Category Archives: Egypt

Egypt

Exploring the Khan el-Khalili in Cairo

We went to explore some of the sites in the centre of Cairo. One amazing spot we went to see was the Khan el-Khalili which is a famous bazaar and souq in the historic center of Cairo. We went in the evening which gives it a completely different atmosphere. It was established as the first “Khan al-Khalili” between 1382-1389.

Crowds of people in the bazaar in Cairo

This bazaar was massive and full of people. We walked through the narrow street, looking at all the different things for sale.

Shelley in the streets of the Khan el-Khalili market

There were many different Egyptian artisans selling traditional crafts including carpets, art and souvenirs.

Souvenirs for sale in the Khan el-Khalili market
Aluminum blank sheets used to make pots and other items for cooking sold in the Khan el-Khalili market.
Hookahs for sale in the Khan el-Khalili market

We walked through the crowds and came to a vender selling traditional style pastries. We stopped and purchased some to try and watched as he made them for us.

Vendor preparing the pastries for us in the Khan el-Khalili market.
Pastries sold in the Khan el-Khalili market

We walked along part of the walled city which actually houses the Khan al-Khalili and is quite impressive.

We then went through some very narrow streets in the Khan el-Khalili market.

Crowds of people in the narrow streets of the market

We went to one of the oldest and most famous coffeehouses in the Khan el-Khalili called Fishawi. This coffeehouse was established in 1773 and is known for its Arabic coffee.

We stopped at the Fishawi coffeehouse and enjoyed some local traditional drinks.

The Fishawi Coffeehouse in the Khan el-Khalili Market
Sitting in the  Fishawi coffeehouse in Khan el-Khalili market

This is where Ray tried his first Arabic coffee and fell in love with the taste of Arabic Coffee. After having our drinks and relaxing for a while we continued through the market exploring the many unique and extraordinary sights, smells and sounds of the Khan el-Khalili market. It was one of the highlights of our time in Cairo to visit the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and souq.

“تجرؤ على أن تعيش الحياة التي تريدها دائمًا. “

Egypt

The great Mosque of Muhammad Ali

The Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha also known as the Alabaster Mosque is situated at the top of a high cliff, with magnificent views over the City of Cairo in Egypt.

A view of part of the city of Cairo from the high cliff area of the Muhammed Ali Mosque.

It was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848.

Ray in front of the Muhammad Ali Mosque

Situated on the summit of the citadel, the mosque which is the largest built in the first half of the 19th century, is the most visible mosque in Cairo.  The main dome of the mosque is 52 metres high and the two minarets reach over 80 meters.

The Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo Egypt

The mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, who died in 1816. In the courtyard we could see the Alabaster covered walls which were quite stunning.

Courtyard walls of the Muhammad Ali Mosque covered in alabaster.
The Alabaster covering on the walls of the courtyard of the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo.

We were able to go inside and explore the mosque itself which was a highlight of the visit to the citadel.  We took off our shoes and went through the main entrance into the large mosque.

Shelley inside the Mosque with Alabaster walls in the background.

The interior and exterior walls are coated with alabaster to the height of approximately 11 metres.  That is why it is called the Alabaster Mosque.  The mosque floor was covered in a carpet and set up with lines for prayer.

The ceiling was impressive with  a central dome surrounded by four small and four semicircular domes. The central dome was impressive reaching nearly 52 meters high.

View of the main cupola or dome of the mosque

The front area in the mosque had the minbar. This is the pulpit in the mosque where the imam (prayer leader) stands to deliver the sermons.

The Minbar of the Mosque

We walked through the mosque admiring the architecture and the history of this amazing mosque. Today the mosque of Muhammad Ali is one of the most popular historical sites of Cairo.

 

Egypt

Saqqara Archaeological Site and Imhopted Museum

Our guide Aladino took us on a bus excursion out into the Sahara Desert near the city of Memphis Egypt. We went there to see the UNESCO world heritage site called the Saqqara Archaeological site and Imhopted Museum. One of the amazing items we saw was the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Aview of the step pyramid in the Sahara Desert

The height of the pyramid was amazing and larger than you would expect for the first large stone structure in the world. It is 62.5 metres high (205 ft).  It was constructed in (2667—2448 BC), Amazing to think that this Djoser step Pyramid is the first all-stone complex ever built on earth.

The step Pyramid of Djoser

These were not the normal Giza pyramids that everyone goes to see in Cairo. For us, Saqqara was a site that was more interesting than the Giza Pyramids.

View of the Step Pyramid and several others.

Scattered around the area of Djoser’s Step Pyramid are more than ten other pyramids and a large number of tombs and burial temples.

View of some of the Pyramids

We were able to enter into several of the Pyramids at Saqqara.  We had to climb to the entrance on the outside of the pyramid which was a fair distance from the base.

View of the pyramid with the entrance almost halfway to the top.

We climbed the outside of the pyramid until we reached the entrance.

View of the stairs leading to the entrance of the pyramid
Walking up the incline towards the entrance of the pyramid

Once we reached the entrance, we began our descent into the centre of the pyramid. The incline into the pyramid was around 45 degrees and went for around 30 meters or more into the centre of the pyramid.

The  centre of the pyramid contained one or more chambers with small crawl spaces that went between the chambers.

Shelley at the base inside the pyramid.

The camber was large and there was a set of wooden stairs that led to the inside top of the pyramid.

Stairs leading the to top of the inside of the pyramid.

We walked up the stairs and eventually reached the top. The  white stones were piled with each row inset slightly above the row below.

A view of the inside of the pyramid and how the stones are placed on each row.

We decided to take a selfie at the very top of the inside of the pyramid.

