Egypt

Egypt has been a whirlwind, and I believe I’ve done every tourist thing possible in three long days. Due to the short stop here I hired a guide which was an outstanding decision. Hend, my guide, is a young lady with a 4 year degree in some sort of tourist antiquities program. Guides here in Egypt are licensed by the government and it’s a 4 year college program where they learn all about the artifacts and history to the sites. She has been a treasure trove of information and made this stop hassle free. So, writing about it and making it interesting is a bit more difficult as the problem areas tend to be easier to write about.

In three days, I’ve tromped around Cairo, been to Saqqara to see the first ever built Pyramid, stared awe inspired at the majestic pyramids of Giza as the famous Sphinx looms protecting them, taken a river boat dinner cruise down the Nile, gazed at out of this world artifacts and statues at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, visited Old Coptic Cairo and the synagogues, walked around the citadel and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali, smelled dozens of different essence at a perfume shop, witnessed how papyrus paper is made, driven to the great city of Alexandria to take in the Roman Theatre, Catacombs, Citadel, Alexandria Library, and the Royal families summer palace. My mind aches trying to remember all the unusual names of long ago Pharaohs and meanings to hieroglyphics

Cairo itself is a massive city of 20 million people humming 24/7. Cars old and new cram 5 to 6 or more wide into three lanes. Traffic signals typically being ignored and cars randomly change or swerve lanes to reach their destination. The city is covered in what is a mix of dust/sand and smog, blocking clear views of the sky. It’s modern yet a step back in time. Ancient buildings next to new more modern ones. Newer cars as well as old ones. Remember the old VW hippie type vans. They’re everywhere and are used as a local transport option similar to a shared taxi.

Seeing the Pyramids brings to light, modern Egyptians prepare their tomes well before death as the Pharaohs started eons ago. How unique!

Words cannot describe all the feelings and thoughts which have crossed my head these past few days. The highlights for me include standing in a Roman Amphitheater several thousand years old and discovering their knowledge of acoustics. A small stone base when one stands on it and speaks toward a section of stadium seating can hear oneself through a natural feedback from the stone. Remove one foot or turn away from the stands and the speaker like sound of yourself disappears. Entering the catacombs in Alexandria, another highlight, I felt as if I where Indian Jones discovering new artifacts passing through ancient hieroglyphic archways, engraved painted walls, and sarcophagi. All I needed is a whip. Sorry no cameras where allowed.

My favorite of this adventurous stop is surprisingly the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. I typically despise museum visits and found myself mesmerized for a few hours. It brought to life everything I’d seen the first couple days. Enormous amounts of history, culture, and context seem to speak out looking at all the different statues, paintings, tombs, mummies, and more than one could take in over days of viewing.  Again no camers allowed.

I could go on for pages about everything here and while everything I did was pure tourist, it would be neat to return one day at a slower pace to experience the local culture as well.

I cannot thank Hend enough for making this quick stop go smoother than I could have ever imagined. If anyone is ever headed to Egypt, get in touch and I guarantee you’ll be pleased. While she was working in a professional capacity, we got to know each other pretty well and if she is anything like other Egyptians it would be an honor to know them as well.

Updated photos are complete for Morocco and there are pics for Egpyt as well. check out pictures