In the Land of the Pharaohs

Wow.

It’s not so often that you have experiences that truly change you, but I can confidently say my 10 days in Egypt did just that.

My fiancé and I were fortunate enough to end 2022 and bring in the new year exploring the beautiful country of Egypt. It was an incredibly humbling experience.

We’re taught about the Great Pyramids of Giza, but what often gets overlooked is the sheer scale of everything the ancient Egyptians built, not just the pyramids.

We visited multiple sites in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. What became clear as our trip progressed was that these were a people dedicated to showing you who they were. And they did so through their architecture.

Temples, columns and tombs were covered in pictures and hieroglyphs. Seemingly no surface was left without a story letting you know who had been there and why.

Hieroglyphs in Valley of the Kings, Luxor

Hieroglyphs on outer wall of Philae Temple, Aswan

I honestly was unprepared for the level of detail period, let alone the detail that still remains to this day.

The colors!! So many of their ruins still have color intact! I can only imagine how these structures looked in their heyday.

Speaking of color — we had an amazing time staying in the Nubian Village in Aswan. They decorate their houses with such beautiful colors and pictures. While it’s a different style from what we saw in the ancient structures, you could see the through line. The people were so gracious, and the food was amazing!

Being able to travel the country and see such an abundance of architecture was so amazing.

To see these massive, intricate structures was one thing, but to see them adorned with the faces of Black and brown folks gave me a renewed sense of self.

inside the tomb of Nefertari at Valley of the Queens, Luxor

tomb of Seti I at Valley of the Kings, Luxor

These places were made to be awe-inspiring, and that they were. I have traveled all around the world and have never seen anything so impressive in my life. And to think we’re talking about places that were built multiple millennia ago!!

Philae Tempe, Aswan

Thank you so much to the Egyptian people for being so kind to us in our travels and for opening up these sacred spaces for us to continue to experience. From the food to the music to the energy, everything about this trip nourished my soul. It was one of the most significant experiences of my life and the perfect way to start 2023.

Goodbye 2022