Egypt is particularly known for its ancient history and sights, but is also characterized by the Muslim religion and tradition.
In this fascinating country, I am a stranger in a previously unknown environment. With my blonde hair and blue eyes, I attract curious glances.
For this reason, I wore long clothes with a headscarf in public. This felt a bit unusual at first, because it's not something I'm used to in my everyday life. However, it soon became clear that long items of clothing were helpful both as protection against the sun and from prying eyes on the street.
The external adaptation also made it much easier for me to fully immerse myself in the trip with all the impressions and the foreign culture.
I got to know the life of the Nubians in particular. This ethnic group leads a much simpler life than I do in my western world where there are no borders and you can get anything.
It was inspiring and exciting to see how a family lives contentedly without unnecessary accumulation of material values in a village without paved roads, surrounded by houses made of mud and stone on an island in the middle of the Nile. I encountered a level of hospitality that I have rarely experienced before in Germany. Galal's family warmly welcomed me and my family and even allowed us to take a look inside their private home. Two families from different cultures came together for a meal in the place where their normal everyday life takes place.
In the evening, we immersed ourselves in the world of the oriental bazaar.
The streets are filled with bright colors and a babble of voices, the scent of incense and Far Eastern spices everywhere. Vendors sell everything from golden jewelry and simple sandals to fresh fruit and vegetables. There is everything and nothing to buy, clothes in all colors and shapes, copper lamps, blown glass figurines. I didn't know where to look first.
Life is pulsating everywhere and you can feel a very special energy developing from the many different voices and impressions. Men sit on every corner playing with each other, drinking tea and smoking water pipes. Women walk around with their children between the traders, looking at the goods on offer and exchanging ideas.
But despite the hustle and bustle, there was a unique atmosphere that completely captivated me and kept me drifting through the winding alleyways of the bazaar.
The Nile, a huge source of water, is the center of Egypt. It is the lifeline of this country and enables man and nature to survive in the vastness of the Sahara.
For me, the landscape of the riverbank was particularly impressive. It is dotted with lush green palm trees, mango trees, bushes and grasses, as well as small remote villages and banana plantations. Behind every gentle curve of the Nile lies something new and unknown, waiting to be discovered.
I was constantly reminded of the visible contrast of not being somewhere in a tropical climate, but in the middle of the desert. Because although there is something new around every bend, the masses of sand that can be seen from afar are also piling up. It seems as if the narrow strip of grass is fighting for every centimeter against the sand.
In every country you can watch the sunset and watch the last rays of sun disappear. Then the sky slowly begins to turn red and prepares you for the night. This spectacle is beautiful to watch every time, it's worth taking a moment to pause and enjoy.
This moment is particularly beautiful on the Nile and creates a very special atmosphere. As the sun slowly disappears behind the sand dunes, turning the sky the most beautiful shades of red and the sound of the muezzin can be heard in the distance, you slowly come to rest. The hot air of the day slowly cools down and allows the body to recover from the long day.
A great project and an impressive description of your travel impressions! Like something out of a magazine for adventure travel on the Nile. Bravo!