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?
