New Egyptian cotton bedlinen at Flats in Luxor

We had been putting it off but eventual money or no money we had to get some new sheets. We went to the government shop where everything is fixed price and the best quality. It is still not the best best quality as that is made abroad, from cotton exported from Egypt but it is the best you can get in the country.

We asked for double and single sheets and I had the dimensions 220 x 260 and 180 x 260 but interestingly enough they only sold 220 x 240 and 180 x 240. Which explains why the sheets never tuck in properly top and bottom. But at least they are wide enough.

We also got some tea towels. I then was flummoxed, why on earth do we call them tea towels. Why not dish towels? Well Christine, my friend from Facebook knew the answer ( tea towels originated in the early 19th century in well to do Victorian homes and were only used at tea time to dry or clean the good china, they were also used to cover food). Mahmoud was a bit bemused by that one. The whole lot cost 1800LE for 12 double 12 single 28 pillow cases 18 tea towels and 4 towels.