01/24/2026
A few snapshots from the Nile cruise and from the road in the Sahara desert on our way to Abu Simbel. Egypt is a land of contrasts. Very green and populated along the Nile, and what looks like total desert on both sides of the river. We found the Egyptians to be extremely friendly and courteous despite the constant requests for us to buy souvenirs or give money. The food everywhere was excellent. The Christians and Muslims attend each other’s religious celebrations and you can generally find a church next to each mosque. I would do the trip differently next time, slower, and more intentionally. If you can afford a 5 day Nile cruise on a Dahabiya (a smaller, slower Egyptian boat with a maximum of 20 people on it, please do. The rhythm of tours on the larger boats is intense with very early wake ups each day. We didn’t have enough time in Cairo, and it is definitely a city worth visiting on its own right on top of the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian museum. There is so much more to see from Alexandria to the Red Sea Shark El Sheik and Hurghada. So much history from its 5 civilizations over millenniums, and we only experienced a glimpse of it!
