Egypt - أهلاً و سهلاً (Ahlan Wa-Sahlan)!

Egypt has such a rich history, and we are fortunate to to know such much about its heritage.  We started our time in Egypt by standing at the bottom of the Grand Pyramids!  We were also able to virtually tour historic Egyptian archaeological sites via Google Arts and Cultures.  It was an inspiring trip, showcasing important historical sites from different parts of the country, including from the 5,000 year old ancient tomb of Queen Meresankh II to the Red Monastry in Souhag. 

We also played a game called "mancala," which is known as a pet-and-pebble or counting-and-capturing game.  This ancient game originated in Egypt and has now spread across Africa and the Middle East.  To play the game you will need an empty egg carton, "stones," small bowls, and pencils, pens, or paints.  The goal of the game is to collect the most "stones" in your "store" and you win!

We wanted to read about Egypt's pharaohs, but rather on focusing on the famed Ramses, we decided instead to read about Hatshepsut, who was the longest-reigning female pharaoh in Egypt, and who is considered one of Egypt's most successful pharaohs.  Hatshepsut established trade networks that helped build the wealth of the eighteenth dynasty of Egypt and she commissioned hundreds of construction projects and statuary, including obelisks and monuments.  According to some historians, Hatshepsut is known as "the first great woman in history of whom we are informed."    

We ended our travels in Egypt by eating homemade kushari and learning more about the legendary queens of Egypt, Nefertiti, Sobekneferu, Merneith, Twosret, and, one of the last, but undoubtedly the most famous queen, Cleopatra, even dressing up as our own version of a queen!  

There is so much more about Egypt that we hope to experience soon, including, how the Egyptians used a type of pictograph method for writing called hieroglyphics, how Egyptians painted murals on the walls of the great Pharaohs' tombs telling stories, and how Egyptians were master woodworkers, stone sculptors, weavers, jewelers, and potters. Many of these items were buried with them in their tombs, as they believed they would bring these items with them to the afterlife.  Many of the everyday essential items that the Egyptians had in their tombs are now considered artifacts, and can be viewed in different museums around the world.  The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has pieces from Egypt in conjunction with their exhibition, "Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World" which we will be visiting soon!  ﺷﻜﺮﺍﹰ (Shukran), Egypt!  Fiji is next!