travel beyond the obvious
Often people will tell me “I don’t need to travel to see the world; I can see it through pictures.”As a photographer, I should be grateful for this attitude, as it provides a potential market Read More …
I went on a college alumni tour to Egypt – without my husband – in 2007. Despite being on my own, I quickly became part of the “singles club,” a revolving group of us who Read More …
No, not the Pope in Rome, but the Coptic Pope Shenouda III – the only pope (thus far) to bless me. I was fortunate to receive a blessing from the Pope when I was in Read More …
Ah, Cairo. As a visitor who never had to get anywhere on my own, I loved the chaos of Cairo.I can’t imagine maneuvering through it on a daily basis. The heart of Cairo is filled Read More …
The Egyptian government has undertaken the restoration of the ancient Coptic Christian Monastery of Saint Anthony (Deir Mar Antonios). photo by Miami Love 1 (on Flickr) Along with restoration of the structures and paintings, the Read More …
Egypt really is awesome and amazing: The Beginning (Monday, February 7) Frankfurt (Tuesday, February 8) The Cairo Airport Dinner in Cario The Egyptian Museum (Wednesday, February 9) In Search of the Holy Family The Night Read More …
General info This trip was an alumni tour sponsored by Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. I was only on the trip because one of the leaders was Larry Alderink, a favorite professor of mine in Read More …
After a few quick errands – including shopping for last minute gifts (yes, Brian, it took me this long to get your camel), I head up to the hotel bar to meet Larry and Lynda Read More …
There is still one hour until checkout and I am spending it on my deck, the Nile sprawled out below me and the city’s wonderful cacophony of sound swirling all around. I love it here. Read More …
After a simple, lovely lunch, we walk back to the hotel. Our security detail drives alongside, always keeping an eye on us, but I’m happy to be out in the city. We’ve had few opportunities Read More …
Romani has been cagey about what he has planned for us today, saying only that he is taking us to the “other side of the world.” We leave downtown Cairo, our mini-bus working its way Read More …
The monasteries we have been visiting are all located in an area referred to as Wadi Natrun, a low spot in the Western Desert northwest of Cairo where underground water from the Nile supports a Read More …
The Monastery of St. Bishoy (or Bishoi) is literally next door to the Monastery of the Syrians, we could walk there, but we don’t.The two monasteries have more than location in common, as they date Read More …
The Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary is also known as the Monastery of the Syrians because it was used by Syrian monks beginning in the 8th century. The monastery’s founding actually goes back to Read More …
Wadi Naturn is a depression in the desert that lies below sea level, so there is water is at or close to the surface in many places. Although never settled by them, this area was Read More …
Driving through Cairo. . . Today’s itinerary will take us to Wadi Natrun, which is located at the near edge of the Western Desert. However, before we reach the desert, we first pass through the Read More …
This probably should be titled “the sacred and the profane.” Friday is a day off in Egypt, so the streets are crowded with shoppers. We too are going to a market – the Khan al-Khalili, Read More …
To explore this area further, we turn back past the Coptic Museum toward the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. photo: www.galenfrysinger.com Built in 1909 after the original church burned, the church towers above the Read More …