2nd February 2011
Revolution I
Thursday 27th
No Internet.
Cairo has problems, people are protesting and marching through the city. Damage is being caused.
Friday 28th
Internet and Mobile phones have been suspended, orders of the government. Whether the mobile phones are only for the Cairo area is not quite clear at this moment. Mine here is sort of working but some numbers do not connect.
Cairo is ablaze; many government buildings are now on fire along with cars. A curfew is now in operation, but the people of Cairo have taken no notice of this and are on the street in very large numbers. The government is moving in all available army into Cairo to take control, we are not sure when this will occur.
Here in Luxor there has been a protest march. I have no details but think it would have been a quiet and none violent protest. After all, Luxor has a great deal more to loose than Cairo. Luxor is 100% dependant on tourism and I don’t think they would want to damage this. 870 injured protesters in Cairo today.
Saturday 29th
I took the ferry across the Nile to the East side and spoke to a few guys that I know. They first told me that at 2-pm there was going to be a fight, that the police have moved out and the army in. I went to the HSNC bank at the end of the corniche and found an army tank and jeep with soldiers stationed just off from the roundabout.
Revolution I
Thursday 27th
No Internet.
Cairo has problems, people are protesting and marching through the city. Damage is being caused.
Friday 28th
Internet and Mobile phones have been suspended, orders of the government. Whether the mobile phones are only for the Cairo area is not quite clear at this moment. Mine here is sort of working but some numbers do not connect.
Cairo is ablaze; many government buildings are now on fire along with cars. A curfew is now in operation, but the people of Cairo have taken no notice of this and are on the street in very large numbers. The government is moving in all available army into Cairo to take control, we are not sure when this will occur.
Here in Luxor there has been a protest march. I have no details but think it would have been a quiet and none violent protest. After all, Luxor has a great deal more to loose than Cairo. Luxor is 100% dependant on tourism and I don’t think they would want to damage this. 870 injured protesters in Cairo today.
Saturday 29th
I took the ferry across the Nile to the East side and spoke to a few guys that I know. They first told me that at 2-pm there was going to be a fight, that the police have moved out and the army in. I went to the HSNC bank at the end of the corniche and found an army tank and jeep with soldiers stationed just off from the roundabout.
I then went onto the library to see what had happed there, no fire as stated, but there were many broken windows to the library and a skylight to a lower level on the forecourt. After all, this is the Mubarak National Library. Just at the side of the library there was another tank with army personal. All that I was told about fires were just wild gossip
Nearly all the shops in the town were closed, the library was closed and lectures there have been postponed. In the souk there were many shops closed, it was evident that they were expecting some trouble.
I took a burger in Snack-Time café and then went on to have a tea at the Nubian Café in the souk. Then suddenly, a group of people ran by and up the souk lane, the shopkeepers panicking as they rushed to close their shops. After a while, I left the café and went to the main street, where I could see what all the fuss was about. A group of people had smashed there way into a bank and ransacked it. There were thousands of papers strewn across the street outside. I was told that it was students that had done it. Many, many bystanders are just watching in wonder and disappointment. But they all say the same; Mubarak must go.
I took a burger in Snack-Time café and then went on to have a tea at the Nubian Café in the souk. Then suddenly, a group of people ran by and up the souk lane, the shopkeepers panicking as they rushed to close their shops. After a while, I left the café and went to the main street, where I could see what all the fuss was about. A group of people had smashed there way into a bank and ransacked it. There were thousands of papers strewn across the street outside. I was told that it was students that had done it. Many, many bystanders are just watching in wonder and disappointment. But they all say the same; Mubarak must go.
On the road that runs in front of McDonalds (top right) nearly all the signs on the middle reservation of the dual carriage way have been destroyed. Snack Time and McDonalds had closed earlier to this.
At the Corniche by the Mummification Museum (top left) the army have put up a barricade across the street that leads to Karnak and is lined by the army with riot gear.
