Amazing Egypt – More than Just the Wonders of Antiquity

Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinationscounterfeit, and it is in any case illegal to export
on the world tourist map. This extra ordinarythe real article.Alexandria, monument to Alexander
country is today the favourite vacation spot forthe Great, is located 180 km to the northwest of
many, just like it was in the days of the earlyCairo. The city has a Mediterranean temper and
Greeks and Romans. The thoroughly culturedcompared to the hothouse of Cairo has a cooler
Greeks, in particular, were fascinated by thisand more pleasant climate. The Greco-Roman
civilization that predated theirs by at least 2000Museum is within central Alexandria and has on
years. The biggest draw continues to be thedisplay artifacts from the period 300 BC to AD
amazing abundance of historical treasures-300. You will see mummies, sarcophaguses,
temples, pyramids and museumspottery, tapestries and the granite sculpture of
–contained in this one country. But thethe bull god Apis. Other sights in the area include
destination offers more than just the wonders ofthe Roman Amphitheater, the Royal Jewelry
antiquity. Your visit to Egypt can be rounded offMuseum and the Roman era catacombs of Kom
by a cruise down the Nile and a beach vacation atel-Shukafa.The island of Pharos, near the harbour
the top notch Red Sea and Sinai resorts.Theis the site of the Great Lighthouse, one of the
unification of the Kingdoms of Lower and UpperSeven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today,
Egypt around BC 3180 marks the point fromwhat remains on the site is a 15th century
when Egypt became a significant power. Thisfortress. After immersing yourself in antiquity,
event is credited with Menes, who thus becameyou can take a dip at some beach resorts within
the first Pharaoh. Menes went on to establish a20 km to the west of the city. At the resort of
new capital at Memphis, just to the south ofMarsa Matruh, 230 km further on, you will find
where Cairo stands today. For the next 3000some excellent beaches and an opportunity for
years and under 30 dynasties of the Pharaohs, areef diving. This area right from Alexandria along
dynamic and culturally sophisticated civilizationthe coast is part of Egypt's Med. It is still relatively
flourished. It was not however smooth sailing forundeveloped despite long stretches of white sand
the descendants of Menes and power was forbeaches and turquoise waters.If your primary
short periods in the hands of foreigners. Historiansinterest is ancient Egypt, bear in mind that about
who as usual want to simplify things, have divided80% of Egyptian antiquities are in the vicinity of
up the reign of the Pharaohs into three periods:Luxor. The city sits on the site of the ancient city
the Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BC), Middle Kingdomof Thebes and together with the surrounding
(2040-1640 BC) and New Kingdom (1550-1070areas carries magnificent treasures of antiquity
BC).It is a curious fact that most monuments ofsuch as palaces, temples and royal tombs. The
the Pharaohs relate to death. Though modernsroyals of those times whiled their afterlife at what
may view this as an unhealthy preoccupation withis referred today as the Valley of the Kings,
death, some scholars see it as an indication of theValley of the Queens and Tombs of the Nobles.
ancient Egyptians great love for life and desire forThe tombs contained treasure that has been
continued existence. The pyramid was the highestplundered over the centuries. Some of the more
evolution in the practice of preparing elaboratefamous tombs are those of the boy king
tombs for the departed. Pyramids were the finalTutankhamen and the queen Nefertari.On the
resting place, from where the Pharaohs enjoyedeast bank of the Nile you find the Temple of
the afterlife. The most famous of these edificesLuxor and the Temple of Karnak, packed with
are the Pyramids of Giza, built in the 4th Dynastyobelisks, wall murals and statues with heads of
(2575-2465 BC), when the power of thesegods. If you overnight here, enjoy the evening
ancient kings was at its peak.Religion was anothersound-and-light show at the Temple of Karnak.
reason for the great monuments of ancientTemples on the west bank are Queen
Egypt. The deities found deserving of worshipHatshepsut’s Temple and The
were truly diverse. And many, many templesRamesseum, a once massive edifice that is today
were built in honour of these gods. Temples formostly a ruin. You need to spend at least two
the most esteemed gods were quite elaboratedays here for your trip to be worthwhile. You are
and were administered by high priests. Auxiliaryalso advised to hire a guide who can explain the
buildings housed libraries, granaries, and what mayhistorical context of each artifact or monuments.
today be considered as research laboratories forStart out early each day before the day-trippers,
astronomers, biologists and other scientists. Mostairlifted from Cairo arrive to crowd you
gods were linked with specific animals and toout.Aswan, a scenic town by the Nile lies 680 km
whom special powers were attributed. Some godsto the south of Cairo, in the region that was so
came and went, but the sun god was one of thelong ago known as Lower Egypt. Though not as
most enduring. It has been suggested that thenumerous as elsewhere, you can find temples and
design of the pyramids had some association withtombs at those two islands in the Nile- Elephantine
practices of the sun cult. The Pharaoh wasand Kitcheners islands. You can get to the islands
considered to be a living god.The Greeks, in theby sailing in a felucca. The Nubian Museum
name of Alexander the Great finally brought thecelebrates the history and culture of the Nubian
Age of the Pharaohs to an end in 332 BC. Hepeople. Aswan is also important in the history of
founded that city that bears his name, Alexandria.Coptic Christians and the ruins of the 7th-century
The Greeks ushered in a period of comparativeCoptic monastery of St. Simeon laze in this area.
