This was my 5 week sojourn into the
history of ancient civilization, to see a country where old and new
blend together, from the Pyramids to the ultra modern Opera House,
from Camel rides to Diving in the Red Sea, Egypt has it all.
This was my first trip to Egypt, and
it was truly memorable, I was more than a little apprehensive,
travelling as a single woman alone to a distant land with so many
unknowns. But my fears soon disappeared, the people are wonderful,
warm and hospitable, crime is almost non-existent, all in all a
place I felt safe traveling. I’m from Canada and was heading to
Egypt to meet my Egyptian Partner and see all I could of Egypt for
our future programs, I was not disappointed.
My transit through the airport was
speedy, a greeter met me with a sign, took my passport to process my
visa, and escorted me through customs to the baggage area, picked up
my bags and had me through to my transfer van very quickly. I met up
with my Egyptian Partner who was to be my own personal Guide. If
traveling independently I suggest a personal guide as a must so you
don’t miss a thing. Most are experienced Egyptologists, able to
answer any of your questions as you traverse the country, they seize
every opportunity to show you the multiple faces of this country
rich in History and Events, and mine was no exception.
I stayed in a small Hotel in Giza
overlooking the Pyramids, the service was excellent and I loved the
extra little touches, like a towel placed on my bed twisted in the
shape of a serpent.
Cairo is amazing, I couldn’t
believe I was seeing donkeys and camels meandering among the modern
cars racing the streets. A city rich in history, I visited Islamic
Cairo with its Ancient Mosques, the Citadel, and the world famous
Khan El Khalili Bazaar which lives up to all the expectations I had
from seeing it in the Movies. If you like to bargain this is the
place to do it.
We took time to visit an Islamic
Artists house, it was interesting to see the way the Islamic houses
were laid out. The internal courtyards offer privacy from the
outside noise and dust, and the unique entrances, where the doors
don’t lead straight ahead, but into an entryway were you turn left
or right for entry, again to protect the owners privacy from direct
contact with the outside. Then the Mastabas, the best way I can
describe them is they are a little like enclosed balconies with
latticed windows, overlooking in most cases the inner courtyard.
Those overlooking the street are a more enclosed and usually have
peep holes for the residents to look out without being seen.
We drove past the City of the dead a
unique experience to see houses where in these modern times the dead
are now buried.
Of course I had to see Coptic(Christian)
Cairo where I saw the streets walked upon thousands of years ago by
Mary and Joseph, and the hanging church and some of the oldest
Christian Churches in the world.
The Egyptian Museum, was a day all on
its own, so much to see and take in. A trip through the different
Kingdoms and time periods, and seeing the treasures of King Tuts’
tomb, spectacular to say the least. Then to see the mummies
preserved from thousands of years ago was a wonderful experience
taking me back to another time and place.
On another day we visited the
Pharaonic Village, a trip out by boat to an island, where the
History of the Culture and Crafts of Egypt are laid out and
described as you traverse by boat around the island. This is another
Tour that could take up the whole day if you wanted. The Tour ends
on the island, where there is a restaurant and we had free time to
visit the Islamic Art museum, with some beautiful art works from
olden times.
The Ancient Pyramids of Cheops and
the Sphinx are much closer to the city than I had imagined, in the
dessert on the outskirts of Cairo in Giza. I had pictured them to be
way out in the dessert, but all the same they are truly a sight to
behold. I didn’t have time for a Camel ride that day, but would
suggest allowing time as it is something that can’t be repeated
anywhere, to ride among the Pyramids as they did in ancient times on
the back of a Camel. The light and sound show was spectacular, and
is shown in a variety of different languages. (The great Pyramid of
Cheops will be topped with a golden cap to celebrate the millenium
on New Years’ Eve).
Yet in among this ancient world is a
Modern city with an ultra modern Opera House, one of the most
beautiful in the world, the Cairo Tower, the largest concrete tower
in the World and offering a spectacular view of the city especially
at night. The World Trade Center, the indoor shopping malls and the
numerous modern 5 star Hotels reflect a city which is right up to
date with modern times.
I could have spent a month in Cairo
alone without going to the same place twice, there is so much to see
and do, and restaurants for all tastes.
Whilst staying in Cairo we traveled
out of the city to Sakkara, to see the Step Pyramid the creation of
Imhoteb the master builder. Even after all I’ve read and seen it
is still unbelievable that this massive structure could have been
built without the machinery we have today. Then it was on Memphis to
see the gigantic statue of Ramses the II still in the same place it
was discovered by accident. A lady crossing a muddy street tripped
on what turned out to be the foot of this enormous statue,
previously buried and probably downed by an earthquake. I was a
miniature standing by the head of this massive statue.
On the way back we stopped at a
carpet factory to see the children with their nimble fingers turning
out beautiful carpets and wall tapestries. They encouraged me to sit
and try, and had great fun when my fingers weren’t able to tie the
knots as nimbly as theirs. It was obvious they were thoroughly
enjoying their craft and enjoyed meeting the visitors and showing
off their talents, and of course I couldn’t resist buying some
souvenir wall hangings to bring home.
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Egypt
has so much to offer, we journeyed out to Alexandria, the gem on the
Mediterranean Sea, home of Cleopatra and Alexander, where a new
unique library is being built to replace the one burnt in the days of
Cleopatra and Alexander the Great. A library that was said to hold
every book in the world. Alexandria is the home of the Catacombs, the
Montazah Palace and gardens, a Greco-Roman Museum, a Roman
Amphitheater, a Jewelry museum, and astonishingly beautiful Mosiac
Art all along the main promenade, not to mention the Citadel where
recent discoveries have found what may be the remains of
Cleopatra’s Palace. We took a walk through the Montazah Park and
out to the famous lighthouse. We ate in a local seafood restaurant
where you pick out the fish you want from a tank and they cook it for
you. Alexandria was my favorite place, and becomes the favorite
destination for Egyptians in the summer time.
