Few highlights from this trip to Cairo, Egypt with Rami’s Insight Tours
Part 1 of 3 – February 2020- Egypt trip
• Giza Pyramids
• Camel riding
• Lunch with locals
• Papyrus & Perfume Tour
This month took me to a country I have grown to love very much – Egypt – and thanks to the professionalism and co-ordination by Rami’s Insight Tours, his team combined with the warm welcome by the local people, the experience was once again magnificent – an experience for all the senses! On this 4 day vacation, I was accompanied by my friend and holistic therapist Rebekah Debono at Maltese Mystic Yogi and Marin Babanov, the talented photographer and friend I have been working with for the past year or so on my blog and socials.
Wearing my jewellery line at Gemstones & Jewellery by GC
Together, we explored beautiful sights, dined together, rode camels, danced, laughed and cried together. Egypt is one of those countries which allows you to drop your filters, relax and just be in the present moment. It is a country rich in contrasts which take you by surprise.
The energies are overwhelming and you feel recharged by the power from the earth beneath your feet. Here in this blog are a few highlights of things we did with Rami’s Tours, accompanied by wonderful photos, some of which have been shared on my Instagram page @graziellecamilleri which has now reached 80 k followers!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!
We stayed at the Lotus Guest House which has, as you can see, full views of the 3 main pyramids. The rooms are comfortable and kept clean. For photograph enthusiasts, bloggers and influencers, this is a very instagrammable place and they have all the basic amenities you need including internet, fruit and fresh drinks in the refrigerator, and a blow drier in your room, all-inclusive. A very generous breakfast too.
Rami, Ela, Rebekah and me at the Lotus Guest House – Feb 2020
A visit of the 3 largest Giza Pyramids & Camel Riding Experience
On the first day, we immediately began with an eventful day, jam packed with experiences.
We enjoyed a half day tour exploring the history and culture of Egypt at the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, said to be the oldest of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, and the last still standing. The ancient engineering feats at Giza were so impressive that even today scientists, builders, and archaelogists still can’t be sure how the pyramids were built. Yet we have learned much about the people who enjoyed them.
We explored the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. Our guide described the story of their monumental construction, and told us about their mysteries, before we explored the inside of the largest pyramid. You have to see them in person and feel the energy to even try to understand the incredulous way these structures were built with such precision in the alignment of the star systems in the skies above. They were not built by slaves but by some seriously tactful technique which is up to this day beyond our human comprehension.
After visiting the pyramid, we rode camels along a part of the desert. This was my second time. For my travel partners, it was their first! It’s always amusing to experience the ride, and to observe the reactions of people who try it for the first time! I love how the camel bends down graciously to allow you to come off its back. The camel is a beautiful animal. It has adapted itself to withstand the sandy dunes and the changes in temperature. The beauty of creation! Camels are working animals especially suited to their desert habitat and are a vital means of transport for passengers and cargo. They are very well trained too!
Surprise Site close to the Giza Pyramids
This was a surprise by Rami and his team and it is not a site open to the general public. It is only with guides like Rami who have the right contacts and connections, that can you access sites like these that are being discovered every month in Egypt.
This particular one seemed to be a site of preparation for a ceremony of some sort. The masculine and feminine statues represent the female and male energies and by standing in front of them and touching them, you can feel a difference in energy between the two. It s incredible but true. See it and feel it to believe it.
Lunch With the Locals
One of my favourite moments was when we were invited to have lunch with the family of our guide Rami. We did have the option of dining in restaurant but personally, I much prefer experiencing the “Real Egypt”by having contact with the people in their natural environment. Rami’s mum and aunt cooked a wonderful lunch for us all and we enjoyed lunch together in their home. The food consisting of various traditional Egyptian dishes were absolutely delicious, so much so that we ate everything!
This experience is always very humbling to me. I feel that these people are so kind and content and they are willing to share their home, that I really feel so much love and affection that I get all emotional. We chatted with them while the youngest family member kept running around and playing games with his uncle. I couldn’t help think about my young daughter Luna and how she would have enjoyed playing with him. I thoroughly enjoyed this moment and as the sun was setting behind the pyramids in full view, all I could feel was gratitude for the love and blessings received that day. If you get the chance to dine with locals, go for it. Locals are so friendly and warm and they all have families like you and me. You will experience the real, authentic Egypt.
Papyrus Manufacturing Tour and learn Papyrus making in Egypt
Papyrus is an important part of Egypt’s history. The raw material used to make this ancient paper comes from the stalk of the Cyperus papyrus plant,which has a brittle interior and a tough exterior and grows in damp regions of the Nile Delta. Its method of production was a well¬-kept secret for many years, allowing the ancient Egyptians to have a monopoly over its production and distribution.
There is a Papyrus shop not far from the Pyramids in Giza, where visitors can browse and buy a huge selection of hand-painted papyrus prints. Prices range from the cheap to the very expensive, but bear in mind that these prints are the authentic article and make for some quality souvenirs. Adeal from the Papyrus shop walked us through the entire process of manufacturing papyrus, including a demonstration of exactly how it is made. At the end, we couldn’t help ourselves from taking a souvenir home and at the same time support the local business. Another experience I highly recommend!
Can you tell that I m in love with Cairo? And you will too if you visit.
Is Egypt a safe place to travel?
Oh yes! Visitors can rest easy: yes, Egypt is a safe country for tourists. And the rest of the world seems to agree — after years of middling numbers, tourism in Egypt is steadily rising towards its former highs, hosting over 9 million sightseers in 2019. I would not advise you to travel without having a guide for many reasons I will share in one of my next blogs.
Egypt is probably the world’s oldest civilization having emerged from the Nile Valley around 3,100 BC, historically. Yes, Egypt is a good place to be visited with friends or even as a family holiday destination. This destination is worth spending time with your loved ones and explore it to the fullest!
I hope you enjoyed this blog – one of 3 parts. To follow more, stay tuned to graziellecamilleri.com !
xxx
Grazielle
