Light of Alexandria

A Nile cruise is an essential part of any Egypt luxury vacation, and so important, in fact, that the cruise should comprise the entire vacation. Egypt is nothing without the Nile, and the ancient Egyptians even had a god devoted only to the Nile: Hapi. Until the Aswan high dam was completed in July, 1970, the Egyptians depended on the annual ‘inundation’ for the water to irrigate their fields and provide them with the vital crops needed for survival in a country that was all desert other than the occasional oasis, and the fertile land each side of the Nile. The inundation occurred from June to September and came from summer floods in the highlands of Ethiopia. The Nile would break its banks and flood, leaving behind a rich dark silt essential for agriculture.The inundation was a sign that Hapi had come, and the ancient Egyptians were very happy to see Hapi (sorry!). During the inundation the farmers had nothing to do, and in order to avoid paying taxes when they had no income they would work for the pharaohs by building pyramids: they were not built by slaves as popularly believed.The whole of Egypt’s civilization was developed along the Nile, and a good Nile cruise should enable you to get a perspective on how the ancient Egyptians lived, in addition to how today’s population of this part of Egypt still rely on this vast river – the longest in the world, greater even than the mighty Amazon. You should start at Cairo, not only the capital city of Egypt, but also one of the most populated in the world. This was not the important city it now is in the ancient days, but is a magnet for Egyptologists from all over the world. The pyramids of Giza are close by, and this is the permanent site of the Tutankhamun exhibition. However, there is more to modern Cairo than just ancient Egypt, and five thousand years of culture can be seen and visited here, including the great Mohammed Mosque and the Citadel of Sala Al-Din, commonly known as Saladin. The citadel dates from the time of the crusades, when Europe fought the Muslims to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land for the Christians. As mentioned above, Cairo was not the capital of ancient Egypt – that was Memphis, and not the Memphis that you know. This Memphis beat a different tune, and ruled the world as the Egyptians knew it for almost 600 years. You must visit the Saqqara, where the royals were laid to rest for the last time throughout the eras of the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman periods. The Egyptian Pharonic dynasties lasted much longer than either of these other two, largely due to its means of succession although the Egyptians were not without their scheming and murdering for power.’Must visits’ are the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx lying beside them, and also St. Sergius church where Jesus and his parents stayed after leaving Jerusalem. The you should head off for Luxor(ancient Thebes) where the pharaohs stayed during the winter months. Try to book into the Winter Palace Hotel, and check up on the guest book. Here you will find Howard Carter, who discovered Tutenkhamun’s tomb, Agatha Christie while she was researching ‘Death on the Nile’, Henry Kissinger, Sir Winston Churchill, King Farouk, George Clemenceau and many, many more. No Egyptian vacations are complete without a visit to the Valley of the Kings, just over the river from Luxor, or Thebes as the pharaohs knew it. It was here that the kings and nobles of the 18th through 20th dynasties were buried, from the 16th to the 11th centuries BC; a thousand years after the pyramids were built. The most famous temple here is the Temple of Karnak, built over many generations and that must be visited during your Nile cruise. The same is true of the Temple of the Goddess Hathor at Luxor. Hathor was depicted with a cow’s head, and was the goddess of family love, pleasure and beauty, sometimes associated with the Greek Aphrodite. There are many, many more places to visit and sights to see on a Nile cruise, and most Egypt vacations will likely be unable to show you them all. The Aswan High Dam, which stopped the inundations and allowed more regular irrigation, is one of them. Abu Simbel is another, where two temples were physically moved to avoid flooding when the dam was built, one of these being erected by Rameses II. Without a doubt, Egypt vacations that include a Nile cruise rank right up there with the best vacations possible. You are visiting the longest river on earth, and one that a whole civilization depended upon for its survival for thousands of years. Not only that, but a civilization that was greater than the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations combined, although it has not been given the credit it deserves.

Leptis Magna, Sabratha, and Cyrene are some of the most evocative and tantalising names in the history of antiquity. Combine them with Siwa and Alexandria in Egypt and you have the makings of a fascinating journey. I flew with my eldest son (a classicist and therefore translator of all inscriptions Greek and Latin) to Libya at the end of August in order to explore this portion of the north African coast.

