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Published: October 16th 2006
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Horse Riding by the Pyramids
This was SENSATIONAL! Riding around the sand dunes of Giza while the sun set. Are we fortunate...I think so!?! To walk on the land of the Pharaohs is an enchanting feeling, and the sensation of revisiting history that dates back to times of B.C. is nothing short of magical! Egypt was AWESOME!
So...you know you are a backpacker when...
-Having somebody pick you up from an airport with a sign reading YOUR name makes you feel like a CELEBRITY!
-Home-cooked meals are much more a NOVELTY than eating out!
-After traveling India, trains in Cairo are "no biggie!"
We arrived to Cairo from Greece, ready to explore the land of the Sphinx! We had planned to meet our good friend, Shereef (our token Egyptian friend), but unfortunately at the last minute, he wasn't able to make it and us 5 girls became the unexpected responsibility of his father, Muhammed. POOR MOHAMMED! But...LUCKY US! Amu Mohammed took hold of the challenge like one would take hold of the baton in a winning relay! And WIN he did...all of our love and respect! He was so incredibly hospitable and gracious. He helped make our time in Egypt truly UNFORGETTABLE! Thank You Amu!
Now allow me to highlight some of our favorite Egypt memories and let the pictures do
OUR VIP OF EGYPT!
Our trip to Egypt would not have been as memorable without our gracious host, Amu Mohammed! SHOOKREN AMU! most of the talking....
-Being picked up from the Cairo airport by Amu's driver with signs in hand! Aaahhh...life as a celebrity!
-Getting to know our good friend, Shereef's, father (Amu Mohammed) and learning about Egpytian culture from him.
-Learning some cooking tips from Amu Mohammed and enjoying HOME COOKED dinners together! We are GREAT food tasters and always willing to be guinnea pigs to ANYONE wanting to try some home cooked recipes on us...heehee!
-Galloping on horses AND camels while the sun was setting by the Pyramids of Giza. Talk about best seats in the house!
-Learning about the lives of the pharoahs at the Famous Museum of Antiquities. Did you know that the pharaoh was actually a divine being, considered the physical offspring of a God? No wonder they were treated like such royalty!
-Tacking along the Nile River on a breezy, sunny day in an old-fashioned Falluca (sailboat).
-Climbing Mt. Sinai (where Moses received the 10 commandments) in the middle of the night to arrive at the top just in time to for the sun to rise.
-Exploring St. Catherine's Monastery and checking out the burning bush. Well actually,
Feelin Small...
Only because the pyramids are just SO DARN BIG! what was thought to be the original burning bush is now dead, but a bush claimed to be its descendant is on view today (just an FYI for you!)
-Making some local friends and dancing the nights away at popular clubs, Buddha Bar and Pacha in Sharm El Sheikh (the Las Vegas of Egypt).
-Becoming certified ADVANCED divers in Sharm and spending 2 full days on a boat in the middle of the Red Sea! Not a bad life at all! The Red Sea was like a sparkling blue sapphire...shiny and clear. Dawn and I had such a great time taking underwater photos and trying to navigate our way around the depths of the sea! We did 5 dives that were fascinating, colorful, and peaceful.
-Spending 2 days in the middle of the Sahara and exploring the natural art created by sand and wind.
-Trying to sleep underneath the stars...'trying' being the key word. Apparently, wild foxes like to play at night! Our courage took the back seat this night because we wanted to wake up with all of our limbs, and I do mean 'back seat' quite LITERALLY...we slept in the jeep!
-Drinking jugs
Walk Like An Egyptian!
Do we fit in with the scenery or what? of fresh mango juice because it was just so darn good...I would even choose it over chocolate at times if that tells you anything. Yep...me...choosing mango juice OVER chocolate. If you make a trip to Egypt for its fresh mango juice alone, it would be WELL worth it!
-Taking the Cairo nightlife by storm with our Sharm friends and my brother's friend from NYC, Dina. We realized Cairo is a city with SO many beautiful treasures...from culture, to history, to mondernism. Its a unique mix of all three! There's nothing like dancing the night away along the Nile!
-Experiencing the riches and the antiquities of Egypt, experiencing the good, the not so good, and the in betweens...thinking to myself that we are blessed with our liberties back home.
Overall we had such an enriching experience in Egypt. And its important to note that Amu Mohammed played a HUGE part in that! We will always be grateful for his hospitatity and guidance through Eygpt! It is a country that may take you some time to warm up to (it is afterall a developing country) but once you do, I guarantee you will find yourself sad to leave! My
Sail Away Sail Away Sail Away!
Taking the Faluca down the Nile...or up the Nile...either way! suggestion...Go check it out for yourself...I think you will know what I mean.
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aunt Patty
non-member comment
amazing
Ok ladies, jealous jealous jealous and oh so excited for you as I read about your travels and enjoy the pics. I have determined (you may have already decided this) that upon your return you somehow get on the TV show "The Amazing Race". You will win hands down with all your connections! Enjoy and be safe. Love ya!