How should I define a country like Egypt? I thought about a phrase to better picture the reality of this world and I could not resume it in one single sentence. Perhaps I can call it a place of contrasts. First of all, as a tourist, you step into the luxurious hotels where the desire to satisfy your every wish turned Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh into an earthy paradise for those who love to spend their holidays in the All Inclusive resorts. Later, outside the hotel, into their villages and towns, you discover extreme poverty. There are entire neighborhoods without windows in place, children barely covered by clothes and, in general, you have a sense of desolation and loneliness. Moments after, you will also find lush oasis with extravagant bars and restaurants to satisfy your cravings for entertainment. In the desert, hidden among the dunes live the Bedouin tribes in a very closed community. Some receive tourists and so you get to have an idea about the lives of these people, their habits and mentality. They are serene, having made peace with their fate, living away from the world and technology. And the Bedouin mentality about people and God will shake the way you think life is.
What makes Egypt unique are the monuments and archaeological sites that attract you like a magnet.
The Valley of the Kings, the Pyramids, Abu Simbel, Luxor, Karnak and many, many others unique, amazing sites inherited from the ancient Egyptians. Around them, while listening to the guide’s explanations, it is impossible to believe that they had been constructed with primitive technology. Some are huge, perfect constructions, shrouded by mystery. Among gigantic columns and hieroglyphs, in the mortuary rooms or temples, I was stunned and happy, running around with thousands of questions looming at every turn. And although in recent months the country has been going through some civil problems, Egypt maintains its supremacy as a top destination, one you need to see once in your lifetime.
“The Pyramids seem unreal, magical, shaking the reality you thought you knew.”
Despite the unbearable heat and the effort to breathe the hot air, the pyramids greatness will take your breath away. They dominate the dunes, perfect and silent. It is not easy to overcome the reluctance to go around them, as the site is huge and the weather makes you sweat but it is worth the effort. Popular with tourists, these ancient buildings gather at their base a motley crowd – visitors, local traders, merchants and beggars. As everywhere in Egypt, if you want to buy and purchase something – even a camel ride – you need to negotiate drastically from the beginning. Then gather your courage and face the steep and narrow descent into the heart of the Great Pyramid. No other place in the world will give you the feeling of wonder as the inside of these ancient buildings.
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