We spent the first 2 days in Tripoli, the ancient site of Oea, the third of the three Tripolitanian cities staying at the very comfortable Corinthia Bab Hotel. From there we explored Sabratha and Leptis Magna with Yousef, the most charming, knowledgeable and amusing guide I have experienced for a long time. Both these sites are spectacular and perhaps even more so as only a fraction of what lies there has been uncovered. Established around 300 BC, enriched by Rome, destroyed by an earthquake in 365AD, recycled by the Byzantines, ignored by the Arabs, covered by sand and eventually excavated in the 30s by the Italians – little has been done since. Following the coast we drove to Benghazi with nights in Zliten and Ajdabiya on the way. From Benghazi we explored Tulmaytha, a Ptolemaic port with the largest Roman cistern in North Africa and then to Susa to explore the Greek ruins of Apollonia and Cyrene, the latter arguably being the most beautiful site in Libya. A further night in Tobruk, which has nothing to recommend it, and another 2 hour drive took us to the border. Chaos rained, customs officials trying to check minibuses piled high with luggage, bicycles, children and carpets.

We drove east for an hour or so and then turned south driving 200 miles across flat desert, a 360 horizon punctuated by the odd herd of camels. After 5 hours the landscape suddenly changed to dry river beds and eroded hills. Quite abruptly the road dropped through the desert floor and lying in front of us was the fabled oasis of Siwa with its lakes, date palms and olive groves. Famous for its oracle which was consulted by Alexander the Great in 331BC (the temple is still there), and for the Persian army which vanished in the desert when they set out to destroy it, the oasis sits right on the edge of the Sahara. We stayed in the Adrere Amellal Hotel on the shores of the lake. Built entirely of local materials, without electricity and only serving food that is grown locally, it is a remarkable example of sustainable tourism. The conservative and traditional Berber town is a joy and a wonderful place to people watch. Another 8 hour drive via the battlefield and museum of El Alamein and we arrived in Alexandria. Stayed in the Cecil which was, in its time, one of the grand hotels of the city. 12 days of people, sites and sand – we returned home enriched.

People who want to invest in reality sector; Egypt is one of the suitable options for them. If property experts are to be believed, Egypt could offer one of the utmost overseas reality investment returns currently available globally. Nowadays, Egypt is considered a more free market economy having en easy business route between Africa and Europe. Because of this, Egypt is considered a sought after place in both the business and property sector. A large part of Egypt’s GDP is based on Middle Eastern commerce and banking which has led to a whole new group of rich workers and entrepreneurs. This is the reason the demand of property has been skyrocketed in Egypt.The tourist industry of the country has been increased tremendously. Egypt is expecting 16 million visitors from around the world by 2014. There are a number of reasons for increasing property value of Egypt in the world. It is believed that the property prices in Egypt will increase by 50 percent in next two years. Egyptian property is also popular for its highest returns worldwide because the international tourists reach 11 percent compared to 4 to 6 per cent in the UK. Are you looking for a property in Egypt? There are a wide range of properties available that includes old properties, new builds, and off-plans. While purchasing off-plans (buildings not yet built, and the sale is based on the plans of the building) individuals find the opportunity to book the property at approximately 30 per cent below the market price. One of the reasons for off-plans building is to attract people who are not in hurry to take occupation, but want to invest in reality sector. Egypt is also a sought after location for shopping mall developers, as the total number of malls in the country is comparatively very low for a population of 72 million.Due to low prices of properties and increasing number of international tourists, the property of Egypt has attracted overseas property investors too invest in the place. Buying property in Egypt is a very striking plan; it provides a whole host of advantages that include lots of sunshine, low cost flights, low cost of living, suitable atmosphere, low property prices, diving destination of the world, increasing tourism, government favorable to overseas buyers and sound investment potential.

If a holiday to you is escaping the modern day world; getting away from the internet, the telephone, the TV and constantly being accessible to other people, then visit Adrere Amellal,  the Kasbah style lodge in Siwa.

There are few destinations left like this is an otherwise spoilt world, but this hotel offers gentle Berber living, with no electricity. Set beside an expansive saltwater lake, you can float, or swim for the day and stay calm and serene.  The rooms are lit in the evenings by natural beeswax candles, and there are storm lanterns scattered around the rooms and staircases. There is no restaurant as such, but you are guided to a room to eat, depending on what space is spare of an evening.

