WHY EGYPT?

I cannot pinpoint the moment or item that got me interested in Ancient Egypt but it has become my biggest passion. I once thought of pursuing a career in Egyptology but given the limited job opportunities, I decided to leave my passion for Egypt as a hobby instead of a career. Over the years, I have spent countless of hours reading books and watching documentaries on Ancient Egypt trying to learn as much as possible and most recently, I have been learning how to read hieroglyphs. During my last trip to Egypt, the tour guide was amazed at how much I knew about Ancient Egypt. 

As of 2010, I just had a passion for Ancient Egypt but that changed after spending one week visiting Egypt. I now had a passion for both Ancient and Modern Egypt. That passion was further fueled during the January 2018 trip which lasted 2 weeks and included a lot of wonderful drives and walks throughout Lower and Upper Egypt. In those two weeks, I had the opportunity to traverse hundreds of miles through cities and rural areas taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Egypt. There was a 7 year gap between my first and second trip to Egypt but I am hoping to return in two or three years. 

Egypt is a beautiful country with an interesting history, fascinating culture, and wonderful people. It is a country of many contrasts which adds to its beauty. There is the large and crowded Cairo to the north and the smaller, more peaceful towns to the south. The Nile is palette of blue hues accentuated by green palm fronds and the bright yellows, reds, and pinks of flowers. The streets, lined with simple brown and beige home and stores, come to live with vibrant fruit stalls and the sounds of Egyptian music. Driving through Luxor, you have the clash of the old with the new - one side of the road contains the temples, the other has stores and restaurants. In Giza, you have the sandy colored pyramids reaching out to the clear, bright blue sky. And nothing can be more beautiful and amazing like sailing the Nile on a felucca (sailboat). 

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This passion for Egypt has led me to amass a collection of books and souvenirs that I now have a mini museum in my apartment. Souvenirs include Saharan sand, papyrus paintings (3), Nubian dolls, belly dancing outfit, post cards, soda bottles/cans, and much more. The picture shows just some of the books and items I own associated with Egypt. All I am missing is a sarcophagus and a mummy!