After we'd been through most of the temple and peered at the mummified crocodiles and watched our fellow travellers posing with cobras, we sat down in a lovely palm shaded outdoor coffee shop and drank mint tea and thick coffee - it was lovely and I could have stayed all day.
But no such luck - a mere 10 minutes downtime and we were back on the bus for the hour plus ride to Edfu. Edfu was great - a four story slanting front wall decorated with reliefs of the king dedicating the slaughter of his enemies to Horus. Behind was a full temple complex including the very "Raiders of the Lost Ark" holy of holies, a fifteen foot tall, silver gilt, hieroglyph covered, free standing alcove cut from a single piece of rock that, back in the day, would have held a statue of Horus for the high priest and the king to take out to annoint with oils and make offerings to.
And, of course, piles of other people there, and there was only about two minutes allowed in front of the high altar per group before the next one pushed their way forward. We're back on the bus now heading to Luxor via police convoy. My nose is a little sunburned and we're watching "Hot Fuzz" and two hours seems like a long time to wait to eat. Fortunately I've got cheese triangles and pita, which I'm about to offer to the rest of the folks on the bus.