The bedroom walls are made from cakes of salt, embedded in mud, and give a rustic and welcoming feel. The bar is basic yet sumptuous, and as there is no electricity in the resort, ice for your drinks is imported on a daily basis from the nearest village. All the furniture and crafts are locally produced, giving the hotel a tribal feel.

The swimming pool is entirely chemical free, fed by a reservoir under the ground, linked to the lake. The water that spills over the pool is used to irrigate the kitchen garden, where vegetables are grown for the evening meals.

The main activity in modern Siwa is the production of olives and dates. Temperatures get up to 50 degrees at the hottest part of the year, and, in 2007, archaeologists discovered what is said to be the oldest footprint in the world, dating back three million years.

Visit this stunning retreat for total relaxation. What are you waiting for? Grab your Travel Insurance and go!!

Steeped in history but very much a destination of the present, Egypt is still a land of mystery for many people.
Egypt is one of the few places which not only lives up to your dreams but exceeds them. Egypt is a land of ancient pharaohs brought to life by the Pyramids and other magnificent pharaohnic structures – and where the intoxicating culture and vibrant energy of modern-day Cairo touches your soul. It is also a place where you can kick back and laze on soft sand beaches or get adventurous among desert dunes and mountains or below the waves in crystal clear coral waters.
To give your holiday planning a start, here are 10 great reasons to visit Egypt.
Beaches: Queen of Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is Sharm el Sheikh, the resort which began it all more than a quarter of a century ago. More recent Sinai Peninsula additions include designer resort Taba Heights, while Western Red Sea favourite Hurghada has been joined by the likes of El Gouna, Safaga and Makadi Bay. Watch out for the developing Mediterranean resorts, among them El Alamein and Porto Marina.
Nightlife: Hit the major Red Sea resorts at night and the streets buzz with life, from thronging cafes with hubble-bubble pipes to lively rooftop bars, while inside, clubs churn out the latest beats. Cairo’s historic Khan el Khalili bazaar district comes alive after dark with the atmospheric calls of traders trying to entice passers-by to stop.
Food and drink: Mint tea and strong Kahwa coffee, so thick you can almost stand the spoon up in it, are staple drinks; stuffed vine leaves, kebabs and humus are among local food specialities.
Adventure: The desert offers all sorts of action for adrenalin junkies, from wadi-bashing in 4×4 vehicles or quad bikes to sunset camel rides followed by dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp. Head under the Red Sea to explore wrecks and see exquisite corals, tropical fish – and even a whale shark, if you are lucky.
Sport: Golf is an unlikely sport which has taken off in the country. You can tee off in and around Cairo, including under the shadow of the Pyramids, putt alongside the sparkling Red Sea and play seemingly within a chip shot of the pharaohs’ tombs. Windsurfing is popular on the Red Sea because of the constant breeze.
Cities: Experience the hustle and bustle of Cairo and you are seeing the real Egypt, laid bare. Haggle for bargain shoes and cotton goods in the markets of Cleopatra’s capital, Alexandria, and soak up the colourful sights, sounds and smells of Luxor’s markets before watching the evening sound and light show.
The Nile: The heart of the country, it runs from the south of the country through Luxor and on 500 miles to Cairo to flow into the Mediterranean by Alexandria. Take a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan past astonishing edifices, and enjoy an excursion on a traditional sailing felucca. History: Egypt’s glorious monuments were already 2,500 years old when they were first seen by Greek historian Herodotus.
Shopping: There are shopping centre in resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, but the real joy of shopping is to barter with a local stallholder in one of the many markets. Never pay more than half to two-thirds the original asking price, and enjoy the sellers’ theatrics.
Sightseeing: You can’t rent a car and drive around Egypt, but coach tours go to all the top sights. Favourites include Cairo’s Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and Muslim Quarter, the Valley of Kings and temples of Karnak and Luxor in Luxor, and St Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai, a day trip from Sharm
Many companies offer package holidays in Egypt, as well as superb Nile Cruise arrangements. The availabilty of cheap flights to Egypt from European cities also makes the country accessible and affordable for tailor made trips.