Destination: Egypt

Photos: Hurghada

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 | By kiwiaoraki | Photo Gallery

In the Words of Herodotus...

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 | By kiwiaoraki | Views [181]

It is known as the "Gift of the Nile." A country, a land, a civilization that has existed for more than five millennia. A place where many great discoveries and inventions have taken place. The equinoxes, pi, the pulley, and the first writing system, ... Read more >

Great Sand Sea and Mountain of the Dead

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [236]

THIS SECTION OF THE SAHARA is called the Great Sand Sea. It is so imposing that Camyses, a Persian king of the 6th century BCE, had his army allegedly wiped out by a sandstorm on their march to Siwah. Undeterred, our driver Sarraj zipped our 4X4 around ... Read more >

Oracle of Ammon and Shali Fortress

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [177]

MOHASSEN IS ALREADY MAKING US CRAZY. He insists on walking us across the street like a wayward Boy Scout and thinks us incapable of buying a Diet Pepsi without his help. But most annoying, he doesn’t speak to Connie—won’t even look ... Read more >

Siwa Oasis

Thu, 9 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [184]

I CAN STILL FEEL THE GRIT ON MY TEETH. I just hope my facemask is more effective with Covid bugs than with Sahara dust. We are at Siwa Shali Resort after a long, long drive from Giza with our driver Ragab and Mohassen, the guide. By unspoken agreement ... Read more >

Photos: Siwa Oasis

Thu, 9 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

The Pyramids of Giza

Tue, 7 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [149]

THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA are the only members of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remain. Despite the recurring tabloid stories the pyramids were not built by Aliens! According to Herodotus the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) took one hundred thousand ... Read more >

Photos: The Pyramids of Giza

Mon, 6 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

The Great Temple of Amun at Karnak

Sat, 4 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [158]

THE GREAT TEMPLE OF AMUN AT KARNAK is in a word, Amazing ! At over 200 acres it is also one of the largest. I should also note that Karnak with two “K”s has nothing to do with the Johnny Carson character, two “C” Carnac the Magnificent.... Read more >

Luxor—The East Bank

Fri, 3 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [172]

RELUCTANTLY WE MOVED OUR VIGIL from Thebes Hotel to the East Bank. Iberotel is more of a Western hotel with a great view of the Nile and within walking distance of Luxor Temple and—if you are ambitious like us—Karnak Temple. While we were ... Read more >

Photos: Luxor: East Bank

Thu, 2 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

North of Luxor—Dendera and Abydos

Wed, 1 Dec 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [197]

DENDERA AND ABYDOS ARE THE FIRST new sites we visited on this trip and we highly recommend them despite the inconvenience of getting there. Fahd arranged for his friend, Yosef, to drive us there on Wednesday, about 200 kilometers each way. Fahd even ... Read more >

Luxor—The West Bank

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [216]

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DYING TO GO to the West Bank of Luxor for 3500 years. The Valley of the Kings, where the sun seems to set, is where the tombs of Egyptian royalty can be found. And Thebes Hotel is the ideal base to explore ancient sites both near and ... Read more >

Photos: Luxor: West Bank

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Cruising the Nile: Kom Ombo and Edfu

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 | By graynomadsusa | Views [187]

AGAINST ALL ODDS WE ARE IN EGYPT. Virtuosa didn’t run aground in the Suez Canal. The passenger mutiny never came to fruition and we weren’t boarded by pirates. So despite the fact that we docked in Dubai not Abu Dhabi, we managed to make ... Read more >