Years ago I bought a huge amount of saffron off the streets in Egypt. I did not realize what a gold mine I had until I got home. Might have been in Luxor. :)
I knew because I was familiar with the food industry, but I didn't buy as much as I should have.
Luxor could have been where this was. Absolutely beautiful produce markets and the saffron was piled a foot high on flat basket/trays.