Egypt

A Weekend in Egypt

By Wander with Jill

June 16^th, 2022

Usually when I travel out the country I never only go to one country or city. I figure if I have traveled thousands of miles already, I might as well make the most of it and explore something else. So after my week in Albania I decided to go back to one of my favorite countries in the world...Egypt. Luckily I have a good friend who lives in Giza and is always up for hosting me in his country.

This trip was my third time spent in Egypt. Although It was short trip, it was relaxing and just what I needed.

I spent one day in Cairo. Here I got to visit the Civilization Museum which was pretty cool.

NMEC-National Musuem of Egyptian Civilization

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is the first museum in the entire Arab world focusing on the entirety of Egyptian history, as opposed to a sole focus Egypt’s ancient history. This 5,300,000 square foot space sits in the ancient city of Fustat, in Cairo, Egypt. The museum first opened in 2017 and is home to a collection of 50,000 artifacts, tracing the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to today.

I was very impressed by this museum. The Royal Mummies Hall was a highlight although no photos could be taken. Here I got to see 22 mummies that were recently moved from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Tahrir Square. This grouping included 18 kings and four queens.

This large collection of royal mummies includes the likes of King Ramses II, the most famous pharaoh of the New Kingdom, and Queen Hatshepsut, who came to rule at a time when women did not become pharaohs. What I can tell you is that these rooms were fascinating.

Hurghada

On my 2nd day in Egypt my friend suggested we go to Hurghada for the remaining days to relax and chill. So we flew from Cairo to Hurghada, which was a 1 hour long flight. This city is Located on the coast of the Red Sea and is one of Egypt's most popular tourist destinations. Hurghada has beautiful beaches and perfect crystal-clear waters for diving and snorkelling.

Here I was able to truly relax and unwind.

Mahmya

On my third day we decided to take a day trip to Mahmya.

Mahmya means "protected area" in Arabic, and when you see the island you will understand why it is protected. Located on the south side of the island of Giftun, Mahmya is an ideal place to spend a day relaxing in a spectacular white sandy beach with crystal clear waters that will leave you in awe.

To get to Mahmya, you must take a 1 hour boat ride from Hurghada. Once you have landed on the island, you are able to snorkel on the coral coast, take a walk on the beach, or just relax in this spectacular place. There is also a bar-restaurant with WIFI available that serves all kinds of drinks and delicious fresh fish dishes. For all travelers to Hurghada, this island is a must-visit.

I spent my final day going parasailing along the red sea. I always love to engage in water sports activities and this was a lot of fun.

El Mina Mosque

I spent my final evening by visiting the El Mina Mosque (in Arabic, Masjid El Mina). Which is one of the most famous mosques and the top attractions in Hurghada. It is undoubtedly the biggest and most impressive mosque and building in Hurghada. I was stunned by its beauty and even though I am not muslim I still went in to pray.

Overall I have such a deep connection to Egypt that I know I will continue to go back and keep exploring all that the country has to offer. There is truly so much to see and I have only just started. For Booking tours in Egypt I suggest using Blue Sky Group. https://www.blueskygroup.net/