The television is on and I’m lying on the sofa when some images of deserts come up and suddenly a breeze comes in from the living room window. I close my eyes and throw a smile recalling sweet memories … the desert sand being gently blown by dry and warm wind… back in Egypt.
A destination most unlike my kind of preferred destination but a must see that makes us experience the oldest times in history. A land filled with religion, architecture, monuments, and visual and spiritual richness.
You start to know me a little by now and you know that I am a bit influenced by the great fashion icons or those who simply inspire me by their strength, passion and attitude. And honestly, it was the figure of Cleopatra who made me board across the India’s seas. This woman was a great businessman and military strategist, spoke six languages and knew philosophy, literature and Greek art. All this with an extremely feminine attitude and always adorned with gold in her hair, neck and wrists.
I thought to myself: why not feel what a real leader felt and breathed? Et voilat, I discovered the true and ancient Egypt. The city I chose to stay in was obviously Cairo. The largest city in Africa and the eighth largest in the world, the city of Cairo is the capital of Egypt. Of course you’d want to master and not miss anything that happens there.
This historic city is surrounded by important places to see and visit. In one side we have the Nile River, south of the delta. Southwest, we find the city of Giza and the Memphis’ ancient necropolis, with the plateau of Giza and their monumental pyramids, like the Great Pyramid of Cheops. To the south is the place where they built the ancient city of Memphis. Visual beauty, architectural and history existed in abundance in that country.
I just barely got to the hotel, I was tired and in need of land after a dreadful flight and the luxury nest chosen this time was the Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza. The reason is obvious, the unique and exclusive treatment and of course, the hotel’s interior design which is simply stunning. They have an attention to the small details, like the golden flowers in the bed corners, simply lovely. Quickly, I put on my beloved lightweight boots and jumped onto the Jeep to discover the mysteries of the ancient Pharaohs.
I walked between Pharaonic, Islamic and Modern’s museums. I really enjoyed the Mohamed Ali’s Mosque with that giant and intense architecture. The Islamic Museum, located in Bab El Khalk and the Museum of Modern Art Mukhtar, are also very interesting because they hold the most important collection of Islamic art in Egypt. We leave these museums with a different and more experienced knowledge of what it truly is Islamic art.
The Cairo Museum is the most important course in Egypt but believe me, fame is not what makes it so interesting. It’s a very strong feeling to know that we are seeing secrets that were excavated for centuries … rich secrets. And of course, the famous treasure of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. But the two moments that made my smile even more and full with pleasure were only two. The sunset down on the Esfinge remains today as one of the most interesting images I’ve ever seen. The funniest part was the trip to the bumps on top of the camel. I admit that I had no patience for that and had to stop.
The other one was a afternoon full of adventure in the midst of the madness of the Khan el Khalili, one of the original eastern markets. Each step I took and every time I turned my head, my eyes crossed with gold, silver, wood, ivory, copper, furs, clothes, spice … A table of colors, smells and touches a square bustling and highly architectural. The feeling I had was that I was in a Museum.
This was my journey through the Egyptian religious and historical lightness I recalled as the wind gently touched my skin in this peaceful afternoon…
With love, Janet.