From Mena to Mara

I think I described Mena House as being an oasis in the urban chaos? Well, MARA house is situated IN the chaos...although not that of Cairo, but in Luxor! After navigating our way through the airport, we arrived in a very different environment from whence we had come! Mara is an Irish woman who moved here several years ago & has created a small htel in a place where one doesnt usually find Hotels! She wanted to give guests an opportunity to experience life in a real neighborhood, with real working Egyptian people going about their lives right next door. She has done this with charm & a fiery spirit. She has also been incredibly generous in providing a website packed with suggestions & tips for traveling in Egypt, and she keeps a blog. All of which I have found both interesting & helpful leading up to this trip. I was really looking forward to meeting this Irish woman who seems to be quite a character.......but, as tourist numbers are down, she did the sensible thing & went home to Ireland to spend Christmas with her family for the first time in 6 years!!!! Who can blame her. Here are some photos of our room & a look up the street. You will be pleased to know that I have done what the Egyptians do...and have now hung my washing out on the line over the edge of our first floor balcony. This means that our knickers & socks are directly above the entrance to the hotel!! Welcome to Mara's!!!!!!