Egypt on my mind

Thanks for your input on which dress to wear.  It was a tight race, but I think Option 2 prevailed

The last several weeks were filled with turmoil, protests, and riots in Egypt.  It saddened me to think a country I had visited just over a year ago, was facing such devastation.

While visiting for ~10 days, I found the people to be kind, the culture to be inspiring, and the history rich beyond comprehension.  Below are some snippets from my trip:

18 Million people live in Cairo alone — Cairo traffic is like nothing I’ve ever seen. For one lane of traffic, there are at least 2 cars. Getting across any street means playing frogger with your life. I think I nearly got hit at least a dozen times in one crossing. Several fatalities occur each day.

Karnak temple

Most used phrases that we learned: “La la shukran (while wagging your finger) means “no thank you”; “meshi meshi” means “everything’s good” or “okey dokey”; “yallah” means “come on, let’s go”

The Nile

King Tut’s treasures are traveling around the world, but one piece remains in the Egyptian Museum and will never leave and that is the Metal mask laid over his mummy and is gorgeous!

Luxor Temple

Good to know

Egypt is known for their Alabaster which is still mined 165km from the Valley of the Kings and brought by camel into the towns. Egypt is also known for papyrus, gold, spices, and cotton

There are many symbols: Lotis flower = love and happiness; scarab (beetle) = good luck / fertility; Eye of Horus = protection / health; ankh = key of life.

Egypt’s history has a huge amount of Roman and Greek influence – many temples and sites were desecrated by one or the other

Cats are revered and the cat God is Bastet.

Kom Ombo Temple at night

The wine in Egypt is horrible (as it is a Muslim / non-drinking culture). The coffee is also terrible – very sludgy and grainy.

Egyptian night and Halloween

Most buildings look like they are in a state of build because as families expand (marriage, birth, etc), they build on top of the existing house to accommodate.

Goats on a roof, near Tahrir square

Many stray cats, dogs, goats, sheep and every other animal roam the streets of Egypt.

Me feeding just a few of many cats

Sphinx kiss, Giza

Sphinx and pyramid, Giza

Camels and the MIL

Giza pyramid

Egyptian food is Mediterranean in style (e.g. falafel, hummus, pita, kabob, etc).

Authentic meal in Sakkara

"Sand" pita in an open oven

Egyptian statues show Idealistic expressions (happy, calm, serene) versus Realistic (like the Romans and Greeks).

Huge Ramses II made of Limestone (in Memphis, outside of Cairo)

Prayer is 5x’s per day every day starting at sunset and going to sundown. It is broadcast throughout every city and is beautiful to hear. Many people pray on their own time (e.g. a surgeon won’t stop what he’s doing to pray).

Shisha in our hotel...you can't drink, but you can hookah!

Khan Khalili bizarre, Cairo

And there you have it…a snapshot of a fascinating country that is a must see at least once in your lifetime.

Have you been to Egypt?  Would you go?

What is one country you must visit in this lifetime?

About these ads