For the interest of anyone who is curious where exactly Siwa Oasis is in relation to Cairo, I’ve included a map. (Click on it to enlarge). It’s roughly 800km from Cairo to Siwa.
Our second day started with the drive from Marsa Matrouh to Siwa, which takes about 4 hours. This is pretty much what the scenery looked like:
Here’s Mr. Matthews standing in the middle of nowhere. What the picture doesn’t capture is the buffeting wind that was sweeping across this broad flat expanse – bringing mouthfuls of grit with it. I could have tied a rope on my youngest and used him for a kite. I hopped out to stretch my legs and take his picture then promptly got back on the bus!
After arriving in the town of Siwa and checking in at our hotel, our first outing was to the Temple of the Oracle, the place where Alexander the Great was allegedly told that he was to be the king of Egypt.
A village girl, coming out to sell trinkets to people on our bus
A glance down a side street in Siwa. I love the Vodafone sign in such a rural and rustic place. I do have to say that I had excellent cell phone reception nearly the entire time!It was unusually hot for this time of year, reaching near 104F most days. It was an exceptionally dry heat, but there is only so much of that sort of baking in the sun a person can take before they need to cool down. Fortunately our hotel had its own “spring”
I have no idea if this was an actual spring – there are several in the area – but the water was near frigid. I prefer my pool water temperature to be closer to bath water, but even I took a dip after a day spent walking around in the heat of the desert. A one time splash in that water was enough to numb my outer layer. After that I basked in the sun to dry off – an enterprise that took about 10 minutes. Did I mention how dry it was?
One more day of pictures to share and then Liz Jasper will be here over the weekend as my Friday Feature. Where has the week gone?
Hi Jenyfer,
If you ring Amal on 25898364 or 25882484 – the Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development headquarters they have a lot of embroideries left but will send them back as unsold soon. Amal has lovely English. Ring quickly – I almost bought a stack more – but Bob was with me urging caution!
by Jenny March 26th, 2008 at 6:42 amHow beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I’m so envious!
by Anny Cook March 26th, 2008 at 1:10 pmAnny – it is my pleasure to share the pictures. It was a phenomenal trip. I’m still on a bit of a high
by Jenyfer Matthews March 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pmJenyfer, thank you so much for the lovely pictures of Marsa Matrouh, a place that will stay in my memory as paradise on earth. We vacationed there often and I insisted on going back for my honeymoon. I wonder if you visited General Rommel’s office inside the rock in the sea. I used to swim to reach it, about an hour to an hour and half. But it was worth it. People told us to walk carefully on the Rommel’s rock and never dig because of the danger of mines still buried.
We walked through the tombs of Alamein and read with emotion the names but mostly the age of the young men who died there.
I never saw Siwa. I wish I had. And I wish my kids can see these places one day.
by Mona Risk March 26th, 2008 at 8:01 pmMona,
by Jenyfer Matthews March 26th, 2008 at 8:12 pmUnfortunately we did not have nearly enough time to really get to see Marsa Matrouh or to do the swim you describe. Wow – mines?? Not a place you probably want to build a sand castle!
Gorgeous, just love the pool. I am so jealous right now. Egypt is one of the places I must see before I die. Thanks for sharing!
by ddurance March 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pmI loved the tour of Siwa, Jenyfer. Hubby and I had a discussion about whether we’d been there or not. We hadn’t but we did go through the Farafra Oasis on the way back to Cairo. I loved the Western Desert because it wasn’t very touristy. In fact we only saw locals during that sector of our trip.
by Shelley Munro March 27th, 2008 at 7:28 am