I just returned from a trip to Egypt and Greece, two of my bucket list destinations, and I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations. Being in the business, I have the opportunity to travel to far off destinations. But I did not expect to be impacted by these two countries in such a profound way.
I loved exploring Egypt so much that I am ready to go back to see what I missed. So I decided to put together a small group. I’ll be working on a custom itinerary this week that will include the Giza Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, Luxor and Aswan. No date has been set yet (but it may be sometime in 2022 or 2023). If you want to be on the list to receive the information, reach out to me at [email protected].
Over the next few weeks, I’ll focus on the many interesting sites, stories and facts that I learned in Egypt. Then it’s off to Greece where I’ll share about Mykonos, Santorini, Lindos, Rhodes and Patmos.
Egypt…why is now the time to go?
As I just experienced first-hand, there has never been a better time to travel to Egypt than right now! Here’s why!
- First – The number of international travelers is down about 75%, so you won’t find long lines to enter museums or historical sites. No need to worry about making your way through a crowd of people. You’ll have the opportunity to see more than you normally would in destination.
- Second – The locals are thrilled to see and serve you since travel makes up a large proportion of Egypt’s GDP. They want to make sure you have an enjoyable experience so that you’ll return home and encourage others to travel there too.
- Third – The weather…Egypt has an arid desert climate that is always hot and sunny, with temperatures in June-September averaging 95 F. From October through May the temperatures are more comfortable ranging from the high 70’s to mid-80’s. I personally loved the hot weather and the bright sunny days because many of our tours were outside. It was pleasant exploring in the sunshine!
- Fourth – Since there are less tourists, your dollars go much farther as companies want to compete for your business.
- Fifth – Egypt is open for travel and the number of daily Covid cases is extremely low. Anyone employed in the travel industry is required to be vaccinated and wear a mask.
- BONUS to traveling to Egypt now…your pictures will be tourist free. AMAZING!
And the biggest reason…Egypt is full of history waiting for you to see and experience with your own eyes!
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. –Chinese Proverb
Almost every one of us will agree that life’s real education happens outside the classroom. Classrooms with teachers, friends and textbooks are of course one way to learn but they are not the only.
I would bet that you studied about the civilizations and major historical events in your history class. All that was really neat. But nothing beats traveling to historic landmarks and exploring your way around a city’s history and culture.
In fact, traveling is the best way to learn things and the things that matter. It’s one of life’s greatest teachers.
Egypt is home to some of the greatest ancient wonders of the world…Pharaohs, dazzling temples and tombs and historic treasures that wow all who visit…us included! To stand before the many historical sites was truly amazing!
The Great Pyramids of Giza are the largest of all the Egyptian pyramids and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It’s part of a larger complex called the Giza Necropolis. There are two other major pyramids in the complex including the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. It also includes the Great Sphinx and several cemeteries. I marveled at its design and was in awe of its size! It’s enormous!
Fun facts about the Pyramids of Giza:
- The Pyramids of Giza were built almost 5,000 years ago and were constructed with over 2 million stones. They transported the granite from Aswan to Giza but how? Each stone was cut to perfection…but with what type of tools? There are lots of theories on how the Egyptians were able to lift the large stones to the top. It’s possible they may have used ramps and sleds to move the stones up the sides of the pyramid.
- The pyramids were built on the west bank of the River Nile. The Egyptians believed that West was the direction of death, while East was the direction of life. This was based upon the birth (rising) and death (setting) of the sun. Therefore, all “cities of the dead’ (burials, pyramids, mastabas, rock-cut tombs, cemeteries, etc.) were on the West side of the Nile, while the ‘cities of the living’ were on the East side of the Nile.
- The pyramid of Khufu (Cheops in Greek) is the tallest in the world. It was 481 feet when completed but erosion and vandalism have reduced its height to 451 ft high today. As I stood at the bottom looking straight up, it is VERY tall!
- Historians estimate that over 100,000 people were involved in constructing the pyramids.
- Despite the scorching heat that can often be felt in Egypt, the temperature inside the pyramids remains a constant 20 C – the average temperature on earth.
Follow along on my social media where I post highlights of my adventures.
Climbing Inside the Great Pyramid!
This was quite an experience. First, we climbed up the steep steps that lead to the entrance on the north side of the pyramid. When we reached the opening, there was a guard who told us we couldn’t take a camera in the tomb. He kept it until you return to the entrance. Cell phones are fine, though.
As we entered it was dark, humid and musty. It looked and smelled similar to a cave. Further into the “cave” the pathway began to narrow and the ceiling height dropped. So we crouched down and continued with one foot in front of the other, holding onto the railings, climbing straight to the top.
Inside the Great Pyramid are three major rooms: The King’s Chamber, The Queen’s Chamber and the Grand Gallery. The King’s Chamber is the highest point in the pyramid. It contains a large granite sarcophagus. It’s dark at the top and the chamber is quite small.
If you are claustrophobic, you might want to think twice about going deep into the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Gallery is ultra-narrow, and you will feel like the walls are closing in. But, if you’re comfortable in closed spaces, it’s totally worth it. I personally liked the challenge of climbing to the top and would do it again!
Just because we’ve left school doesn’t mean our education stops. Learning keeps us young, and travel is one of the greatest teachers of all. Travel inspires a sense of wonder and discovery, and there’s an entire world of things to do and people to meet. When you travel, you never stop learning.
Are you ready to be dazzled by the many tombs and temples of the Egyptian kings, sail the River Nile, taste some local cuisine, learn about their traditions and culture, broaden your horizons, get out of your comfort zone or add a little spice to your life?
If the answer is YES…then I believe, whole-heartedly, that YOU would love a journey to Egypt that wows you every step of the way.
Join me on our group tour to Egypt! If you are ready to pursue a new adventure, let’s do it! Don’t wait! Life it too short!
Enjoy your week!!
