Egypt was my first real experience with international travel. It is where my insatiable appetite for culture was discovered. That trip was only the beginning when it came to more travel. I was addicted. Egypt is, however, a very different place than any other I’ve been to since.
It’s incredibly overpopulated, thick with traffic and heavy with smog. The River Nile reached its pollution limit many years ago. This barren river with its inert, murky waters, still manages to provide life to those around it. It is the only source of irrigation for vegetation, as well as food and water for humans.
With all that being said, Egypt was an amazing country. From the Step Pyramids at Memphis to Abu Simble at Lake Nasser, it was a refreshing and exquisite country full of vibrant life, history and monuments that I shall never forget.
It makes me sad to see all its current troubles, the rioting, the curfews, and its government’s intentional disconnection from the rest of the world. I am glad I was able to experience this wonderful country while it remained one of Africa‘s more peaceful places . I’m sure soon enough, it will return to being the pleasant, spirited country that I remember.
