This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw.
Wednesday October 28, 2015
Egypt: Day 7, Part 1 – Coptic Monastery at Wadi Natrun
I woke up early, at 4:30 and had breakfast. As we exited Alexandria, the roads were flooded by a night rainstorm. Apparently it was unusual, and people called for the governor to resign for failing to maintain the storm sewers properly.
Mikel had stressed that we each get food the day before as we had a long drive and a lot to fit in. But someone needed to use the bathroom badly not soon after we set off, so we stopped at a gas station. This was lucky as I hadn’t been able to get food yesterday while sick, so I stocked up on random snacks. I was pleasantly surprised that the attendant charged me the local price, and didn’t gouge me with “tourist” prices. I got a ton of food for less than 1 USD. While we drove the other regaled us of their tales of the night before. After the seafood dinner, Mikel took the group to get wine and then go to a local grocery store. Apparently a lot of our group got so lot in the store and couldn’t find their way out. It seemed like they had a great time, and they shared some of their fresh fruit and snacks.
I ended up sleeping most of the way to Wadi Natrum as the scenery was just mostly desert after we left the coastline. When we arrived I was happy to see that yesterday’s soak in the bathtub had helped my legs considerably. After using the worst bathrooms I’d see in Egypt, we headed inside the Coptic Monastery of St Bishoy. We met with one of the priests there who showed us around. Mikel had told us earlier he is coptic, so it was nice to see how reverent he was.
The priest told us the story of St. Bishoy and the history of the monastery.
Photo by Richard
We then went inside. A small mass was going on, and then the power went out. It was beautiful, and I kept thinking how my Grandmother would have liked being here. It also smelled of delicious and exotic incense.
Photo by Elizabeth
I also felt something special here, and noted the Lillies on the carpet.
Photo by George
Photo by Richard
The priest then took us to where they use to have their meals together, but now has turned it into a mini museum. He told us stories of the burning bush and the Holy Family in Egypt. I answered a question right and won a hand made leather cross, which I sent to my Grandmother.
Photo by Elizabeth
Photo by George
The museum was a bit hap hazard, with bits of door, amphoras, old keys, all around. But it was fun to see.
Sadly we didn’t have much more time and had to go. The priest kept asking Mikel if we could stay for bread and tea, as it was their calling to provide it to travelers, but Mikel knew we were a bit behind on schedule and apologized as he shooed us back towards the van.
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