Travel Missteps: Luxor Locked In

Photo by Elizabeth

I’m not good at bargaining, as I’m just too nice and not good with that type of confrontation. Which is why Elizabeth, my friend from Middle School, ended up being my “Anger Translator” as she later joked on our trip of Egypt together. She stopped me from paying too much for things and got touts to stop hassling us. But it was definitely my fault that got us locked into a store in Luxor.

I was thinking about getting a copper plate or bowl. I had seen one I really liked in Aswan, but decided not to get it as it was still early in the trip. I also was thinking about getting a middle eastern lamp, so while she and I were wandering the Luxor Souk, we stopped and looked at some lamps. The seller eagerly guided us into his show as he handed me item after item for my approval. I hadn’t even noticed when he shut the door so he could turn off lights to show the pattern the lamps made. I was tempted, but didn’t want to carry around more stuff, as I had spent the afternoon trying to re-pack as my bags were getting full. And when his starting price was 900 EGP I balked.

Nooo…way to much. But I wasn’t strong enough in my denial. I half heartedly bargained, but then decided to wait. But…he wasn’t ready to let the sale go. Elizabeth, thinking I still wanted it (we really need a signal next time) tried to get it lower before she whispered if I still wanted it. I told her no. So…we tried to leave. The man was standing in front of the closed door, while Elizabeth tried to kindly get him to let us out. They went back and forth for a while. Elizabeth saying we needed to wait. The man going lower (to eventually 380 EGP).

Towards the end Elizabeth’s voice sounded like she was getting frustrated, but I was in the back of the little stall trying not to laugh! I had read that in Egypt, you could get locked in like this. Sometimes it was for innocent reasons like that in their culture it could be a sign of respect during a business transaction to remove distractions. Or…it could just be that there are so few tourists this guy wasn’t going to let his “captive audience” go.

After a few minutes Elizabeth got us out, and the guy followed her shouting prices. (It was obvious to him who in our travel-buddy arrangement wore the “pants”. haha) We walked down the street and later Elizabeth worked her magic to help me get a nice price on some camels! I would have been lost (or hustled) without her.

Funny enough, I filmed the entire thing! As we were walking the call to prayer started, and I wanted to record the sound. But as we walked I forgot I was recording (hence the picture angle and quality) but you can hear how it went down: