a last look at Egypt

 My mind is still full of memories of Egypt but I have already shared the highlights over the last several days.  This evening I want to share just a few fun/interesting facts.

Did you know that many of the ancient Pharaohs were actually fat?  It makes sense, considering that they were immensely rich and waited on hand and foot. But they were never portrayed that way.

Here they are looking typically slim and trim.

Not fun but interesting - did you know that polio was a disease that existed 3000 years ago?  I didn't get a picture of this piece but their is a bas relief carving of one Pharoah with one leg much skinnier than the other and DNA has confirmed the disease.

it is estimated that the "flight into Egypt" Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus' escape from Herod, was a journey that took three years.  And we thought that our 28 hour travel day to get home was a long trip. 

The Coptic area in old Cairo celebrates that flight into Egypt everywhere in paintings and sculptures.

A carving over a street in the old Coptic area of Cairo.

Someone asked me this week if I would go back to Egypt.  My first response was to say no.  It was a once in a life time experience.  But, on second thought, if I did go back, it would be to spend more time in Cairo.

This was the night scene from the balcony of our hotel room where we stayed for the first four nights of our trip.  The traffic over the bridge only eased up for about one hour at 5:00am.  The constant beeping of horns is the music of Cairo.

Ahmed Waasfat was our most faithful and gracious and patient guide through our entire trip.  Viking always provides the very best.