Many years ago, I spent some time in Egypt. I had wanted to go there since I was a child, but I never knew why. Egypt was always familiar to me and I always knew where it was on that map, even when that was not "cool" in school. Maybe it was a past life thing.

I was fortunate enough to be able to travel a lot even though I hate to fly. But of all the places I have been, I would say Egypt is the most fascinating. It is over-populated, dirty, hot, dusty, and I love it. There is something that gets in a person (if they have a heart) that makes you fall in love with Egypt. I believe it was Heroditus, the father of history, that said "if you drink from the water of the Nile you will always return to Egypt." Well, it must be true. I would go back to visit today if I could. This takes nothing away from my love for Scotland...that is a totally different thing, and very hard to explain.

I will add some links on this page to other people's pages that have more information. I just wanted to share my pictures. Please take the time to visit them and maybe you will see the fascination we share with this wonderful, mysterious country. If you ever get the chance to go, take it!



PICTURES

The pictures here are old and some have lost the original colour, so they aren't as good as I wish they were.
Please click on each picture to see a larger version of it.


Mena House Hotel
This was my first view of the great pyramid because we got there the night before. This was taken from our hotel, Mena House.


Me on a camel!
Yes, they got me on a camel.


View from the roof
This was my view everyday from where I was. We could also see the same view from the kitchen window.


Cairo
So, I had to check out Cairo. This is one of the more modern places.


Livestock on the roof
This was very close to where I lived, in a small village called Samman, famous for its dancing horses. It is a the foot of the Giza plateau. (where the pyramids are)


Small sphinx in Memphis
This sphinx was in the mud for years, that's why it looks so bad. This is Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt. Very nice here.


Ibn Touloun Mosque
Good view of the Ibn Touloun Mosque *choke* as seen from the Sultan Hassan Mosque.


The Nile
I spent four days on the Nile. It was like going back in time.


Ok, I can't swim, but I had to take a ride on a felucca. We went around to some small islands and it was wonderful. The water was amazing and I wasn't scared when I remembered where I was.


Esna
We stopped at some villages on the river. How would you like to live by this?


Smiling white camel
According to Islam, camels are the only ones who know the 100th name of God, and they aren't telling. That's why they smile.


Main transportation in Luxor
In Luxor,  this is the main form of transportation. Also, Luxor is home to the famous Karnak Temple and is right across the Nile from the Valley of the Kings. I had a very strange experience standing not far from this spot. Like I was home again. (No, I'm not insane) It was like I had been gone for a very long time and was looking at my home.


Me and Horus
Ok, it was about 110 degrees. What was I supposed to do?


Hathor
This is in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It's the Goddess Hathor and someone else. Sorry, it was a long time ago.


Heads for sale
Well, I know this means something, but I don't remember what. Sort of reminds me of "bring out your dead!"


Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel was completely taken apart, piece by piece, wayyyyyy back to the inside, and reconstructed up and back on a hill. The reason for this was to avoid being flooded when they built the Aswan Dam. They did a perfect job. Very impressive. Very large.

Abu Simbel too
This is the second half. Both sides go way back into the hill with amazingly tall statues of Ramses II in them. I think he had a bit of an ego problem. We almost got stranded here because our plane broke down and they had no landing lights on the runway since all tours were during the day. But we were rescued in the nick of time.


I can't begin to tell you everything I experienced during my time in Egypt, but I wouldn't trade the memories for anything. I thought about putting up pictures of the people I stayed with, but I don't know if I want to remember that much. Egypt truly is a fascinating place with a surprise around every corner. And for the people who say "Ewwwww...it was so dirty and no one spoke English!" I say......why did you GO there??? Sheesh!



SOME GOOD LINKS


Tour Egypt Excellent site.
The Magic and Mysteries of Ancient Egypt  Lots of good links.
Egyptian Mystery Pages Good information.
 Egypt - A Tourist's ViewI did this tour myself, but they had a better camera.