sphinx. LV Abdel (or Mahmoud) Elzarik and an assistant uncovering a Sphinx. CU Elzarik brushes sand away. SV ditto. LV Men pushing carts loaded with sand away from the site. GV ditto. GV The avenue lined with Sphinx. LV ditto. SV Elzarik pointing to inscriptions on the side of a sphinx. CU ditto. CU Head of Sphinx. SV ditto. GV The Avenue of Sphinx."

PHARAOHS USED THIS AVENUE - British Pathe

A Carnarvon Connection

An interesting article in the Daily Mail online version:

Decadent angel of Downton: The sexual adventuress, extravagant hostess who blew her inheritance, turning her stately home into a war hospital

Showdown at the Oasis | OnEarth Magazine

Showdown at the Oasis | OnEarth Magazine

That would be Lake Qarun in the Fayoum.

Confusion Reigns!

Controversy Over Legality of Egypt's Antiquities Ministry

To be continued...

Mark Lehner, AERA, and Training Egyptian Archaeologists

The al-Banna mentioned toward the end of this article is the one who, fleetingly, was named to replace Zahi Hawass as Minister of Antiquities yesterday.

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1049/heritage.htm

PM Sharaf cancels El-Banna's nomination for antiquities - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

The game's afoot! To be continued...

PM Sharaf cancels El-Banna's nomination for antiquities - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

Hawass "Resigns" Again!

Breaking news!
http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=36599
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_15716/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=EwlSSj0T

In Memoriam - Bob Partridge

A true gentleman and a scholar! Love the bit about his encounter with a "New Age" group at Karnak!
http://egyptology.blogspot.com/2011/07/bob-partridge-in-memoriam.html

Indiana Potter?

Maybe he'll specialize in Egyptology?
http://lezgetreal.com/2011/07/harry-potter-star-considering-going-from-wands-to-picks/

Despite Heat Protesters Flood Cairo's Main Square

NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to Michele Norris about today's protests in Tahrir Square and around the country:
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/08/137709658/despite-heat-protesters-flood-cairos-main-square

Demonstrators gather in Luxor in solidarity with Tahrir protest - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online

Demonstrators gather in Luxor in solidarity with Tahrir protest - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online
"At the Luxor Temple in the Upper Egyptian city of Luxor (ancient Thebes), another 2000 protesters stage a demonstration in solidarity with the ongoing mass protest in Tahrir Square."

Earliest Image of Egyptian Ruler Wearing “White Crown” of Royalty Brought to Light

Earliest Image of Egyptian Ruler Wearing “White Crown” of Royalty Brought to Light

Be sure to watch the slideshow! I could not see the king figure, even in the closeup shots. Thank heaven that Labib Habichi had recorded the scene before it was damaged.

Two new monuments uncovered at Karnak Temple - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

Two new monuments uncovered at Karnak Temple - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

AUC Press revolution works, festival prompt some skepticism

AUC Press revolution works, festival prompt some skepticism

I don't appreciate what seems like AUC's and AUC Press's appropriation of a revolution for commercial purposes, but I also believe that they were between a rock and a hard place: after all, at the time when the new AUC campus was inaugurated Suzanne Mubarak was the First Lady of Egypt, so it was not inappropriate for them to invite her to serve in this capacity. On the other hand, many of AUC's actions during the revolution were, in my opinion, indefensible.