EGYPT

GIFT OF THE NILE

Alexandria While no longer an international center of learning and culture, as it was around 200 AD, Alexandria remains a destination of great interest. Beautiful beaches and a seaside climate combine to make it a popular summer resort. Points of interest are Pompey's Pillar, erected to honor the Emperor Diocletian, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Catacombs of el-Shogafa.

Cairo  The capitol of Egypt Cairo is a very ancient city, dating back 4500 years to a city which was called ON and later renamed Heliopolis, the city of the Sun. In the center of Modern Cairo is Midan Tahrir, (Tahrir Square). This is the busiest area of the city, and here you will find the famous Egyptian Museum which traces Egypt’s incomparable history in a wealth of Pharaonic relics and the special collection of the tomb of Tutankhamun's.

The Citadel  In Citadel, which was built in the 13th century, is in Islamic Cairo. The interior of the Citadel contains The Mosque of Mohammed Ali also known as the Alabaster Mosque. The parapets offer a commanding view of Cairo, a forest of minarets, domes and spires. The beauty of Islamic Cairo is not limited to the Mosques. It also includes houses, palaces, small museums, and the oldest synagogue in Cairo, Ben Ezra Synagogue. Islamic Cairo is full of tiny alleyways, crowded with food vendors, goats, camels and donkeys and the strong smells of spices such as cumin and turmeric fills the air. No visit to Cairo is complete without a visit to the medieval Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in the world, full of twists and turns, winding alleys and dead ends. The bazaar is lined with alluring shops and stalls full of carpets, papyrus, perfume, gold and brass. It is a most delightful experience and a true test to one's bargaining skills.

The Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx  There are three Pyramids in Giza. The largest of the Pyramids was built by CHEOPS, and it is 450 feet tall. His son, Chephren did not wish to dishonor his father so he built his pyramid two feet shorter, but with a true Pharaonic deviousness, he built it on higher ground. The third pyramid and the smallest one, is a mere 216 feet high, build by Cheop's Grandson, The Pyramids of Giza are marvels of human spirit and engineering; The famous Sphinx, a colossal carved figure of a recumbent lion with the head of a man, lies nearby. To the ancient Egyptians the stone figure was a colossal image of the God of the Rising Sun.

Memphis and Sakkara  At the edge of the western desert lies Memphis, the site of Egypt’s ancient capital and one of the most important cities in the history of ancient Egypt. Here find the limestone colossus of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. At Sakkara, the vast Necropolis of ancient Memphis is Egypt’s oldest standing stone structure, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, built during the Third Dynasty, constructed entirely in stone.

Fayoum and Mydum  Egypt’s largest oasis, overlooking Lake Qarun, a popular sport for hunting and fishing. Here we find the Pyramid of Hawara and the Roman site of Chariness, which once housed two limestone temples and a large agora. A short drive from Fayoum is the Pyramid of Mydum. This was originally a seven-stepped Pyramid and was later enlarged to become an eight-stepped Pyramid. Eventually the steps were filled in and a smooth outer facing turned it into a true Pyramid. The Mydum Pyramid is thought to have been started by Huni, the last ruler of the 3^rd dynasty Pharaoh.

Luxor  A city built on the site of ancient Thebes, Luxor is divided by the Nile to the West Bank and the East Bank. The West Bank is famous for its Valley of Kings and Queens. Sixty-four of Egypt’s rulers, including the tomb of Ramesseum and Hatshepsut and the newly opened tomb of Neferatiti, were buried in ornate tombs here. All around the hills of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens are the Noble Tombs. While inside the tombs of the Kings and the Queens the 'walls are lined with Hieroglyphs depicting royal and religious motifs the Noble tombs hieroglyphs depict domestic scenes and are well worth the visit.

At the entrance to the valley stand the Colossi of Memnon, huge twin statues, each 63 feet high and hewn from a single piece of rock. In the East Bank are the excellently well-preserved Temple of Luxor, an ancient wonder that was discovered under a hill of rubble, and the Great Temple of Amun-RE, the Temple of Karnak. In the evening, travelers can enjoy the Karnak Sound and Light Show. Here the story of Thebes is brought to life as you walk from hall to hall, while haunting flute music evokes the mystery of the ancient city.

For the ancient Egyptians the west, where the sun disappeared at night, was the way to the "Kingdom of the West" where the deceased could be admitted by Osiris to the Day of Judgment. The deceased could only recover their completeness, by gathering together all the elements that made up their identity during their earthly life: Thus In the West Bank of Luxor we find the burial Tombs of the ancient Egyptian in The Valley Of Kings and the Valley of The Queens buried with their worldly possessions.

Aswan and Lake Nasser  About 30 years ago, the Nile used to flood the area of Giza. In the 20^th century the whole area between the Pyramids and Cairo was like a great lake during the end of summer and some of the villagers used to row to their houses by boat. The flooding of the Nile came under control with modern irrigation methods in Upper Egypt and with the creation of the Old Aswan Dam, the New High Dam, and Lake Nasser. The building of the High Dam began in 1964 by president Gamal Abdul Nasser and was designed to increase irrigation, supply power and maintain the water supply. Nearby is the most beautiful Temple of Philae on Angelika Island, dedicated to the goddess Isis and the Unfinished Obelisk. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Aswan is to sail on the Nile in a traditional fishermen’s craft, "Felucca", around Elephant Esland and to Kitchener' Island, home to a lovely botanical garden and the Aga Khan mausoleum. A visit to the small but excellent Nubian Museum is highly recommend, it describes the Nubian history from past to present time.

Abu Simbel  At the Temples of Abu Simbel, ancient Egyptians carved four figures of King Ramses II out of solid rock. These figures, 67 feet high, form the façade of a temple that cuts 195 feet into an escarpment along the Nile. When the backwaters of the Aswan Dam began to threaten the temples, the government of Egypt, rather than lose the monument to the rising waters, undertook a massive project to move the temples brick by brick to higher ground.

Kom Ombo  Symmetry has always been a key element of Egyptian architecture. At Kom Ombo the Ptolemaic period temple is equally divided between two Egyptian gods, Sobek, the local crocodile-god and Haruar, the falcon-headed sky-god.

Edfu and Esna  Edfu was the Greek city of Apollinopolis Magna, and is a religious and commercial center. Located about 33 miles south of Esna and 65 miles north of Aswan, this is a friendly town which produces sugar and pottery. It was the capital of the second nome (Horus) of Upper Egypt. The main attraction here is the Temple of Horus, which is considered by most to be the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt.

Nile Cruises  3 and 4-night cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan, offering an easy and leisurely way to explore both cities and the sites between.

Hurgada  Can easily be reached from Luxor by car. The town offers good diving facilities, a wide range of accommodations and endless sunshine most of the year.

Sharm El Sheikh Has become one of Egypt’s most popular resorts offering a wide range of accommodations with very active nightlife. The excellent scuba diving is best summed up by Jacques Cousteau " The Red Sea is a corridor of marvels…the happiest hours of my diving experience have there."

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine Monastery  Mt. Sinai is where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. Many early Christians went to Sinai to escape Roman persecution and the famous St. Catherine Monastery was founded on the traditional site of the burning bush on the slopes of Mt. Sinai. The Monastery is Greek Orthodox and it is built like a mediaeval fortress in the mountain. St. Catherine's art treasury is superb with its vast collection of illuminated manuscripts; second only that of the Vatican.

To appreciate the wonderful desert landscape you must climb Mt. Sinai either for sunset of sunrise. It takes a good 3 hours and strong thighs since the path is rocky and rigorous near the top. Most hikers set up at 2:00am in order to reach the top for a glorious sunrise.