Shelley and Ray at the top inside the pyramid.

What wasn’t noticeable at first was the local residents. As we took a closer look we found that there were literally hundreds of bats in the pyramid hanging just above out heads.

Bats inside the pyramid

We explored the pyramid for a while before heading back up the steep incline to the exit. We then took a well deserved rest before going to see and explored more of the Saqqara Archaeological site.

One of the impressive structures in the site.

There are a large amount of  burial sites that date before the beginning of the Old Kingdom up through the Greek Period of Egyptian history.

ruins, tombs and other historical sites located at the Saqqara Archaeological site.
Shelley sitting on ruins at the Saqqara Archaeological site.

One tomb in particular was the  tomb of Mereruka.

Entranceinto the tomb of Mereruku in Saqqara Archological site.

We went to explore this amazing tomb which was built around 2330BC. This tomb contains more that 30 chambers with some of the chambers decorated with scenes and inscriptions.

Ray inside the tomb with Hieroglyphic writing on the walls of the tomb

Below are just a few of the detailed and beautiful carvings in the Tomb of Mereruka.

Stone carving inside the tomb of Mereruka.
Detailed stone carvings in the tomb of Mereruka.

There was a large tomb encasement that remained in one of the chambers.

Ray standing beside the tomb encasement

We looked inside the tomb encasement and could see hieroglyphic writing.

View inside the tomb encasement with hieroglyphic writing.

The entire site of the Saqqara Necropolis is one of the largest burial sites in all of Egypt, We enjoyed our time at the Saqqara Archaeological site.. There were so many things to see and explore. What an amazing visit to the somewhat remote and overlooked historical site.

الحياة لعبه، العبها؛ الحياة هي التحدي، مواجهته؛ الحياة فرصة ، التقطها – غير معروف

Egypt

Kom Ombo Temple

We went to see the Kom Ombo Temple  which is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Aswan near the Nile River.

Temple of Kom Ombo

This temple was built in the 2nd century BC and is unique because its ‘double’ design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods.  We explored the temple admiring the features including some interesting hieroglyphs  and carvings.

Carvings on the wall in the Temple of Kom Ombo

Ray touching some of the hieroglyphs inside the Temple.

After walking through the temple and exploring the different rooms and areas, we decided to visit the Crocodile Museum section of the Temple. Inside the museum we saw some mummified crocodiles.

Mummified crocodiles inside the museum at the Temple of Kom Ombo

It was common to have mummified crocodiles as well as other animals during that time period. The ancient Egyptians  thought that crocodiles were mighty and depicted God Sobek. Cats were respected in ancient Egypt: They were characterized as nimble, maternal and poise.  The ancient Egyptians frequently donated mummified animals to temples because of their sacred qualities. The animals were thought to be gifts to the gods.

A large mummified crocodile at the Kom Ombo Museum

Mummified Crocodiles in the Museum

The history is quite interesting, basically the Egyptians believed that crocodiles depicted the God Sobek. The crocodiles were seen as both strong and mighty, to be feared and respected. The crocodile was known for being powerful. They would depict this in their statues, carvings and hieroglyphs.

Image of a man with a crocodile head.

We explored the museum and found it very informative. The Egyptian culture and history has many interesting components. We enjoyed the visit to this Temple and Museum.

“الإحساس بالفكاهة هو القطب الذي يضيف التوازن إلى خطواتنا ونحن نسير على حبل مشدود للحياة.”

Egypt

Temple of Philae, Aswan Egypt

We took a boat ride to see the Philae Temple now located on the island of Agilkia in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam. It is below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, in Egypt.

Boat ride to the Island of Algilkia

As we approached the Island we could see the Philae Temple.

View if the Philae Temple from the boat as we approached.

We landed and began our walk towards the Temple. The closer we got to the Temple the more impressive it became.

Shelley and Ray in front of the main entrance to the Philae Temple.

The Temple of Philae was originally located near the First Cataract of the Nile in Upper Egypt. The y were being  flooded as a result of the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902.  The UNESCO Nubia campaign dismantled the Philae Temple site and moved them stone by stone to the nearby Agilkia Island, before the 1970 completion of the Aswan High Dam. The Philae Temple has been relocated exactly as the original location.

The other wall of the main entrance with carved images in the stone.

We walked through the entrance which was spectacular and massive in size. Through the entrance we walked into a large courtyard with columns running the full length of the courtyard.

Shelley and Ray in the courtyard of the Philae Temple in Egypt

The columns in the courtyard were finished with a flower style leaf at the top.

Pillars in the Philae Temple

We walked throughout the courtyard admiring the smaller temple buildings. It was truly an emotional experience being able to walk in the Temple and touch the walls of such historic buildings.

Ray at the Temple of Philae in Egypt.

 

Shelley at the Temple of Philae in Egypt

We went inside the Temple of Philae and saw stone carvings and hieroglyphs on the walls.

Close up of hieroglyphs on the stone at Philae Temple.

Christianity seems to have been present at the Temple of Philae by the fourth century. Apparently at which point it coexisted with traditional Egyptian religion. We came across an Christian alter which was fashioned in the Temple.

Christian Alter in the Temple of Philae, in Egypt

Below are some of the spectacular Temple ruins or structures in the Philae Temple.

Ray in the Temple of Philae in Egypt.

It was a spectacular sight to see the Temple and walk through the ruins.It so rewarding to know that these historic Temples were not lost as a result of the Aswan Dam. UNESCO saved this history from being lost forever and we were fortunate enough to actually visit them.

“احرص وتذكر أن تعيش كل يوم على أكمل وجه ،”