22 07, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Cartouche

By |July 22nd, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Custom cartouche necklaces. The most common souvenir in Egypt. You'll find hotels, your Nile cruise ship, and numerous shops selling these to you. They also take 24-48 hours to make and return. The first step is deciding what it should say. For me my first name is too boring, so I decided to go with initials (yes...I have that many middle names...). After that you'll choose the cartouche (you'll see tons of styles), what metal the cartouche and the letters should be. (Its hard to tell but the cartouche is silver, while the letters are gold.) And you can also choose if

13 07, 2017

Lush Products for Travel Review

By |July 13th, 2017|Categories: Product Review, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Years ago, I stumbled upon this post on solid shampoo by Alex in Wonderland. As I read a lot of travel blogs, it was just one article among a sea of others. But later in 2015, as I planned my trip to Egypt, I was trying to figure out how to limit the amount of liquids that I'd take to Egypt. On previous trips to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, I had either checked my main bag, or checked a smaller bag that only contained sunscreen. I didn't want to do that this time, so I started pouring through

12 06, 2017

Museum Monday: Ramses II of the Temple of Gerf Hussein

By |June 12th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

One of the most impressive pieces at the Nubian Museum in Aswan is the large Ramses II statue in the main hall. It comes from the Temple of Gerf Hussein, which is now completely flooded. Some parts were saved and moved elsewhere or in museums like this one. But the main rock-hewn temple was badly deteriorated and made of sandstone so couldn't be moved like the great Ramses II temple at Abu Simbel, so instead it was left to be flooded. Its sad to think about so many tombs, temples, and villages that are now lost beneath the waters.

13 05, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Camels vs Sand

By |May 13th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I really wanted to get my friend's kids gifts from Egypt. I had spied some small stuffed camels in Cairo, and figured that would be good. But after traveling for almost 2 weeks, I still hadn't found the right ones yet. Some were too big, some were to scary (really, dancing and singing stuffed camels are weird), some were made...of real camel? I was hoping for something small, something that wouldn't be made of questionable materials, and something cheap. While in the Luxor souk I wandered into a shop that had these small camel keychains. The young seller made small

21 04, 2017

Symbol of Ra

By |April 21st, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

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.

20 04, 2017

Electrolyte Powder Needs To Be In Your Travel Kit

By |April 20th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

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

10 04, 2017

Travel Missteps: The Best Laid Plans

By |April 10th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

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

7 04, 2017

The Falcon at Edfu, Egypt

By |April 7th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

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.