The Passenger ⋆ Page 2 of 319 ⋆ Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

Memphis

The ancient city of مَنْف in Egypt holds a remarkable place in history as one of the earliest urban settlements, founded around 3100 BCE. It was established by Menes (or Narmer), who is credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt, making مَنْف the first capital of a unified Egyptian kingdom. The city’s original name, often translated as ‚White Walls‘, possibly referred to its royal palace. مَنْف stood as the political and religious heart of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and remained an important centre through several dynasties. Although its status as capital was eventually superseded by Thebes and later الإسكندرية, Memphis still played a significant role in the economic and religious landscape of ancient Egypt for much of its history. It is also the place in which Alexander the Great was crowned as Pharao of Egypt – stepping into the footsteps of Ramses II.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

Djoser

The Step Pyramid of Djoser, located in the Saqqara necropolis near ancient Memphis, stands as the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt and represents a pivotal moment in architectural history. Constructed during the 27th century BCE, in the Third Dynasty, it was commissioned as the tomb for Pharaoh Djoser. Designed by the renowned architect and ancient polymath Imhotep, this pyramid marks the transition from traditional mastaba tombs to the revolutionary step pyramid design, featuring six distinct tiers that rise about 62 metres high. The structure was originally clad in polished white limestone, intended to stand gleaming under the Egyptian sun, and its base aligned roughly with the four cardinal points.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

The Pyramids

The Pyramids of Giza, standing on the edge of the western desert near القاهرة, are the enduring symbols of ancient Egypt’s grandeur. Constructed during the Fourth Dynasty around 2600 to 2500 BC, these monumental tombs were built for Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, known in Greek as Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos. The Great Pyramid of Khufu was the earliest and largest, originally standing at about 146 metres and built from more than two million limestone blocks. Nearby, the smaller pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure followed, forming a remarkable necropolis that reflected not only royal power but also the Egyptians’ refined mastery of architectural engineering and celestial alignment.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

Pounds, piastres & qirsh

The currency of Egypt is known as the Egyptian pound, locally called the ‚geneih‘. It has been the country’s official monetary unit since 1834, when it replaced the piastre as the main accounting measure under Ottoman influence. Initially, the currency was tied to sterling during the British occupation and later to the U.S. dollar before moving to a floating exchange rate in the twenty‑first century. The most recent phase of its evolution has been marked by significant devaluations as part of economic reforms aimed at stabilising the Egyptian economy and encouraging foreign investment.

November 15, 2025November 15, 2025

Cairo International

Cairo International Airport stands as Egypt’s principal gateway to the world and one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs. Originally established in the 1940s as a military airfield known as Payne Field during the Second World War, it was transformed into a civil airport in 1963 to serve the growing demands of Egypt’s capital. Over the following decades, it expanded steadily, replacing the earlier Heliopolis Airport, which could no longer accommodate the increasing volume of passengers and cargo. Each subsequent phase of development reflected القاهرة’s evolving position as a crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe.

November 8, 2025November 8, 2025

Neuengamme

The Neuengamme concentration camp, located in the outskirts of Hamburg, was established by the SS in late 1938 initially as a subcamp of Sachsenhausen before becoming independent in 1940. The site, built around a disused brickworks, played a grim role in Nazi efforts to exploit forced labour for the war economy, with prisoners compelled to endure backbreaking tasks under brutal conditions. Over its seven-year existence until liberation in May 1945, Neuengamme became the central concentration camp in north-west Germany, expanding to include dozens of satellite camps throughout the region.

November 2, 2025November 2, 2025

Kunstmuseum

The Kunstmuseum in Den Haag stands as an emblem of modern art institutions, rooted in an illustrious history dating back to 1866 when a group of artists and collectors founded the Society for the Development of a Museum of Modern Art. Their vision was embraced by civic leaders and prominent artists such as Philip Sadée and Hendrik Willem Mesdag, transforming the museum into a cultural centrepiece for Den Haag. The collection grew rapidly, outstripping its initial premises until it found a permanent home at its present site, reflecting both the historical depth and continuous expansion of its holdings through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

October 29, 2025October 29, 2025

Ruhmeshalle

The Ruhmeshalle in München stands as a grand neoclassical monument, overlooking the Theresienwiese from its elevated position on the western edge of the city centre. Designed by the renowned architect Leo von Klenze and commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, it was completed between 1843 and 1853. Its purpose was to serve as a hall of fame, celebrating figures who had made distinguished contributions to Bavarian culture, science, and public life. The open colonnade, built in the style of a Greek temple, forms a semi-circle that conveys both prestige and reverence, harmoniously blending with Münchens 19th-century architectural spirit.

October 28, 2025October 29, 2025

Starkbierfest

Nestled on a gentle hill in the district of Au, the Nockherberg holds a special place in Münchens cultural and brewing history. It is best known as the home of the Paulaner Brewery, which has stood here since the seventeenth century. The origin of Nockherberg’s fame dates back to 1634, when monks of the Neudeck ob der Au monastery first brewed a dark, strong beer known as Salvator to sustain themselves during Lent. This hearty beverage quickly gained popularity, becoming not only a symbol of local craftsmanship but also an inseparable part of Münchens identity. Over time, the hillside location transformed from a monastic retreat into a vibrant site for one of Bavaria’s most beloved beer traditions.

October 25, 2025October 25, 2025

KZ Moringen

The Konzentrationslager Moringen, located near Göttingen in Lower Saxony, began its grim history shortly after the Nazi rise to power in 1933. Established within the buildings of a former Arbeitshaus (or Werkhaus, an institution for forced labour), it was among the first wave of concentration camps set up across Germany, predating the large, industrial-scale camps that would later define the regime’s terror. Initially, the camp served as a detention site for political opponents of the Nazis – primarily communists, social democrats, and trade unionists. Prisoners were subjected to harsh conditions, forced labour, and systematic abuse, as the camp became a testing ground for the early concentration camp system.