The Final Stroll in Egypt

Continues from The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt

The afternoon that we had reached Cairo after the trip to Aswan and Luxor, we went out in search of a restaurant for lunch.  Though it may sound show off to many people, we were fed up with the five star cuisines that pampered us on the previous eight days. Our Kerala palette craved for some spicy taste.  We headed to the Egyptian restaurant Felfela suggested byAli.

We walked under the mild rays of afternoon Sun. The streets were in shades and a lot of college students roamed around. As we reached the Hoda Sharawi Street, there were at least five restaurant boards with the same name. However, we were lucky enough to get into the correct restaurant after so many inquiries.

The restaurant was decorated in the theme of a garden.  Though meat was prominent in the menu, they had a wide variety of Vegetarian dishes also to serve. We ordered a vegetable casserole and a spicy mousakka. Food never tasted better in a foreign land.

After the comfortable lunch, we came back to the hotel to take rest. Since our departure is scheduled only for the next day, we decided to take a stroll across the banks of the Nile. It was the day of Eid. The footpaths were crowded and there were a lot of activities going on.  

Since being irritant to the crowds, we chose a lonely bench from where we can watch the Nile and admire the fireworks. However, the bench was already occupied by teenage lovers who were busy in exchanging intense Eid greetings.  I just wondered, this is not a European country, but a well known orthodox Muslim country! Do such public displays of affection happen here too? Well, love knows no restrictions...

Khan el-Khalili market

Chandeliers

On the day of our departure, we decided to take a final stroll in the streets of Egypt.  We were guided to the famous Khan el-Khalili market that was once known as the Turkish bazaar. The market seemed to be an ethnic market with a lot of shops selling Egyptian antiquities. We shopped for souvenirs and other tit bits. Time was running faster in Khan el-Khalili. We finished our visit at a road side open cafe. I really don’t remember what we had for lunch on that day, since I was caught up in the beauty of the magnificent chandeliers in the opposite shop!

Yes, eight days became a memory to cherish in our life forever. We felt all refreshed and together as we boarded the flight in the evening. As I heard the announcement for landing at the King Khalid international Airport, I was excited! After all, nothing is better than homecoming even if it means home in a foreign land.

The End

The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt

Continues from The Valley of Workers and Colosssi of Memnon  
 

Yes, Our Egypt travel is at the end. Nariman dropped us at the cruise by afternoon. After a refreshing sleep and hectic re-packing, we were soon ushered to the cozy train. Sleep lulled our eyes and the golden rays of the Cairo Sun were already upon us as we woke up.

Ali was ready to welcome us back at Cairo. We again re checked into Hotel Nile with the view of Egyptian museum. We settled down, laid back and realized with a sweet pain that our visit is over at Egypt. Even if we visit another time, so many things would have changed! Even the freshness in our eyes to the country would have faded.

As I looked out the streets, I realized that some of the best parts in the trip include a few strolls in the various streets of Egypt. This travelogue would be incomplete without any mention of them.

Aswan

On our first evening at Aswan, we took a leave from the cruise and went out to explore the city life. Horse carts were luring the tourists all around. We walked to the nearby Aswan market that sold spice, Nubian antiquities, souvenirs and jewellery.

The vendors were smart enough to spot us out us Indians! As we proceeded, many of them started to call out their familiar Indian names, “Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit etc.” We were fascinated for sure.

We entered a shop that sold Papyrus paintings. The price was on a higher side and we satisfied with two small pieces. As we paid the shopkeeper, the shop assistant started praising my eyes, “Mehabooba, you’ve got such beautiful eyes.” Never in my life, anyone has told my eyes were beautiful and I never felt so. I thought the old man to be crazy. However, it turned out that he had expected some tip from us and was spreading his net for that.

The night was young and pleasant in the market. We spent almost three hours in the market. We hired a horse cart to come back. As we galloped through the Aswan streets, the breeze seemed sweeter than ever.

Luxor

Karnak Temple at Night

On the eve of our departure from Luxor, we wished to take a final look at the Luxor and Karnak temple in night lights. We hired a horse cart and reached the temples. The majestic temples looked deserted and silent in the night life. The umpteen lights seemed to have failed to light up the vast areas. The scene was sad and eerie.

On the way back to our cruise, two sign boards caught our attention-Luxor Museum and Mummy Museum. We postponed the visit to the Luxor Museum for the next day. (It didn’t happen after all!). We got into the Mummy museum that charged a less price as the entry fee. The museum had mummies of many animals, leaflets on the history and procedure of mummification, latest samples on the attempts of mummification and the mummy of a priest in the Pharaoh period. 

It was a very good museum compared to the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. However if you are so keen to view the mummies of pharaohs, there is no other option but to visit the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. All these mummies looked same and ghastly to me...

Continues in The Final Stroll in Egypt

The Valley of Workers and Colosssi of Memnon

Continues from The Woman Power in Ancient Egypt-Queen Hatshepsut

The visit to queen Hatshepsut’s temple had brought severe burns on our skin. I had had enough of the trip and looked forward to get back home. Wait; there are two more places to visit-the valley of workers and the Colossi of Memnon.

The ruins at the Valley of workers

The valley of workers was deserted as we reached the place. This was the place where the builders of the ancient representations of Egypt had once lived! This place must have been crowded with echoes, laughter, pangs and all other human emotions in those days.

The Pharaohs used to start the construction of their tombs during their lifetime itself. For this, they used to bring the artisans from faraway places and provided the workers with shelter, food and necessary needs. The works of the tomb might go for a lifetime and the workers started to have their own families in Egypt.

Soon, the first arrivals started to get old, and for their after death rituals, they started to construct miniature tombs resembling their masters. Often, the worker who leads the other workers used to get these master tombs. Some of them are still well preserved for the coming generation to witness their pride.

Entrance to the tomb

I was determined not to get out of the car as we reach the valley of workers. Enough had been seen and no more troll under the blazing sun. Some tombs stood amidst the ruins of old houses. They mimicked the shape of pyramids and looked as anthills compared to the majestic Pyramids.

We got down and waited at the lounge while Nariman went to get the tickets.  I had asked her not to get the tickets for me. But, she returned with the tickets for both of us and offered a hand in taking care of Shreya. Well, that was a relief indeed. 

We went down into the tomb that again resembled the tombs that we had visited at the Valley of Kings. The main difference was that this tomb was smaller in its area and had fewer paintings on its walls. As I came out, my imagination prompted me even to get the smell of sweat in that tomb!

We drove back to the comfort of the hotel and stopped on the way at the Colossi of Memnon. The twin statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III made in quartzite sandstone sat majestically in an otherwise barren land.  The hero of the Trojan war, who got ultimately killed by Achilles always invoked his subjects even after his death.

Colossi of Memnon

It seems, quite synonymous with his name Memnon, which means “Ruler of the Dawn,” the statue used to make sound in the early mornings. Many people considered it as the voice of Memnon’s ghost while others attributed scientific reasons for that. However Memnon stopped singing lately. Now, the statues are abode for many fluttering doves. As we looked on, the doves continued their routine not even caring for the umpteen visitors who gazed at their home in reverence.

Continues in The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt