Below, the reason I came to Egypt in the first place: to glimpse the great pyramids at Giza in person!
I was surprised to discover they were so close to Cairo, an easy drive from anywhere
in the city.
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I also hadn't realized that the Sphinx and the pyramids were in such close proximity.
Certainly made
seeing these man-made marvels much easier than I thought it would be.
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Called Abu al-Hol (Father of Terror) in Arabic, the Sphinx was carved from a single enormous piece of limestone thought to have been left over after construction of the pyramids was completed.
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The Temple of Hatshepsut near Luxor made the world headlines when tourists were massacred by Muslim extremists here a few years ago. Today, a heavy presence of Egyptian military personnel here and at every important archaeological spot in the country aims to prevent a recurrence.
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Centuries of weathering have faded most of the elaborate decor of Hatshepsut, but the coloring of the crane below survives because of its relatively hidden position, protecting it from the elements and giving us a glimpse of what must have been incomparable beauty when the temple was in its heyday.
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The Sinai peninsula is littered with important religious sites.
Here, a camel rests near the
ramparts of St. Katherine's monastery.
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Inside the compound itself, standing in front of what is reputed to be the actual burning bush of Biblical lore.
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The agony of an all-night climb to the top of Mt. Sinai is quickly forgotten when the first rays of a mesmerizing sunrise shine upon us. A tiny church with this mural of Moses sits atop the mountain.
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The great stone carvings at Abu Simbel in the south of the country near the Sudan border.
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Incredibly detailed carvings at Kom Ombo Temple.
