Massacre in a Muslim Country
First goal in Egypt was the Terrace Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor - arriving there twelve years ago as head of a contemporary art project with around 20 artist - all under highest patronage of UNESCO, Paris. Since then time has been floating down the Nile and I have been destination manager for European charter operations to Egypt.
Day in focus for this article start like this:
- morning walk to main office for the charter operation
- autumn in Luxor
- year 1997 AC.
Office by famous Old Winter Palace , a hotel where Kings and Queens, Presidents and and first ladies (and maybe some first men) have stayed. And not to forget, my favourite resident at Winter Palace - the mystery novel writer Agatha Christie, from a time before charter operations crowded this destination.
I walked in a good mood - media was responding very well to our operation. This week a good friend (and journalist) from a important daily newspapers was here, last week there had been two other journalist praising Luxor as maybe the most unique holiday resort in the world. As they said: "the combination of unsurpassed cultural heritage, a modern resorts with good restaurants and pubs all around - and last but not least, friendly people who invited you in for a local tea everywhere. A place on this planet where you could enjoy yourself and feel safe among the people".
That's nice words I was thinking, because words when published in a few days would bring even more bookings for our charter operation.
The morning was sunny - well what should I expect in a place where it only rains one or two times a year? Whatever, sunny it was - and carried by positive thinking my feet took me to Old Winter Palace.
Before entering, I remembered another journalist friend whom I arranged a free stay for at this majestical hotel. She wrote a fantastic article about Luxor and used arguments from here to fight the government policy in Norway who just had refused Muslim schools to be established (she was by far a Muslim, but refused a society where differences should not be accepted). A week later she was in the most popular Saturday night television show, as she had been elected by the viewers as the "guest of honour". She ended up talking most of all about Luxor and it's people...
Much media thinking running around in my mind this morning - I should have taken it as a forewarning!
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