prosperity and stability under descendants ofIn today’s Egypt, Aswan is important as
Ptolemy. Ptolemy was the Macedonian generalthe location of the High Dam that finally put an
who was appointed by Alexander as governor.end to the annual bursting of the banks of the
The Pharos Lighthouse, one of the sevenNile.The Red Sea is well known to readers of the
wonders of the ancient world and the GreatBible as the sea that God parted with his own
Library of Alexandria were built in this era.As thehand so that Moses and his people could cross
Greeks declined, so did the Romans rise, and theyover to Sinai. So named because of its red tint
too cast a covetous eye upon Egypt. The last ofmountain ranges, it is home to a number of
the Ptolomies was the notorious Cleopatra, loverresorts, the biggest of which is Hurghada. The
to both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Theunderwater world of the Red Sea is alive with
Roman Empire too declined Egypt and was tornover 800 fish species and the deep-sea fishing is
apart by foreign armies. The most significantexcellent. Snorkellers can explore the coral reef
event at this time was the invasion of the Arabsthat is reputed to be one of the finest in the
in 462 AD. Though other foreigners includingworld. Hurghada aside, there are other resorts in
Ottoman Turks, French and the British,the area that have good beaches, coral reefs and
subsequently ruled the country, it is the Arabssome golfing too. The modern day traveler
who brought Islam whose legacy has been theescaping the city will empathise with the early
most enduring.Egypt is today a modern vibrantChristian hermits who built their monasteries here
nation that carries the burden of its 5,000-yearas they sought to get away from it all. Hurghada
history graciously. Just like in ancient times, thelies 380 km to the southeast of Cairo.Sinai is
Nile sustains the country and upto 95% of thewhere Africa meets Asia. Like the Red Sea coast,
population live in close proximity of the river. Theit has top resorts and is great for water sports.
rest of the country is desolate desert, mitigatedSharm El Sheikh, towards the southern tip of the
only by a few isolated oases and the habitableSinai Peninsula is the most developed resort town.
narrow strips along the African Red Sea and theHere you will find entertainment in the form of
Mediterranean coastlines.According to the tourismcasinos and nightclubs and also some good
ministry, Egypt for the visitor is best seen as sixshopping malls. The marine life is abundant and the
tourist super-sites. This covers the most popularcoral reefs are great. Sinai is also where the three
destinations and excludes off-the-beaten-trackgreat monotheistic religions meet. You can make
locations. The six super-sites are anchored on:an excursion to Mt. Horeb, said to be Mt. Sinai
Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada on thewhere Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh in Sinai. Except forFor Roman Catholics, emulate Pope John Paul II
Luxor, none of these destinations relies entirely onwho visited nearby St. Catherine's Monastery in
ancient monuments to attract visitors. Egypt2000. The monastery is supposed to sit on the
tours and vacations are very competitively pricedsite of Moses' burning bush.The people of Egypt
relative to other destinations.Cairo is a huge,from antiquity to the present day have always
sprawling and chaotic metropolis. It has all thebuilt their lives around the Nile. It is no coincidence
amenities of a modern city and is the usualtherefore, that probably the best way to see the
gateway for the visitor to Egypt. Cairo is a youngmajor sites is by taking a Nile Cruise. There are
city relative to nearby Heliopolis, Giza and Memphisseveral luxury cruise ships offering Nile Cruises.
that are associated with the Pharaohs. The cityThe longer cruise goes all the way from Cairo to
began as a Roman trading post called Babylon- inAswan in two weeks. There is however not
the area now referred to as Coptic Cairo. Themuch to see between Cairo and Luxor and you
area was a settlement of one of thewill get better value if you take the shorter cruise
world’s first Christian communities. Thisbetween Luxor and Aswan. This cruise, which
predominantly Christian locale houses a museumnormally takes six days, goes in both directions
that is a repository of religious art, manuscripts,and you can embark at either Aswan or Luxor.
paintings and pottery.But it is the Arab invadersYou can get to Luxor or Aswan from Cairo by
who arrived in the 7th century who can be saidtaking a flight or the overnight sleeper train. The
to have founded the city. They settled just northadventurous and thrifty can also sail along the Nile
of the area referred to as Old Cairo. Theby using traditional boats, feluccas.The summer in
medieval district of Islamic Cairo is densely packedEgypt, which falls between April and October, is
with people and lots of mosques and temples.hot and dry. The winters are mild with cold nights.
This is where many still go during the month ofThe best time to visit is between November and
Ramadan to eat and spend the night after aMarch, outside the intolerable summer season.
days’ fast. Giza on the Niles’ westLight clothing is generally recommended though
bank is where you find the Great Pyramids.you may need a sweater and jacket for winter
These truly magnificent monuments were one ofevenings. Remember that this is a Muslim country
the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You willand dress for women in particular is expected to
appreciate the achievement of the builders ofbe modest. All the same, immodest western style
these edifices when you reflect on the fact thatholiday dress is acceptable in nightclubs, beaches
until the 19th century they were theand hotels in Cairo and other locations frequented
world’s largest buildings.The visitor to Cairoby tourists.In the cities and locations popular with
will easily tuck in trips to see museums, mosquestourists, you will find a wide variety of
and monuments such as Pyramids and the Sphinx.accommodation ranging from 5-star luxury to
To commemorate your visit to this unforgettablebudget lodging. This in particular covers: Cairo,
city, visit the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. The wide arrayAlexandria and the north coast, Luxor, Aswan and
of souvenirs on sale here includes jewelry, brass,at the Red Sea and Sinai resorts towns. During
silver and copperware, carpets, perfumes,the popular winter season, advance booking is
alabaster and soapstone carvings. You will also findadvised. Egypt hotels and resorts are very good
reproductions of antiquities, which you are advisedvalue and you will find accommodation cheaper
to buy as opposed to anything presented ashere than the equivalent in most other
original. Such “originals” are usuallydestinations.