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The 1997 and 1999 Egypt tours included the world renowned Egyptian museum in Cairo and the Giza Pyramids. They also included some rarely visited pyrimids such as those at Dashur. From Luxor the tour visited numerous tombs from the New Kingdom as well as the great temple complex at Karnak. Student
Perspective: Fried brain, roasted pigeon, grilled sea bass, falafells, tahina, baba ghanug, hibiscus tea, mango milkshakes . . . these are just a few of the foods I enjoyed while visiting Egypt last spring (ok, so I didn't actually enjoy eating fried brain, but it wasn't too bad!). I toured Egypt for two weeks with Dr. David Lancy, Dr. Joyce Kinkead, Kelly Tucker, and Laura Patterson. Since this was my first time out of the country, I loved seeing how people in a different part of the world live. The Egyptians we met were very friendly and we felt safe walking through the cities. The streets were often crowded and traffic rules seemed to be optional - which turned ordinary taxi rides into an adventure. As we visited archaeological sites, it was not unusual to see men wearing galibiyyas and flashing cheery "don't-you-wanna-take-my-picture?" smiles in exchange for baksheesh (tips). However, in the cities most men and women wore 'western' clothes. Gaudy plaster reproductions of Tutankhamun or Nerfertiti were available on every street corner, but there were also shops with soft Egyptian cotton and expertly crafted jewelry. Bargaining over prices was expected. Egypt is a beautiful country. The starkness of the Sahara emphasizes the lush green of the Nile Valley and delta region. I will always remember getting up at 4:00 a.m. and riding for three hours over bone-jarring roads to the temples at Abu Simbel. Half way through the trip, the driver pulled over and I pried my eyes open long enough to see the sun rising out of the smooth sand in an amazing burst of light and color. It was incredible to see first-hand many of the things that I have been reading about all my life. In the mummy room of the Egyptian Museum, I looked into the noble faces of Ramses II and Seti I. The next day, I walked deep into Menkaure's Pyramid, and later, I stood under the protective wings of Nekhbet, the vulture goddess, painted on the lintel of Ramses III's temple at Medinet Habu. One of by favorite memories of Egypt was hiking near the village of Qurna to visit the tombs of the Nobles on the famous West Bank of Thebes (modern day Luxor). These tombs differ from the tombs of royalty in that they are decorated less with religious texts and icons and more with scenes of everyday life. It was easier to relate to images of workers picking and stomping grapes, herding animals, threshing grain, and recording the spoils of a recent military conquest. Sennefer's tomb was especially interesting. His ceiling was decorated with purple grape bunches and green vines against a white background. The rough 'unfinished' texture of the low ceiling made the grapes appear to be hanging from the vines. My experience in Egypt was fantastic. I came back with happy memories, new friends, and a great tan.
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