EGYPT
“Join me on a journey through captivating historical sites in a beautiful country. In just ten days, I was aiming to share not only well-known landmarks but also snippets of daily life and breathtaking architecture, all set against the backdrop of massive and ancient structures”
Photobook of Egypt out now! Click here.
GIZA
الجيزة
My trip starts in Giza. The city is well known for its ancient wonders—the Great Pyramid, Sphinx, and more. Nestled on the west bank of the Nile, it seamlessly blends a rich pharaonic history with a vibrant modern cityscape.
THE SPHINX
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue and a mythical creature with a human head and the body of a lion, which to the ancient Egyptians represented the union of intelligence and strength.
“I could feel the sheer power“
THE STONES
Originally used as a mortuary temple for King Khafre and his family members, the Valley Temple of Khafre is a part of the Pyramids of Giza Complex and is located next to the Great Sphinx. The temple is made out of heavy limestone blocks.
“The lighting on these blocks was great. So symmetrical.”
THE
CAMELEER
There are a lot of cameleers who will ask you for a ride or take pictures. This one was just walking through the desert.
“My camel and I…“
CAIRO
القاهرة
Cairo, serving as both the capital and the largest city of Egypt, unites diverse cultures in a vibrant tapestry that unfolds notably in its bustling markets.
THE BAZAR
Chan al-Chalili is Africas biggest bazar. It was created in the 14th century by Emir Dscharkas al-Chalili. It’s super packed but somehow they maneuver cars and bikes through all these people.
“This woman was actually eating her cotton candy on the moped.”
THE VENDOR
They are selling fruits and juices all night at the market.
“I’m wondering what she was thinking about…”
THE DANCER
Tanoura dancing is associated with Sufism and is performed at Sufi festivals, but it is also performed by non-Sufis as a folk dance or concert dance.
“All these colors merged while he was spinning…”
MEMPHIS & SAQQARA
منف
سقارة
Heading south of Cairo you’ll reach the ancient city “Memphis” and the necropolis “Saqqara”. Memphis was the old capital of lower Egypt, which extends from the delta of the Nile from Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea. Saqqara was allegedly named after the God of Death “Sokar”.
THE DJOSER
PYRAMID…
The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. Its architect was Imhotep, chancellor of the pharaoh and high priest of the god Ra.
“Imothep was also known for being the god of healing“
…AND HIS
STOLEN EYES
Behind the pyramid, there is a chamber with the statue of Djoser. You can’t access it but only see through a tiny hole in the wall. His eye sockets were painted and covered with crystals. Unhappily, they were stolen a long time ago.
“Shooting through a tiny hole in the wall was quite a challenge”
THE BEDOUIN
He’s wearing a traditional Gallabija. It’s a long, shirt-like robe with wide sleeves and a very wide skirt, has a breast slit and traditionally no collar.
“I really liked the blue color within all the sandy brown tones. Beautiful.”
THE RELIEF
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material
“Looks like they’re carrying something into the dark“
LUXOR
الأقصر
Luxor is a city located on the east bank of the Nile River in southern Egypt. It was historically known as Thebes and served as the capital of Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom. Luxor is renowned for its vast archaeological sites and well-preserved monuments that date back to the pharaonic period.
THE
HYPOSTYLE
HALL
Inside the Karnak Temple Complex, you will enter the Great Hypostyle Hall of Amun-Re.
“The pillars are majestic“
THE CEILING
This picture was taken in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. To create the perfect linear paintings, they apparently used red strings and aligned them parallel to each other; horizontally and vertically. This created a grid in which they knew exactly where to paint.
“Unbelievable that they invented these techniques already.“
THE TEMPLE
The Luxor Temple was built with sandstone from the South-Western area of Egypt. This sandstone is referred to as Nubian sandstone.
It was very late when I visited the temple but for me, it was the most impressive ones also because of the history of Alexander the Great.
“The whole temple was lit up as well as the alley of the Sphinx”
LUXOR
THE GRAFFITIS
THE LADY
Along the pier of Luxor, some graffitis caught my attention.
“Her neutral yet friendly expression somehow provided me with a sense of security.“
THE
MERCHANT
In vibrant hues, he comes alive,
Graffiti whispers tales of trade, on walls they thrive
What’s he selling…?
THE MASKED
This woman is wearing a hijab to cover her head and face.
"She appears to be conscious of something..."
ASWAN
أسوان
A riverside city characterized by ancient temples and vibrant markets. Aswan might be most known for the monumental High Dam but it also serves as a departure point for excursions to the archaeological site of Abu Simbel.
THE STREETS
While the streets may not be in the best condition, people still manage to enjoy and carry out various activities on them.
“Had to take an alternate route to reach the souk. “
THE SOUK
The Souk of Aswan is a 3km long market that runs parallel to the Nile. They sell all different kinds of things.
“These guys didn’t want to sell, they were just fooling around…. quite funny”
THE ALLEY
If you leave the main road it becomes less touristic. There are many side alleys. In this one, they sold vegetables and household goods as well as animals.
“The atmosphere became calmer and quieter. Just different.”
THE SPICES
You can find a variety of quality spices everywhere.
“If you’re good at haggling you can get them for a decent price!“
ABU SIMBEL
أبو سنبل
Abu Simbel is an archaeological site in southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan, known for its colossal rock temples. Constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, the temples are dedicated to the pharaoh and his queen, Nefertari. The site gained international attention when it was relocated in the 1960s to avoid submersion by the waters of Lake Nasser.
THE PHARAO
Rames II was one of the most important ruler of ancient Egypt. His reign lasted for around 66 years.
“He truly was an inspiration”
THE STATUES
Entering the temple, the majestic statues of Ramses II can’t be overseen.
“Only a little bit of sunlight shining through the entrance was enough“
ALONG THE NILE
While cruising along the Nile, I encountered fascinating sights and landmarks that added depth to the journey.
THE
BOTANICAL
GARDEN…
After all the desert, the Botanical Garden of Aswan felt nice and refreshing. Sadly during this time of the year, there weren’t many flowers blooming.
“Remember: Even the smallest things are impressive!”
…AND ITS
FLOWERS
Very unique and hidden between all the grass.
“It seemed to be very soft and fragile”
THE LAGOON
A calming place!
“No. Crocodiles don’t exist in this part of the Nile”
THE BOAT
On the opposite bank of the Nile, a lone boat rested, likely belonging to the Nubians.
“Did you notice the camels in the background?“
THE HOTEL
The Old Cataract Hotel was an inspiration for Agatha Christie’s novel “Death on the Nile. Also the beautiful location makes this hotel one of the most famous ones in Egypt.
“Scenes from the corresponding movie were shot at this location.”
THE SUNSET
The final sunset of my journey marked the conclusion of this blog.
“Goodbye…for now…“