My Egyptian adventure started right at the airport. I thought the bus driver was trying to sell me hashish.
I’m not well-versed in these things. I politely but firmly refused. Only after a moment, when the driver gave me a price for the whole family (there were 4 of us), did I realize he meant bakhshesh. That word means a tip, alms, or a bribe. The important thing is he got us to the hotel.
Makadi Bay – where time stands still
Makadi Bay is a place where you quickly forget what day of the week it is. After two days, we were already operating on a simple schedule.
Breakfast, beach, pool, “just for a minute” at the bar, lunch, another pool, sunset. In the evening, we wondered if dessert was already dinner or still an afternoon snack. And which drink we hadn’t tested yet.
The hotel took care of everything. Only the WiFi in the room was a problem. But I figured you relax better without the internet. Copies of the photos taken can be sent while sitting in the lobby for a bit, sipping a drink at the same time.
There was so much food that after a few days, the walk to the restaurant could officially count as a sports activity. The waiters were smiling. As for the lounge chairs? The fight for the best one started before sunrise.
Some people could reserve a spot with a towel faster than the sun set over the horizon. You could always find a front-row lounge chair by the sea for a dollar.
Hurghada vacation – a full-day trip to the city
After blissful laziness, it was time for a one-day tour of Hurghada. The city turned out to be full of contrasts.
On one hand, a modern marina with elegant yachts. On the other – local bazaars where a vendor can convince you that today is the only day in history when this fridge magnet costs only… five times more than it should.
Haggling with merchants is like a national sport. You say: “No, thank you.” They reply: “Special price, my friend!” After ten minutes of conversation, you start wondering yourself if maybe you really do need four scarves, two papyruses, and a cat figurine the size of a dog.
A full-day trip to Luxor – a journey through time
The real test of character, however, was the full-day trip to Luxor. Waking up at an hour when even roosters hit the “snooze” button.
A few hours of driving through the desert and suddenly… as if by a magic wand, the green Nile Valley appears. And with it, thousands of years of history.
The Karnak Temple Complex
The first stop was the monumental temple complex in Karnak. Right from the entrance, we were greeted by an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes.
At first glance, you wonder why the pharaohs built so many stone sheep. Only later does the guide explain that it’s a symbol of the god Amun. Then everyone nods in understanding, pretending that’s exactly what they thought all along.
The real “wow” effect, however, awaits in the Great Hypostyle Hall. One hundred and thirty-four gigantic columns make even the tallest tourist feel like a LEGO minifigure.
Looking at this stone forest, it’s hard to believe that it was all created over three thousand years ago. Today, building a roundabout takes several months. The ancient Egyptians managed to erect such a colossus without cranes and cement mixers.
A walk around Karnak is a journey through time. Every few steps, someone takes a picture. Then they turn around and take another one, because it turns out there’s something even bigger behind them.
After an hour of sightseeing, the memory card in the camera starts begging for mercy. Your legs gently suggest it’s time to head back to the bus.
The Temple of Hatshepsut – timeless architecture
Next, we visited the Temple of Hatshepsut. It dazzles with its monumental architecture. The terraces emerging from the rocky cliff look so modern that it’s hard to believe they were built over 3,400 years ago.
Hatshepsut proved that effective ruling doesn’t depend on a pharaoh’s beard. Though she apparently wore a ceremonial one sometimes, too.
The Valley of the Kings – tombs full of history
Two bottles of water later, we reached the Valley of the Kings. On the outside – rocks and desert. Inside – tombs full of colorful paintings.
They are older than most civilizations put together. You look at the hieroglyphs and wonder if it’s an ancient prayer, a sarcophagus user manual, or maybe the first-ever recipe for hummus.
The valley was the burial site of the New Kingdom pharaohs. It hides over 60 tombs. After walking down a gazillion stairs, I felt like a baker (because I was white with chalk) working at the bottom of a mine or in hell.
The Return – exhausted, but delighted
After a whole day of sightseeing, we returned exhausted, but delighted. Pharaohs, hieroglyphs, sphinxes, and memories of the hotel buffet all mixed together in our heads.
We came to one conclusion – Egypt can surprise you. In the morning, you’re lying on the beach with a drink in your hand. In the afternoon, you’re standing in a place where pharaohs walked several thousand years ago. In the evening, you’re trying to dump a kilogram of desert sand out of your shoes.
Summary – history meets relaxation
This was a winter break where relaxation met history. We came back richer with memories and hundreds of photos.
We also brought back a light tan and the certainty that the sand from Egypt has an extraordinary ability to travel. Even long after returning, it can unexpectedly show up in your suitcase, backpack, and pockets.