A slow start for our travellers after yesterday’s exertions. I was up at a reasonable hour to make my way to the Valley of the Kings to obtain the all-important Luxor Passes which would allow us access to the archaeological sites in Luxor. Nothing is without adventure here in Luxor, as I had got about half way when we ran out of petrol. A brief wait and our Egyptian Ferrari was once more under way.

It was early at the Valley and the coach numbers hadn’t filled up yet. I walked to the office only to find that the man I needed to see hadn’t arrived yet. A quick phone call got things moving. The process was the quickest I have experienced it and soon I was heading back to the hotel clutching my “keys” to the archaeological city.

Rounding up the troops, we set off for the water’s edge and our rendez-vous with our trusty riverboat captain. A gentle ride across the Nile bought us safely to the steps up to the Corniche and the Luxor Museum.

I have written many times about just how perfect the Luxor Museum is and so will not bore you with more of the same. Needless to say, everything was just as good as it was last time; the displays are immaculate and the artefact notes full and informative.

A short walk from the museum along the revamped Corniche brings you to the Mummification Museum with its small but excellent collection. Mummification being such an integal part of the Ancient Egyptian way, one can not help but wonder why this great little museum doesn’t appear on any tours.

As today is designed as a catch-up day, that was it for the morning. A relaxed lunch and chance for a nap in the afternoon, before crossing the river once more to visit the Luxor Temple.

The crossing was easy; it is always good to be on the water. We appeared to have arrived just as a pro-Palestinian demo was starting, right by the temple entrance. A policeman showed us the way through and soon we found ourselves in front of the first pylon.

Tall and majestic with the setting sun as a backlight is certainly the way to see this spectacular temple. A thought shared by several thousand others, as the buses emptied and the grounds filled up. Onwards and inwards.

We made our way to the Amenhotep colonnade and the Opet festival inscriptions. As always the delicacy and beauty of the 18th Dynasty work is highlighted by the crudeness and ugliness of the 19th.

Continuing through the temple we stopped for a rest in the Sun Court. Pretty as it is at sunset with the lights on, the whole effect was somewhat marred by the wave of selfie-snatching tourists that all but swamped the place.

We continued for a while longer but gave up at the Alexander the Great rooms. We left for the blockyard and eventually found ourselves back at the front of the building facing the Avenue of the Sphinxes.

I was happily surprised to see one of the Solar Barques from the Opening procession standing some way down the Avenue, almost as if it had been left from some thousands-of-years old festival.

The journey home, despite the ongoing demonstration, was eventless and we were all soon sitting round a table discussing the day and planning the next.