If there is such a thing as a slow day on this whirlwind tour, this was it.We were able to sleep in and didn’t need be on the road until 10:30 or 11:00.

Our destination was the nearby village of Hagaza to visit a woodworking group.I was eager to see their shop and to compare it to the shops I know back home.We had an easier time finding this group since the owner met us in Luxor and rode with us in the taxi.We turned down narrower and narrower streets until we came to the work place which was small, and busy.Three young men were doing finish work (final shaping and sanding) on some wooden birds.The shop owner showed us around and I took lots of pictures of tools and supplies and carpenters at work. They make lovely trays, toys and decorative sculptured pieces.He took us to his lovely home—still under construction after six years.After our conversation, as we were getting up to leave we asked him what the outdoor temperature was today and he said “50”—that’s centigrade, folks.My companions with conversion skills told me that equals about 120 degrees F.The saying about mad dogs and Englishmen and the noonday sun made a lot of sense!

We returned to Luxor and set up temporary quarters at the hotel we had checked out of this morning.They were so accommodating!Amr had some computer work to do so Denise, Carrie and I went for a walk to find a cool place for lunch.We enjoyed delicious mezzez (all the appetizers you would associate with the Middle East) and mango juice which could only have been better if the room had been air conditioned.Keep thinking 120 degrees.

Amr called as we were walking back toward our hotel so we detoured to the nearby “fancy” hotel where we enjoyed a beverage in their comfortable air conditioning while waiting for the evening train to Sohag.And after a pleasant (air conditioned) three hour ride we are here.Our hotel room balconies overlook the Nile—a beautiful view for the next couple of days.Did I mention the rooms are air conditioned?