Travel Journal: Egypt
Seen through the eyes of: Nicole Fawley
Who went? The Fawley family, Danny, Nicholas, Kate and me, as well as two friends, Cole Hidalgo and Caroline Melville
We went because…
My daughter graduated from SJA this year and will be heading to SMU. We take a big family vacation at the end of every school year, and this year, my daughter selected the location. I was never expecting Egypt, but she loved art history in school, and her favorite focus of that class was Egypt.
Hotel recommendations: Our two nights in Cairo were spent at the Four Seasons on the Nile River. We had stunning views of Cairo and the Nile, and the staff was very accommodating after our long 36 hours of travel.
We splurged and opted for a chartered yacht, The Kazazian Arax, just for our family for five nights. We were treated like royalty. To be able to cruise the Nile on such a spectacular vessel was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The intimacy of this versus a larger cruise ship was hands down one of the greatest decisions we have made during our travels. The staff carefully planned several memorable evenings for us. We had a beachside graduation celebration with live music, fireworks and a custom graduation cake. We also had several nights of on-board entertainment that gave us an opportunity to truly see traditional Egyptian customs.
In Sharm El Sheik, we stayed at the Four Seasons. It was a great way to wind down from our very go-go-go trip. The resort sits on the magnificent Red Sea and has spectacular views. You can dive or snorkel to take advantage of the abundant coral reefs directly off the resort’s private beach. And, in keeping with the trend from the previous stops on our adventure, the service was bar none. I just can’t say enough about the Egyptian people and how accommodating and welcoming they are.
What to eat: Lots of fresh seafood. Lots of items from the grill—kebabs, lamb and chicken. Stuffed pigeon is a delicacy there, and we were able to have that on the boat. Mumbar (think boudin). Grape leaves. Fried cheese. Tabbouleh. Homous. Tehina. Fried eggplant. Very traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.
Item of clothing you shouldn’t leave home without: We were concerned about ensuring we dressed conservatively to fit the cultural norms there. The girls opted for flowy maxi dresses most days, which made us feel like we were not exposing ourselves where we shouldn’t be, but also provided comfort in the heat and trekking we did. The boys wore shorts and tennis shoes most days. The Egyptians like their air conditioning, so many places were freezing indoors. I had a shawl with me almost every day.
Favorite landmark: Kristin Diehl and her team at SmartFlyer did an amazing job on this trip. I would not be able to pick one favorite. Some of our favorite adventures were: a helicopter tour over the Pyramids of Giza, an after-hours tour of the Pyramids of Giza with a private lecture by worldrenowned archeologist Dr. Mostafa Waziri, a guided visit of the soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum, a hot air balloon ride over Luxor, an after-hours tour of the Luxor Temple, and exploring the Temple of Kom Ombo, the Edfu Temple, Valley of the Kings and the Karnak Temple.
We would suggest this trip to others because: The historical significance of this part of the world makes it a must-see in my book. I still cannot get over the sights we saw and all the knowledge we gained about this amazing part of our world.
