After starting Uni on Monday, we were hit with a fantastically difficult "placement" exam on Wednesday, which left us with a long weekend from Thursday to Sunday, and an ideal opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head somewhere more exotic: Siwa Oasis.
Siwa Old Town
The Desert Rose by day
Siwa is a truly wonderful place, a world away from Alex and Cairo, and one of the most beautiful I've ever visited. The views over the oasis from any of the high vantage points in the town are spectacular, as are both sunrise and sunset, and I could write for pages about the amazing fun we had on our trek into the desert or the dates freshly picked from the palms or the wonders of swimming in the various springs or the fascinating history of this tiny desert oasis. The two main memories that will stick with me, however, are those of the Siwan people and of the nighttime sky in the desert.
Sunset in the Western Desert
Due to it's fairly remote location in Egypt's Western Desert (the first tarmacked road to Siwa was built in the 80's) the views of the stars after sunset are simply stunning. From both the hotel roof terrace and the desert, we sat for hours gazing at the myriad of stars that I've never seen shining so clear and bright. So many stars, in fact, that finding constellations proved difficult. Spotting shooting stars became popular, if a little competitive from some members of the group (no names mentioned :P ) and the Milky Way stretched right across the sky.
Perhaps equally due to the remoteness of the town, the Siwan people are amongst the most hospitable I've met here in Egypt. From Muhammad, the man who helped us find our hotel, to Ali, the hotel manager who saw to our every need re: accommodation and food, to Mahmood, Hassan and Nasser, our guides in the desert, without exception we were welcomed sincerely to Siwa. Shop owners, who in Cairo or Alex or anywhere else in Egypt would fast lose interest if you didn't buy their wares, were more than happy just to sit and chat and make you a traditional Siwan tea.
All in all, an awesome weekend and I can't wait to get back to Siwa, although I don't think it will ever be quite the same somehow. There are many more stories to be told, most poignant of which regarding "Timmy", but alas these will have to wait. Many thanks to all who came, it wouldn't have been the same without you.
Keep me informed of what's going on back home and wherever you are in the world!
Tx
PS. Answers on a postcard regarding the title ;)
Sunset in the Western Desert
Due to it's fairly remote location in Egypt's Western Desert (the first tarmacked road to Siwa was built in the 80's) the views of the stars after sunset are simply stunning. From both the hotel roof terrace and the desert, we sat for hours gazing at the myriad of stars that I've never seen shining so clear and bright. So many stars, in fact, that finding constellations proved difficult. Spotting shooting stars became popular, if a little competitive from some members of the group (no names mentioned :P ) and the Milky Way stretched right across the sky.
Perhaps equally due to the remoteness of the town, the Siwan people are amongst the most hospitable I've met here in Egypt. From Muhammad, the man who helped us find our hotel, to Ali, the hotel manager who saw to our every need re: accommodation and food, to Mahmood, Hassan and Nasser, our guides in the desert, without exception we were welcomed sincerely to Siwa. Shop owners, who in Cairo or Alex or anywhere else in Egypt would fast lose interest if you didn't buy their wares, were more than happy just to sit and chat and make you a traditional Siwan tea.
All in all, an awesome weekend and I can't wait to get back to Siwa, although I don't think it will ever be quite the same somehow. There are many more stories to be told, most poignant of which regarding "Timmy", but alas these will have to wait. Many thanks to all who came, it wouldn't have been the same without you.
Keep me informed of what's going on back home and wherever you are in the world!
Tx
PS. Answers on a postcard regarding the title ;)
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Lovin the outfit in the new picture, looks like you belong there - are you used to the heat yet?
Have fun and keep filling us in.
God Bless
Laura x x