Tag: egypt
-
Traveling for a Sensational Sunset | Fatnas Island, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Fatnas Island, Siwa Oasis, Egypt– “I now see why the Egyptians worshiped the sun!” That was a powerful ‘in the moment’ comment that I overheard an Egyptian-American doctor say. We were a small group of strangers who were watching the sunset on Fatnas Island, aka ‘Fantasy Island’. I held on to that idea of the…
-
St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
South Sinai, Egypt– St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt felt very far away from everything, and everywhere when I had traveled there in late 2019. I was already in Sharm el-Sheikh along the Red Sea when I took a day trip to this ancient monastery, which is also a UNESCO…
-
Visiting the Red Sea | Egypt vs. Jordan
“I will return.” Those were the words that I had played over in my mind when I left the Red Sea back in 2016. At that time, I was visiting from Jordan and I had no idea that my next visit would be from the shores of Egypt. Both Jordan and Egypt are wonderful places…
-
Sharm El-Sheikh | Egypt’s Remarkable Resort Town
Prior to flying into Sharm El-Sheikh from Cairo, I had already been in Egypt for three weeks. I had seen many different landscapes in this North African country, everywhere from Cairo, Giza, Siwa Oasis, Aswan, Luxor, and a few towns in between. Out of all the cities that I had visited, I believe I saved…
-
Exploring Old Islamic Cairo | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are many wonderous layers of Egypt to explore, and one visit to this North African country was not enough, I know it was not for me. First, you have the Pyramdis of Giza and all the historic temples of ancient Egypt that run along the Nile River. Then you have another layer of Egyptian…
-
Mosque of Al Rifa’i | Historic Cairo, Egypt
The Mosque of Al Rifa’i is located in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo, which is also referred to as “Historic Cairo”. In 1979, UNESCO had designated this specific area of Cairo as a World Heritage Site. There are over 600 structures of cultural importance in Historic Cairo, and it is an intriguing and special…
-
The Mosque – Madrasa of Sultan Hasan | Old Islamic Cairo, Egypt
The magnificent Mosque – Madrasa of Sultan Hasan is located in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo, which is also referred to as “Historic Cairo”. In 1979, UNESCO had designated this specific area of Cairo as a World Heritage Site. There are over 600 structures of cultural importance in Historic Cairo, and it is an…
-
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun is a must see for those who are visiting Egypt. It is considered the oldest mosque in Egypt, as well as all of Africa; and it was built between AD 876 and 879, by Ahmed Ibn Tulun. Over the centuries it had miraculously survived, and kept its original form. This…
-
Khan el-Khalili – Cairo’s Most Famous Bazaar | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
“I used to get upset watching people running through a maze of alleyways, only to get stuck in a dead end and then get caught. Now I know what they feel like.” One of my friends had said this while we were trying to find our way back out of the Bazaar, and she was…
-
Cruising Up the Nile – From Aswan to Luxor, Egypt
If you are looking to cruise the Nile River in Egypt from Aswan to Luxor, I highly recommend the experience. Deciding on a boat cruise aboard a mid-size luxury liner is an extraordinary way to see the riverways of Egypt, as well as many of the important temples in Upper Egypt. After doing a little…
-
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of Luxor’s most impressive sites, and was one of my favorites while visiting the area. I very much admired the symmetrical clean lines, and straight columns that seemed to be built right into the mountain wall. Â The full structure was created to organically blend in with the surrounding…
-
Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Que Roger Moore as Bond…James Bond. Karnak is Luxor’s most famous ancient site due to its popularity in modern day pop culture, and films such as ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’, and several PC games. The complex of Karnak is an incredibly constructed compound with a look of decaying ancient…
-
Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Exploring the Valley of the Kings along Luxor’s West Bank should be another piece added to your travels into Egypt. The temples and the pyramids of ancient Egypt always steal the show when visiting this country due to its popularity, and the ‘WOW’ factor they bring. For those who are feeling a little Indiana Jones…
-
A Spectacular Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
If you have ever seen hot air balloons fly by, it is a magical site. There is a sense of joy watching those brightly colored balloons float by, and a wonderment of knowing that there are people riding inside large baskets. If you have ever ridden a hot air balloon, then you understand that there…
-
The Temple of Horus | EDFU, EGYPT
The ancient city of Edfu, which sits along the West Bank of the Nile River is home to the grand and astounding Temple of Horus. It was constructed between 237 and 57 BC, during the Ptolemaic Kingdom and is one of the best preserved Egyptian shrines. The reliefs and inscriptions are from the Hellenistic period…
-
The Temple of Kom Ombo & Crocodile Museum | Upper Egypt
The city of Kom Ombo, which sits along the Nile River is primarily an agricultural town, but it also draws in many tourist who are river cruising. The Temple of Kom Ombo, which is a short walking distance from the river sits on top of a small hill, and is the main attraction which draws…
-
Abu Simbel in Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Like many others, Abu Simbel in Egypt was on our bucket lists. I am sure those who have come before me would agree that it is one thing to see these Egyptian temples in photos or videos, but nothing beats witnessing them first hand. When our private guide walked my friends and I towards the…
-
What I ate in CAIRO and GIZA, EGYPT | A Food Journal
When I was first planning our trip to Egypt, I had researched traditional Egyptian food, and was looking forward to trying many of their dishes. As soon as I got into Cairo, the majority of the food that I ate was International Cuisine, especially in the hotels that we were staying at. I was not…
-
The Sanctuary of Isis at Philae in ASWAN, EGYPT | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
While in Aswan, my friends and I had visited the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae UNESCO sites, and I was in awe. Not only for the architectural wonder of these temples built for their Egyptian Gods, but for the shear fact that these temples were dismantled and reconstructed to save them. Last century,…
-
Horse Riding Through the Sahara | GIZA, EGYPT
“This is one of the best things I have ever done in my life!” That is what my friend said while we were horse riding through the Sahara desert, and overlooking the Pyramids of Giza. There are extraordinary experiences that one can do in their lifetime, and this was one of them. My friends and…