One common site in Egyptian architecture is the Winged Sun Disk, often with cobras and vulture heads nearby. This one comes from a window in the courtyard of Philae Temple. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.
I like travel gear. Leading up to a trip I will research and see what new toys I can get. But at this point there isn't much that I don't have (and I already have a lot I don't need.) One of those little preparation purchases that I ended up never using (that is until I was extremely ill in Egypt) was Rehydration Powder also know as Electrolyte Powder. I had bought some for Costa Rica in 2012, and carted it around "just in case". Well good thing, because when I was 6 days into a 17 day trip to Egypt in
I'm not known for spontaneity. As an introvert if I don't have set plans its too easy to forgo them. So when I travel I tend to overplan. I'm not insane. I don't have exact step by step down to the minute plans. Instead I have knowledge and options. I'll know of things to see and do, when they open, and what is nearby. Sort of like an al-la-carte menu. So what would you do with one free day? One full of promise, but no set plans? This is what I pondered for my last day in Egypt. I would be
This magnificent falcon statue at Edfu represents Horus and wears the double crown of Egypt. It was fun slowly watching the sun light up this statue. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.
One thing I didn't think I'd get in Egypt was Papyrus. I didn't think I'd find anything I'd want to display, and I had always seen cast-off papyrus at second-hand stores like Goodwill. But, when you are there in the moment you get caught up...and guilted. You see, our group stopped at a "Papyrus Museum" (aka showroom) on our way to Alexandria. They showed us how Papyrus is made, and then each one of us were allowed to look around. Except in Egypt, "looking around" means you get adopted by one of the many employees eager for a sell. An
I've told the story of trying to buy a lamp right as the call to prayer started, this is that lamp. I really wanted a star shaped lamp, and I loved that this one had stars and moons imprinted on it to spread the light. Although the purchasing of it was comically awkward... Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
I had the opportunity to see the Colossus of Ramses II at the Memphis museum a few years ago. Tourism was way down in Egypt, and I was the only person in the viewing room (and one of 3 people in the entire open air museum). Memphis is not on most people's tourist track since its out of the way. But I really enjoyed looking at the details of this statue, thinking how it was carved out of a single block of red granite. If you really like statues or ancient Egyptian history, than I really recommend a visit. Seeing the
It has been a dream of mine to see the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. And so I was overjoyed to be one of 6 people there that day in 2015. You can see how few people were there! But I was a bit dismayed to see that the path to walk on the obelisk was roped off. I knew you could walk on it, and could still see the stone that allowed you to gain entrance to it. So I did what I would never normally do, I went off the path! A close up of the crack that
Edfu's Temple had so many amazing carvings that there were too many to show in my first post. So here I present to you more of the temple. One of the side passages between the outer walls and the inner sanctum. Every bit carved beautifully and with lion-headed gargoyles that divert the rain off the sanctuary roof. One of the inner rooms shows the Pharoah along with a goddess. Set being speared by Osiris . Birds and fish in a net. In the darkness of the inner temple I could bearly make out lions and other carvings on this pillar. The faithful brining
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. Even so, early christians who sheltered here defaced many parts of this Roman-Hellenistic temple. Here you can see the face of Hathor has been partially defaced at the top of these columns in the first hypostyle hall. But even so the blue paint shines through. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.