Egypt!

Egypt, the land of culture, and history.

The stunning, colossal monuments of Ancient Egypt never fail to astonish. The heat, sight and the light of the desert invigorate. The cool, turquoise waters rejuvenate. A romantic cruise along the world's longest river dazzles the senses. A first class getaway resort in the Red Sea Riviera is pure escapism. No place has the magic, mystery and pleasures of Egypt.

Tantalise your senses and get ready to discover a world of wonder. 

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East, and the 15th most populated in the world. The great majority of its over 84 million people live near the banks of Nile River, and area of about 40,000 square kilometres, where the only arable land is found. The large regions of the Sahara Desert, which constitute most of Egypt's territory, are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.

Egypt has one of the longest histories of any modern state, having been continuously inhabited since the 10th millennium BC. It's monuments, such as the Giza pyramid complex and it's Great Sphinx, were constructed by it's ancient civilisation, which was one of the most advanced of it's time. Its ancient ruins, such a those of Mephis, Thebes, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings outside Luxor, and significant focus of archaeological study and people. Egypt's rich cultural legacy as well as the attraction of it's Red Sea Riviera, has made tourism a vital part of the economy.

The Culture of Egypt:

Egypt is a recognised cultural trend-setter of the Arabic-speaking world, and the contemporary Arab culture is heavily influenced by Egyptian literature, music, film and television. Egypt gained a regional leadership role during the 1950s and 1960s, which gave a further enduring boost to the standing of Egyptian culture in the Arab world.

Much has been written, read, debated and discussed about the rich culture of Egypt. And yet, the Egyptian culture has remained as intriguing and enigmatic as it was thousands of years ago, guarenteeing an ever-increasing influx of tourists and visitors to the country. Perhaps it has to do with the richness, the treasures, the scientific advancement or the magic of the colossal architecture, but whatever the reason, it can be said that Egyptian culture holds the attention of the world at large!

Hand in hand with the culture of Egypt, is Egyptian art, which has been studied and researched by art historians and Egyptologists across years now. The history of art in Egypt dates back to 5000 BC but the prominence of art, pottery and paintings can be clearly related to the period from 3000 BC lasting up to the 4th century AD. Artists were quite i demand and highly respected members of society in ancient Egypt. This is attributed to the fact that pictorial depiction was a very important aspect of the religious rites. Preservation of the likeliness was an important part of magic and finery rituals as well, and the paintings of gods, their family members and slaves to assist them in the afterlife found in their tombs were imperative in the large scheme of things.

Another part of Egypt is the cuisine! Egyptian cuisine is notably conductive to vegetarian diets, as it relies heavily on vegetable dishes. Though food in Alexandria and the coast of Egypt tends to use great deal of fish and other seafood, for the most part Egyptian cuisine is based on foods that grow out of the ground. Mean has been very expensive for most Egyptians throughout history, and a great deal of vegetarian dishes have developed to work around this economic reality. 

So, now that I know about Culture, Art and Cuisine, what else is there to do when I arrive into Egypt?

TRAVEL! 

What are the top 5 places to visit while i'm in Egypt, you ask? Well, here are my Top 5 sights to see!

1. The Pyramids and Sphinx, Cairo:

Kufu's Great Pyramid af Giza and the Sphinx are two of the most iconic man-made structures in the world. The Great Pyramid still looms imposingly over modern Cairo and is the only extant Wonder of the Ancient World. Nearby, the famous statue of the Sphinx - known as Abu Hol (father of terror in Arabic is said to be a representation of the pharoah Kafre the builder of the second pyramid at Giza. This amazing site was said to be along with Saqqura (site of Stepped pyramid) and Dashur (site of Bent and Red pyramids), the necropolis for Old kingdom capital of Memphis.

2. The Egyptian Museum, Cairo

The greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world is without doubt that held by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Amongst the 120,000 artefacts on display are countless treasures and works of art including: the golden funerary goods from the tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor; the partially unwrapped mummified bodies of several of Egypt's great pharaohs; and the Narmer Palatte which is thought by some to represent the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Also present are great quantities of superb statuary; countless coffins; fine jewellery; household goods and the body of a mummified crocodile!

3. Khan El Khaili Bazarr & Islamic, Cairo

The fact that Cairo contains one of the greatest concentrations of medieval buildings in existence may come as a surprise; yet, its towering mosques, religious schools and caravanserais number amongst the finest ever build. The labyrinthine cobbled seemingly little has changed since the Middle Ages. In the bazaar the profusion of goods on display is staggering and the atmosphere infused with the cries and aromas of the orient. This is a real immersion into the Middle Eastern experience!

4. Temple of Karnak, Luxor

The largest temple complex ever build by man, Karnak, known as "Ipet-isut" by the ancient Egyptians is one of the most impressive sites in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians considered Karnak to be the site of creation where Amun-Ra brought the world into being from the primordial ocean. The temple represents the combined achievements of generations of ancient builders and covers an enormous area; its massive temple pylons, forests of great columns and towering obelisks are simply unforgettable.

  
5. The Red Sea

With it's pristine deep blue waters, techicolour reefs, abundant marine life, and many hours of warm sunshine, the Red Sea is wonderful place to come relax, indulge in watersports or enjoy being pampered, following a busy tour of the Nile Valley. Streatching from the Gulf of Aaba along the East coast of the Egyptian mainland to Sudan, the Red Sea Rivera is one considered to be one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkelling! The most luxurious of the Red Sea hotels are to be found at Sharm el Sheikh and the Sinai and to the south of Hurghada on the Eastern sea-board!

I hope you get to visit Egypt sometime in your life! 

Click here to view Tours in Egypt!

Thank you for reading! 

~ ♡ Marika ♡ ~