Egypt
Cairo, Egypt
Hello, reader! My trip to Egypt was already a few months ago but I never finished posting about it because I got more than a little sidetracked following 5 different cycling races across 8 different countries, so bear with me as I finish up Egypt! (And don't worry, there are more upcoming races on my … Continue reading
Alexandria, Egypt
The drive from Cairo to Alexandria is long but easy, especially if you've got a private driver which is ridiculously affordable. After driving through the desert, our first stop was to see the catacombs at Kom el-Shoqafa. They were pretty serious about not letting cameras in, which is too bad because I loved exploring the … Continue reading
Luxor, Egypt
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut The temple is composed of 3 stories of colonnades. The walls were covered in hieroglyphics and paintings depicting the birth of a female pharaoh and an expedition to the Red Sea. The ceiling was painted with stars. The Colossi of Memnon Two massive statues of Amenhotep III once marked … Continue reading
Luxor hot air balloon ride
In Luxor, I finally got to do something I’ve been itching to do for a long, long time: ride in a hot air balloon! We arrived as the crews were preparing the balloons. It’s pretty impressive to see these massive amounts of silk rise up and take shape. Viraj and I rode in the balloon … Continue reading
Upper Egypt: Aswan, the Nile, & temples
Aswan market Viraj needed a new pair of shades and I wanted to pick up some fruit (man cannot live by falafel alone) so we took a field trip to the local market. In no time at all, the vendors swooped in and found us, Viraj got his sunglasses, and I got my fruit. We … Continue reading
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Before my Tour de France pilgrimage, I was posting about my trip with Viraj to Egypt so without further ado, I’m picking up where I left off! When I told people I was heading to Egypt, the 2 responses I most commonly heard were (1) “Are you crazy?!” and (2) “Abu Simbel was my favorite!” … Continue reading
Midnight in Giza
I was tired of standing so I flipped my backpack to its side and sat down. Viraj and I had already been waiting at the train station for close to 2 hours for the overnight train to Aswan to show up when I felt something tap me on my back. I turned around to find … Continue reading
Giza pyramids, Egypt
You’ve only got one option today if you’re keen to see the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Fortunately, the Great Pyramid of Giza (not to mention its 2 companion pyramids and the Sphinx) is still pretty damn impressive over 4 millennia after completion. Viraj and I made a beeline for the interior of … Continue reading
The step & red pyramids, Egypt
If you like old things, Egypt is a good destination! My trip there with my friend Viraj (who you may recall from September's Kilimanjaro posts…or you may not) started with a vain attempt to beat Cairo's legendary traffic to get to Saqqara, site of the famous step pyramid, the pyramid of Djoser. Built in the … Continue reading