This time, one year ago, I had boarded a plane, solo, to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams and cross of on thing on my 'lifetime to-do list' - to visit Egypt. You see, I've had a long-standing love affair with Egypt for many, many years. Ever since we were introduced to the country in gr.6 and learned to write our name in hieroglyphs I've been...obsessed with the country and knew that one day I'd visit the land of pyramids, lost Queens, and mummies. Since that day in gr.6 I fell, hard, for the country and have taken every (well, most) opportunities to learn more about it and it's fascinating history: I'd watch every TV special that aired, I'd buy books, I'd visit museums to check out the Egypt exhibit. So I knew it was only a matter of time before I visited the country.

Sick and tired of waiting for someone to get 'serious' or to save up money to join me I decided to just do it. My mom didn't believe me, maybe because I brought it up quite casually on some random day in January - just two months before my decided upon departure date...

scene: watching tv or some other random thing

me: 'so, i'm gonna go to Egypt'
mom: 'huh'
me: 'Egypt. I think i'm gonna go'
silence
me: 'did you hear me? i'm going to Egypt'
mom: (totally humoring me) 'when?'
me: 'ummm. end of march. yeah, that sounds good - end of march'
mom: 'with who?'
me: 'ahhh. i think by myself'
silence
me: 'did you hear me? i'm really going. in march'
mom: 'mmm-hmm'

And that was it. Until I came home with my ticket in-hand. My mom still didn't believe me until I showed her the physical ticket (which I was shaking when I bought). Then she was concerned.

why Egypt? you don't know anyone there? why by yourself? why don't you wait? what the %^@#?

But my mom knows I'm responsible and once she knew I'd made up my mind i think she was...impressed. I'd done my research and showed her maps, pictures from the 'net of what I would soon see with my own eyes, plus she knew this was a dream of mine...

When I arrived in Egypt...I experienced a million and one emotions: i'm here, i did it being two of the most overwhelming.

I had realized a dream 14 years in the making.

The next 2 1/2 weeks were spent discovering the past and present of Egypt.

I wondered how??? as I gazed upon the
pyramids and the mighty Sphinx.


I spent over 3 hours in the Egyptian Museum -
including 5 minutes in silence, bymyself, with royal mummies...


I ate like an Egyptian.

    
I walked among kings at The Valley of the Kings...


and remembered a great Queen who had tried to be erased...


and explored ancient temples with faceless reminders of the past.


I challenged myself physically and climbed Mt. Siani at dusk
(this is a day shot - didn't take a good night one)...


to watch the sun rise at dawn.

    
I visited the Citadel - for a famed view at the city of Cairo from its courtyard...


and within its walls said a prayer at the Mosque of Mohammad Ali.


I went snorkelling in the Red Sea...


and saw the moon as I had never seen it before.

        


I stood amazed as I contemplated 5,000 year old art that I could touch and that looked like it had been painted only
a few months or years ago...(first image taken inside a tomb!).


I travelled as the ancient Egyptians had -
by felucca on the Nile...


and gasped at the view of it from my balcony by day.


I stood in the shadow of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel
(and several other places)...


and before the Crypt of the Holy Family.

And after all of that and so, so, SO much more, at the end of my journey I realized one important thing: I had barely scratched the surface and would have to return again one day.

And so now, 1 year later, I remember my time in Egypt fondly and with a sense of accomplishment. I never tire of speaking of my experience and I still speak of the country with a sense of awe and wonder.

I still watch every tv special that airs.

I still buy books about the country.

But I longer visit the museum to check out the Egyptian exhibit...because it just doesn't compare to the real thing.