The Passenger ⋆ Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Miṣr

Egypt stands as one of the world’s most fascinating destinations, carrying the weight of millennia within its sands and monuments. Often called the cradle of civilisation, it was home to powerful dynasties whose architectural and cultural feats shaped history. From the time of the ancient Pharaohs through the Greek and Roman periods, Egypt maintained a central role in trade, religion, and scholarship. Even in later centuries under Islamic rule, its cities flourished with vibrant learning centres, mosques, and bustling markets. The blend of these eras is still visible today, layered into the landscapes along the Nile.

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Cairo

القاهرة is one of the world’s most captivating cities, lying at the heart of Egyptian civilisation and brimming with layers of history. Founded in the 10th century by the Fatimids, it grew into a powerful Islamic centre under successive dynasties and later became the beating heart of modern Egypt following the Ottoman and British periods. Despite its relatively recent origins compared to nearby ancient sites, القاهرة’s surroundings are steeped in antiquity, with the Nile serving as both lifeblood and boundary between eras. Pharaohs ruled just downstream in Memphis and Giza, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy that continues to define the city’s global image.

November 24, 2025November 25, 2025

Egyptian Civilization

Set along the edge of Fustat, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in القاهرة is one of Egypt’s most remarkable modern cultural achievements. Unlike the older institutions dedicated mainly to the grandeur of the pharaonic period, this museum offers a panoramic narration of Egypt’s entire civilizational development, from prehistoric times right through to the present day. The spacious, beautifully architected building integrates sleek contemporary design with motifs inspired by ancient Egyptian forms, creating a sense of continuity between the country’s deep past and its modern national identity.

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Grand Egyptian

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) stands as one of Egypt’s most ambitious cultural projects, located near the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramids forming a spectacular backdrop. Conceived in the early 2000s, the museum was designed to serve as a new global centre for Egyptian archaeology and heritage, accommodating the growing need for modern exhibition space. The idea emerged as the century-old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square became overcrowded and outdated, struggling to house and preserve the vast artefacts gathered over two centuries of excavation. Construction began in earnest in the mid-2000s, with international collaboration shaping its architecture and conservation laboratories into some of the most advanced in the world.

November 22, 2025November 22, 2025

Luxor International

Luxor International Airport serves as the principal gateway to one of Egypt’s most historically rich regions, lying a short distance east of the Nile near the ancient city of Thebes. Established during the mid-20th century, the airport initially functioned as a modest airfield catering mainly to domestic flights. As Egypt’s tourism sector expanded through the 1970s and 1980s, the airport underwent significant modernisation, evolving into an international hub designed to connect European and Middle Eastern visitors with the famed temples and tombs of Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.

November 22, 2025November 22, 2025

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a renowned archaeological site located on the west bank of the Nile near الأقصر, Egypt. It served as the burial ground for Egypt’s royalty and powerful nobles during the New Kingdom period, roughly from 1539 BC to 1075 BC. The valley consists mainly of rock-cut tombs, carved deep into the hillsides beneath the peak known as al-Qurn, which is shaped like a pyramid and likely symbolised the royal power of the New Kingdom pharaohs. This secluded location was chosen to deter grave robbers, guarded by special police known as the Medjay, and it marked a shift from the grand pyramid tombs of earlier times to more discreet, elaborate subterranean burial chambers.

November 21, 2025

Luxor

The Temple of Luxor, situated on the east bank of the Nile in the ancient city of Thebes, dates back to approximately 1400 BCE during Egypt’s New Kingdom era. It was first constructed by Pharaoh Amenhotep III and subsequently expanded by notable rulers such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II. This temple complex was primarily dedicated to the Theban triad of the god Amun-Ra, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu. Historically, the temple played a crucial role in religious and royal ceremonies, particularly the Opet Festival, an annual event where the statues of these deities were ceremonially transported from Karnak to الأقصر along an avenue lined with sphinxes, symbolizing the rejuvenation of kingship.

November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Mummies

The Luxor Museum, located on the Nile’s east bank between Luxor Temple and Karnak, offers one of Egypt’s most refined presentations of ancient artefacts. Unlike the grand and crowded Egyptian Museum in القاهرة, this museum is distinguished by its elegance, intelligent lighting, and uncluttered displays. Its modern architecture, with clean lines and glass cases, creates an almost meditative atmosphere that allows visitors to appreciate each piece in quiet detail. The museum’s two floors are thoughtfully arranged to illustrate the artistic and political development of Thebes, the ancient city that once stood where الأقصر does today.

November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Karnak

The Temple of Karnak, located on the east bank of the Nile in modern-day الأقصر, stands as one of the most extraordinary and extensive religious complexes in the ancient world. Its construction began around 1971 BCE during the reign of Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom and continued for approximately one and a half millennia through the contributions of about thirty successive pharaohs. Originally modest in scale, Karnak expanded to become a sprawling sacred site dedicated predominantly to the god Amun-Re, along with precincts honouring the gods Mut and Montu. This temple was not only a religious centre but a vibrant estate, housing priests and craftsmen who maintained its grandeur, making it a vital hub of worship and royal power in ancient Egypt.

November 20, 2025November 20, 2025

Death on the Nile

Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile unfolds as a captivating tale of passion, jealousy, and murder set against the mesmerising backdrop of early twentieth-century Egypt. The story begins in England, where the wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway, admired for her beauty and fortune, marries Simon Doyle, much to the shock of her close circle. Their marriage provokes the resentment of Jacqueline de Bellefort, Linnet’s former friend and Simon’s ex-fiancée, who feels deeply betrayed. Determined to haunt the newlyweds wherever they go, Jacqueline follows them relentlessly, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation far from home.