News — travel blog

We now offer many pieces from the Khayamiya (tentmakers) district of old Cairo in our Etsy store. For over 1,000 years, the tentmakers of Cairo hand-stitched huge panels (some as large as 10 x 20 feet) that were attached to the interior of tents. These were primarily used for funeral gatherings, with very bright green, orange and red colors.   The designs are created by the 'appliqué' process which is stitching layers on top of canvas backing. In recent years, the tentmakers began making smaller pieces to be used as bedspreads, wall hangings, and pillowcases, using much softer color tones. The...

    Contrary to the what you might think, camels are not thought to have been in Egypt during ancient times (around 3000 BC). Camels are said to have been brought by foreign travelers and conquerors who traveled across the desert in the Ptolemaic Period (around 350 BC). Today, you can find camels in Egypt used for tourist adventures. Egyptians hold camel riding tours around the Pyramids of Giza. In an effort to provide more items that give you a taste of Egypt and a feeling of walking through Egypt itself, we have added a small camel statue to our product line. Mini...

  On my most recent trip to Luxor, I went to visit my favorite spot in Medinat Habu (Habu Temple). I was surprised to see scaffolding on a large section of the columns, with a team of young students working diligently on it.  I must admit, I liked the idea of removing dust, dirt, bird poop, etc. However, when I realized that the colorful sections were changing color, I was a bit concerned.   As a purist, I much prefer the 'weathered by thousands of years' look, but I am hopeful that this deepening of the colors will lighten over...

Luxor is located about 450 miles south of Cairo on the east bank of the Nile River, and is home to some of the most spectacular temples and tombs in all of Egypt.  Karnak Temple and the Temple of Luxor are two amazing structures of pillars and facades that still stand after thousands of years.   During the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (3500 years ago!) construction began on a 1.5 mile road lined with sphinxes to connect the two temples The path was used once a year during the Opet festival. During this parade, Egyptians carried statues of Amun and Mut to...

Aswan stands out as a special part of Egypt. In particular, the Nile in Aswan is one of the most picturesque settings in all of Egypt. If there is wind, a sailboat ride is an absolute must.  Sailing south out of Aswan for an hour or so you reach rapids that are called cataracts. Experienced boat captains 'play' with the roiling waters and it is a wonderful, exotic experience. Aswan marks the beginning of Nubia, the area shared by Egypt and Sudan, and you can sense the cultural change as Africa approaches. Following the ride down the Nile, you can...