A Country of Wonders

Egypt.

One of the worlds’ most beautiful countries and home to many breathtaking, historical landmarks. The Great Pyramid of Giza and The Lighthouse of Alexandria are part of the mysterious Seven Wonders of the World. As time passes by, many of the original artifacts have unfortunately perished away, however, the Great Pyramid of Giza remains the sole surviving member of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World.

Have you ever visited Luxor? What do You know about it?

Luxor is a very beautiful city in Upper (Southern) Egypt and the Capital of Luxor Governorate. Yes, you read that right. Upper Egypt is also called Southern Egypt because the Nile River flows from South to North, making the Upper Nile south to the Lower Nile. This method of naming transferred to the country itself and created Upper and Lower Egypt, respectively. Therefore, Upper Egypt is South of Lower Egypt because the Upper Nile is South of Lower Nile. It’s a little tricky but don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.

Luxor is a city on the East bank of the Nile River on the site of its ancient predecessor, Thebes, the capital city of Upper Egypt during the 16th-11th centuries B.C., at the peak of the Pharaoh’s power. It may be hard to grasp but Luxor houses nearly one-third of the world’s monuments. It is the world’s greatest open-air museum.

Today, the city surrounds many ancient monuments such as the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple, a mile North of Luxor and on the West Bank, the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens and Tombs of the Nobles.

Luxor weather is one only found in dreams of paradise. When temperatures dip below 0° C here in Canada, the temperature ranges from a high of 24°C to a low of 7° C in winter! This causes many tourists to book a trip to Egypt during winter to escape the harsh blizzards and visible breath in the frigid air.

Have you heard of Abu Simbel?

Abu Simbel is a village in the Egyptian part of Nubia. Abu Simbel is famous for its two massive rock temples and the sun temple. There is a very widely known and intriguing event in Abu Simbel temple known as the sun festival. It occurs twice a year when the sun illuminates on the face of the king Ramses II. The first day is February 22 which is the anniversary of ascension to the throne, and the second day is October 22 which is his birthday.

Egypt is more than just a travel destination. It is the bridge to the ancient world, home to many of the world’s greatest monuments, and a remainder of our past. So, if the opportunity arises, don’t reject it! A trip to a country of wonders just might be the getaway you’ve been dreaming of.

Written by Sarah Abdellatif