Two Moustaches And No Woman? Marry Me!

Capitalizing on our steadily improving health, we took the ferry across the Nile this morning to go and conduct some much needed financial transactions at the Thomas Cook office located just outside the Old Winter Palace in Luxor. This also meant having to run the gauntlet of taxi and horse-drawn carriage drivers, private boat operators, fellucca sailors and other such entrepreneurs plying their trade.

Being cooped up sick in the hotel room for a week had sheltered us from the daily onslaught.

Some are discreet, some are rude, many are simply not understanding that we may actually want to walk the half kilometer between the ferry landing and the grand Victorian-era hotel.

I mean, if they need the money, how could we possibly not want to ride with them?

I know, I know, we Californians are so illogical.

Also, and most importantly for me, this half-kilometer stroll happens to skirt the west side of the Temple of Luxor, giving a clear view into the temple itself and the later period constructions that are being excavated and conserved by teams of archaeologists. I want to walk it slowly and take pictures.

Fortunately for us, a large influx of fair-but-soon-to-turn-pink-skinned tourists seems to have requested the services of -- or fallen prey to -- the horse carriage drivers this morning, as most are trotting along the Corniche with full payload. Not that we totally escape attention, however.

There's still the taxi and boat operators to deal with...

Just before we reach the hotel, this tiny, attractive younger woman swathed in black linen greets us on the sidewalk, complimenting us on our beards and saying: "How come? Two Moustaches And No Woman? You should marry me!"

We just burst out laughing.

Of course she's trying to sell some merchandise, following us, she's got a bagful of nicknacks she's already digging into, but we keep walking, daring not to slow our pace for fear of the consequences.

How would we explain the Egyptian wife to our friends and families back home?