Sunday 30th
I went to the Amenhotep III Temple at Memnon. There is a total absence of police. Everywhere. None at the Tod crossroad police check point, Habu ticket office or any of the sites this morning. This evening, no sign of police again anywhere in the town of Luxor. The bank that was attacked is all covered with sheets. No one would ever know what had happened the previous night. A vehicle (top right) stacked high with people with loud speakers saying, “Keep Luxor free of thieves”
Sunday 30th
I went to the Amenhotep III Temple at Memnon. There is a total absence of police. Everywhere. None at the Tod crossroad police check point, Habu ticket office or any of the sites this morning. This evening, no sign of police again anywhere in the town of Luxor. The bank that was attacked is all covered with sheets. No one would ever know what had happened the previous night. A vehicle (top right) stacked high with people with loud speakers saying, “Keep Luxor free of thieves”
Snack Time (top left) has huge carpets around and over its doors to protect it in the event of an attack. There is an opening for people to have access, as it remains open. McDonalds (top right) is closed and has covers protecting its frontage. The town is a ghost town, shops closed, no people around. The only people in any numbers were an ominous group of men just near to the bank that was destroyed.
While I sat at the Nubian Café in the souk, there were many men buying large sticks of about 2 metres in length from a shop next door. This shop normally sells these sticks for ceremonial occasions. So this is the mood of things tonight. There could be more trouble this evening. The atmosphere in the town is spooky and sinister.
The army are around the Mummification Museum tonight to protect it from possible protesters and damage.
Monday 31st
Today on the West Bank, all the police seem to be back at their posts. It is comforting in many ways. On the East Bank and town, it is the same, the police are back. No banks are open and almost all the shops are closed in the town. Most of the souk is open. The town this evening is very quiet indeed and is peaceful. Why I was at the Jamboree Restaurant, there was a disturbance just below. I could see the person who seemed to be the cause of it; looked like a thug to me. I could also see many young people with their sticks. So they are preparing for something! Protection or aggression!
This evening, the Tank, jeep and soldiers had moved in front of the HSBC bank. The army vehicles and soldiers are still in front of the Mummification Museum. The only places open for tourists now, are on the West Bank.
Tuesday 1st
Today, a nice day, but then it is only 12-19-pm. All seems calm in the town but moods can change by the evening. There are queues at most of the ATM machines. The Army are still at the HSBC bank, the Winter Palace hotel and the Mummification Museum.
The army are around the Mummification Museum tonight to protect it from possible protesters and damage.
Monday 31st
Today on the West Bank, all the police seem to be back at their posts. It is comforting in many ways. On the East Bank and town, it is the same, the police are back. No banks are open and almost all the shops are closed in the town. Most of the souk is open. The town this evening is very quiet indeed and is peaceful. Why I was at the Jamboree Restaurant, there was a disturbance just below. I could see the person who seemed to be the cause of it; looked like a thug to me. I could also see many young people with their sticks. So they are preparing for something! Protection or aggression!
This evening, the Tank, jeep and soldiers had moved in front of the HSBC bank. The army vehicles and soldiers are still in front of the Mummification Museum. The only places open for tourists now, are on the West Bank.
Tuesday 1st
Today, a nice day, but then it is only 12-19-pm. All seems calm in the town but moods can change by the evening. There are queues at most of the ATM machines. The Army are still at the HSBC bank, the Winter Palace hotel and the Mummification Museum.
At the Sindbad café, some English people that live here were telling me that last night in Madina Street, there was a lot of damage and places set on fire, that the Army were there firing gunshots into the air in an attempt to disperse the attackers. When I went to have a look, I could not find any evidence of this but did see many shops that had their frontage covered up. Perhaps some of these were damaged.
Thomas Cook apparently has told their tourists that if anyone is booked to stay in Luxor further than next week, they must fly home at the weekend.
There is a very large and peaceful protest at the Hagag Square chanting down with Mubarak and waving banners and pieces of card and paper. Later there were protesters supporting Mubarak. So what will tonight bring.
There is a very large and peaceful protest at the Hagag Square chanting down with Mubarak and waving banners and pieces of card and paper. Later there were protesters supporting Mubarak. So what will tonight bring.
Their Banners say “Down with Mubarak”
The sign (top left) says “No damage, No Thieving, Be peaceful.
Aboudi Bookshops top right has the frontage covered up and is closed. It has its own private guards with stick to protect it from any attack.
Aboudi Bookshops top right has the frontage covered up and is closed. It has its own private guards with stick to protect it from any attack.
Aboudi Bookshop Guards. Snack Time Staff Guards
Snack Time has its own staff outside with sticks guarding it from thugs.
Snack Time has its own staff outside with sticks guarding it from thugs.