Farida Mohammed, 67, has lived next to AUC on a couch under a makeshift roof for 25 years. Here she shares her iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) with Karim Mahmoud, a parking attendant for AUC. Behind her is Sabaah Mustafa, 15, who the AUC students always refer to as "the beggar girl," and in the rear is Farida's sister, Soad, 50. I took this picture for the AUC Caravan. 

Farida's hut at dusk. 

And then she invited me to sit for iftar with her. 

Luxor Pictures from Oct. 6-9
In chronological order from top to bottom

View of Luxor Temple from the river bank. (Luxor Temple) 

Looking into the temple from the entrance. (Luxor Temple) 

Guarding the entrance. (Luxor Temple) 

In context. The missing obelisk (high column with point) on the right side of the photo is now in France. Napoleon stole it. Remember that complex? (Luxor Temple) 

(Luxor Temple) 

Avenue of the Sphinxes. (Luxor Temple) 

Grand entrance. (Luxor Temple) 

A long corridor. (Luxor Temple) 

He has not moved for some 3500 years. (Luxor Temple) 

The main area. (Luxor Temple) 

(Luxor Temple) 

Walking out. (Luxor Temple) 

Outside Karnak. Crap shops, of course. 

Entrance to Karnak Temples. This gigantic complex was the result of 2000 years of continuous renovation. It covers an area approximately 1 mile by one-half mile large. 

A little history lesson before we enter. (Karnak Temples) 

Dog. (Karnak Temples) 

From left (school/home state): Will (Yale/Minnesota), Ryan (Duke/Illinois), Evan (Northwestern/Wisconsin), Landis (George Washington U./Alabama), Myself 

Almost. (Karnak Temples) 

Lonely plam tree. (Karnak Temples) 

(Karnak Temples) 

Entrance to grand Hypostyle Hall. A sea of 146 papyrus-top columns. (Karnak Temples) 

In the Hypostyle Hall. (Karnak Temples)