4th July 2013
President Morsi Ousted.
What an amazing evening.
I took the ferry at around 7.30-pm, all was very quiet in Gazira and in Luxor accept for outside the governors building which seems to have been the centre for anti Morsi protesters. This time the police and the army with personnel carrier trucks where blocking the corniche road towards the governors building. People were being searched before being allowed to proceed beyond the barrier. They just let me through without a search. One man said something in Arabic so perhaps he told them that I lived here. Everyone was amazingly friendly, happy and polite. The army were very well welcomed and were happy to share this joyous moment. You cannot help to feel a little emotional when you see all these lovely people all hoping for a different future for themselves and their families.
There were several personnel carriers with soldiers standing on top. The one that was outside the governors building had soldiers on top posing with children and babies, there were many civilians on the tank and the soldiers all willing to pose for pictures. The atmosphere here was simply wonderful. I moved amongst the crowd at ease, everybody being friendly and happy.
I then moved on to Abu el Haggag square where it was very quiet indeed. I went to the Nubian Cafe in the souk to take a cola and while I was there the chief of the army gave his speech to the people. The whole cafe went deadly silent. Its was amazing and during the speech the whole cafe and the nearby souk became jubilant with cheers and outcries of joy. I was then told that Morsi was out.
The whole town, the souk, governors building and in fact all of the West bank were overcome with joy. There were fireworks going off, motorbikes, cars, buses, caleches all cheering and sounding their horns. At the corniche barrier there were many motorbikes carrying flags sounding their horns and cheering. I have never seen so much happiness in the faces of these local people.
On the ferry back to the West bank there were many people carrying flags and chanting while making their way to the boats. When I got to Gazira, it was wild. So many locals cheering driving around on motorbikes, waving flags. In Gazira I saw local families with mothers, children and babies all with their own flags sharing the enjoyment of the occasion. On my way home there were vehicles passing sounding their horns and waving flags. It was hard to imagine where the Morsi supporters were.
It has been a good evening for the people, I hope they get what they deserve and that the future will be a little more of what they hoped for.
It is sad that so many flights have been cancelled. I spoke to a local that works in a hotel and he told me that arrangements were being made for tourists to leave and go home. As if it was not already hard enough for hotels and businesses here.
President Morsi Ousted.
What an amazing evening.
I took the ferry at around 7.30-pm, all was very quiet in Gazira and in Luxor accept for outside the governors building which seems to have been the centre for anti Morsi protesters. This time the police and the army with personnel carrier trucks where blocking the corniche road towards the governors building. People were being searched before being allowed to proceed beyond the barrier. They just let me through without a search. One man said something in Arabic so perhaps he told them that I lived here. Everyone was amazingly friendly, happy and polite. The army were very well welcomed and were happy to share this joyous moment. You cannot help to feel a little emotional when you see all these lovely people all hoping for a different future for themselves and their families.
There were several personnel carriers with soldiers standing on top. The one that was outside the governors building had soldiers on top posing with children and babies, there were many civilians on the tank and the soldiers all willing to pose for pictures. The atmosphere here was simply wonderful. I moved amongst the crowd at ease, everybody being friendly and happy.
I then moved on to Abu el Haggag square where it was very quiet indeed. I went to the Nubian Cafe in the souk to take a cola and while I was there the chief of the army gave his speech to the people. The whole cafe went deadly silent. Its was amazing and during the speech the whole cafe and the nearby souk became jubilant with cheers and outcries of joy. I was then told that Morsi was out.
The whole town, the souk, governors building and in fact all of the West bank were overcome with joy. There were fireworks going off, motorbikes, cars, buses, caleches all cheering and sounding their horns. At the corniche barrier there were many motorbikes carrying flags sounding their horns and cheering. I have never seen so much happiness in the faces of these local people.
On the ferry back to the West bank there were many people carrying flags and chanting while making their way to the boats. When I got to Gazira, it was wild. So many locals cheering driving around on motorbikes, waving flags. In Gazira I saw local families with mothers, children and babies all with their own flags sharing the enjoyment of the occasion. On my way home there were vehicles passing sounding their horns and waving flags. It was hard to imagine where the Morsi supporters were.
It has been a good evening for the people, I hope they get what they deserve and that the future will be a little more of what they hoped for.
It is sad that so many flights have been cancelled. I spoke to a local that works in a hotel and he told me that arrangements were being made for tourists to leave and go home. As if it was not already hard enough for hotels and businesses here.
On arrival to the West bank I found army tanks and vehicles and it looked just like the revolution days.
The mood was extremely wonderful and even before the news of Morsi's removal.
The army were just great, it is easy to see that the army is on the side of the people.
Life in Luxor town was normal, everyone going about their own business.
The souk was empty with most of the shops closed for the evening. This is the Nubian Cafe.
The chief of the army was delivering his speech to the nation. The cafe was in deadly silence.
I think the little baby here was not grasping the sense of the occasion. Lets hope his future will be a bright one.
Gazira my village. small people, mothers with children and babies with their own flags all celebrating the occasion.
Just on the right there are some women with children and flags waving. I felt so humble.
What will happen now, know one knows. It could go either way. I hope the army can move very quickly in getting a temporary government installed.
What will happen now, know one knows. It could go either way. I hope the army can move very quickly in getting a temporary government installed.