My “Travel A – Z” Series Heads To The Nile!

I am looking at 26 countries around the world in my “Travel A -Z” series: some I have visited, some I long to visit, and for the letter “E”, where else but the dawn of civilization!

Important Note:

In choosing which countries to feature, I am aware that situations change for many reasons: in fact, the Middle East is a very dangerous place right now. Caution must always be the first thought – so always do your research – that said, I want to visit Egypt to be wow’d by its history, culture and natural wonders.

“Travel A – Z” Heads To Egypt!

It’s been called the “dawn of civilization”, and today more than 114 million call this country home. Last year, more than 15 million people visited the country…it is where the Nile river ends, as it flows north through Africa into the Mediterranean…more on that in a moment.

Egypt also sits on the west side of the Red Sea and offers a number of luxurious resorts, with spectacular snorkeling, diving and windsurfing.  The coast extends from the northern Gulf of Suez, encompassing the Suez Canal, to the southern border with Sudan

Cut The “Sphinx!”

This is one of the world’s most iconic sights.

The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt is an ancient and iconic monument, dating back approximately 4,500 years. The Sphinx is a limestone statue with a lion’s body and the head of a human, believed to be a likeness of the pharaoh Khafre.

While this is the largest, there are more than one hundred sphinxes across the country.

Egypt has one of the longest documented histories of any country on earth, tracing its heritage along the Nile Delta back to the 6th–4th millennia BCE. Considered a cradle of civilisation, Ancient Egypt saw some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanisation, organised religion and central government.

Cairo is the country’s capital and largest city, with more than 22-million residents…and look at what sits just 8 miles away:

The most famous Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built.

The Egyptian pyramids were built over a considerable period, primarily during the Old Kingdom (around 2686-2181 BC) and to a lesser extent in the Middle Kingdom (around 2055-1650 BC) and into the Ptolemaic period (30 BC). The peak of pyramid building occurred during the Old Kingdom, with the most famous pyramids, like those at Giza, being built during this era. 

Aside from the pyramids, here is probably what Egypt is known for the most:

Time To Head Down “The Nile!”

I want to begin with a map to show you just how long the river is…the Nile flows through 11 countries, including Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt, making it a vital water source for millions of people.

The Nile River is generally considered the longest river in the world, measuring approximately 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers) long. It flows from central Africa northward, passing through several countries, before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. While there’s some debate about whether the Amazon River might be longer, the Nile is widely accepted as the longest. 

Here are some facts about this magnificent river:

The Nile was considered a god by ancient Egyptians, known as Hapi, who was believed to control the river’s flooding.

The Nile supports a variety of fish species, including the Nile perch, which can grow up to 6 feet long.

Crocodiles and hippos are common in the river, with the Nile crocodile being one of the largest reptile species in the world.

I watched an incredible travel series that searched for the origin of the river, hosted by an iconic British Actress:

Joanna Lumley is best known for the hilarious TV series “Absolutely Fabulous” AKA “Ab Fab” – but she is a lifelong traveller and her trip down the Nile is terrific TV!

See my in-depth look at the series here:

One last part of Egypt to mention – a VERY LARGE PART:

Egypt’s Deserts!

Egypt has sand! In fact, the Western Desert is part of the iconic Sahara desert that lies west of the Nile! The desert covers 262,800  square miles – two-thirds of the land area of the entire country!

And by the way, there are just about 120,000 Camels in the country, so you will never have to wait long for a ride out there!

There is so much to explore in Egypt: the Red Sea, Cairo, The Nile River, the Sahara desert: that is just scratching the surface of a unique country I want to explore up close!

This is letter “E” in my “Travel A – Z” series…

For my “D” entry, I took you to Denmark, with gorgeous city life and wonderful food – and lots of blondes as well!

See my visit here:

Denmark was the fourth letter in my “Travel A – Z” series, after I took us along on a trip to the Great Wall:

I haven’t been to China yet, but this series is helping to motivate me to get to it! See some of what makes this country so unique by clicking on my story here:

Before that, I shared a magical time I had on an island off of the US coast:

Bermuda is such a special place, with pink sand beaches and my favorite boozy Bermuda Conch Chowder! See a recipe for the chowder and a tour of the beaches by clicking on my story here:

I started the series in Australia, where I travelled for work and got to see some incredible things like this, when I filmed my Host Sasha Grey learning to surf on the waves at iconic Bondi Beach:

You can see more of my adventures down under by clicking on my story here:

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Categories: Africa, Art, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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