Egyptian Vacation
April 2005 with Francine Bradley, Ph.D.
Click here to see just the "Best of Egypt" Pictures
Unless otherwise noted, all photos were taken by Dave Emery or Francine Bradley
Click here to see the places
visited by Francine and Dave.
The Great Pyramids & the Sphinx - Nearly 5000 years ago, the Giza Plateau became the royal burial ground for Memphis, capital of Egypt. Three successive generations built the Great Pyramids during the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC).
"Man fears Time, yet Time fears the Pyramids." Arab Proverb
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Hurghada on the Red Sea - Magawish Resort - Hurghada, on the Red Sea coast, is famous for its dive centers which offer scuba and snorkel trips to view the fantastic Red Sea marine life.
Saqqara & Memphis
Saqqara - Saqqara is one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt. Its monuments span 3000 years, from the earliest ancient Egyptian funerary structures to Coptic monasteries. Saqqara developed as the royal necropolis for the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis, just to the west.
The Bent Pyramid
Memphis - The ancient city of Memphis was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and most of the Pharaonic period. It is thought it was founded in about 3100 BC by King Menes, the ruler responsible for uniting upper and Lower Egypt.
Statue of Ramses II
Citadel & Mohammed Ali Mosque - Originally founded in 1176 by the famed Muslim commander Salah ad-Din, it now encloses the Mosque of Mohammed Ali (built in the 19th century).
Hanging Church - Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this church is popularly called the "Hanging" or "Suspended" Church because it was built on top of the Water Gate of the old Roman fortress of Babylon as early as the 4th century AD.
Virgin's Tree - At Matariyya, a northeastern suburb of Cairo, is the Virgin's Tree, a gnarled sycamore under which Mary and the Holy Family is said to have rested.
The Egyptian Museum - has the greatest collection of Pharaonic treasures including all of that from King Tutankhamun's tomb and a number of royal mummies.
Karnak Temple - At the heart of the immense Karnak complex lies the Temple of Amun, dedicated to the king of the gods. With its endless courts, halls and colossi and huge sacred lake, the scale and complexity of this sprawling temple is overwhelming.
Luxor Temple - Built on the site of the New Kingdom capital city of Thebes, Luxor has returned to prominence as the tourist mecca of the Nile Valley. The exciting excavations that were led by European archaeologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, aroused international interest.
Valley of the Kings - The remote, barren Valley of the Kings was the necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs. By digging their tombs deep into the Theban Hills, pharaohs from Tuthmosis I (c1500 BC) on hoped to stop robbers stealing the priceless possessions buried with them.
(Upon discovering King Tut'ankhamun's Tomb) Howard Carter immediately sent a telegram to Carnarvon in England and waited anxiously for his arrival. Carnarvon made it to Egypt by November 26th (1922) and watched as Carter made a hole in the door. Carter leaned in, holding a candle, to take a look. Behind him Lord Carnarvon asked, "Can you see anything?" Carter answered,
"Yes, wonderful things."
Valley of the Queens - The Valley of the
Queens lies to the southwest of the Valley of the Kings and holds the tombs
of many royal wives and children.
Colossi of Memnon - Soaring 60 ft into the sky, the two enthroned statues of Amenhotep III originally guarded Amenhotep's morturary temple, thought to have been the largest ever built in Egypt.
Queen Hatshepsut's Temple - Against its stark mountainous backdrop, the partly rock-hewn Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir al-Bahri is a breathtaking site.
Nile Cruise - Along with the Grand Tour of Europe, a trip to Egypt was one of the most exciting journeys available to the 19th-century traveler. A cruise up the Nile River was a must. The pace was languid. Slow days on deck alternated with treks through the desert to marvel at the newly found secrets of ancient Egypt.
"Egypt is the gift of the Nile." Herodotus
Edfu & Kon Ombo Temples
Edfu Temple - Edfu stands beside the Nile almost exactly half-way between Luxor and Aswan. It was an important sacred site to the Egyptians because according to ancient myth, this was where the falcon god Horus fought a fierce battle with his uncle Seth, who had cruelly murdered Horus's father Osiris.
Kon Ombo Temple - The town's ruined yet imposing Graeco-Roman temple is in a particularly beautiful setting overlooking the Nile.
Aswan
Kitchener's Island - Situated in the Nile, Kitchener's Island is one of the most delightful places in Aswan. The lush botanical gardens that cover the island make it an ideal place to go for a peaceful stroll or simply relax in the shade of the trees.
Unfinished Obelisk - A gigantic obelisk, dating from the New Kingdom, lies semi-finished in an ancient granite quarry just south of Aswan. Had it been completed, it would have weighed a staggering 1197 tons and stood 134 feet high.
Old Cataract Hotel - The English crime-writer Agatha Christie penned part of her best-selling novel "Death on the Nile" in this impressive Moorish-style hotel, which opened in 1899.
Alexandria - Stretching 20 km long the coast, Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city. Founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, the city grew to rival Rome before falling into decline in the 4th century AD.
Dave in Egypt
Francine in Egypt
"I just don't care enough to learn."
Francine Bradley, Ph.D. (at a weak moment when she was overwhelmed with 5000 years of history)
WPSA Conference in Hurghada
"David was our extra gift in Egypt. Undoubtedly, he is a man of friendly nature."
Md. Shahidur Rahman, Banglideshi Delegate to the WPSA Conference in Hurghada
Misc. Egyptian pics
Amsterdam
"One can never take a holiday from eggs." Francine Bradley, Ph.D.
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Unless otherwise noted, all photos were taken by Dave Emery or Francine Bradley
This site was last updated 05/20/08