Dear Journal,
June 26th
Good afternoon! Right now, we are on the bus heading toward the border between Egypt and Israel. Let me catch you up on everything that has happened since we arrived at the hotel early Sunday morning.
I was in a deep sleep when I awoke to heavy pounding on the door. The group was already on the bus, ready to head out. I was so exhausted that I said I would catch up in an hour or two, grabbed some more sleep, and then took a taxi to meet them at this perfume gallery.
The group was seated in an open room, listening to a gallery staff member explain how the oils are mixed. Members of my group were daubed with several different fragrances from intricately made glass bottles, which we were told are used in some of the world’s most famous perfumes. The air was filled with delightful scents as we sampled the various options.
I was welcomed with a refreshing drink called kakade, made from hibiscus flowers. The cool, tart beverage was a perfect respite from the heat. The boxes to hold the perfume bottles were beautifully crafted, adding to the charm of the experience. We even had the opportunity to mix our own scents, creating personalized perfumes to take home. It was a delightful blend of tradition and luxury, and a memorable part of our journey.
As lovely as it was, I was most anxious to get to the pyramids. On the bus, as we drew closer, I felt like a little kid. They were so big. Once registered, we snaked through the line and eventually were set free to stare and take pictures. And marvel. I thought about how the children of Israel had to make bricks without straw. I wondered if it were these bricks that were used to make these pyramids.
After the excitement of a long day, I was glad to head back to the hotel for dinner and a sound night’s sleep.
After breakfast, we checked out and headed to the Papyrus Institute. The institute is an incredible place where the ancient art of papyrus making is preserved and showcased. Watching skilled artisans demonstrate the traditional process was fascinating. They harvested the papyrus plant, peeled it, and laid out the strips in a crisscross pattern before pressing and drying them into sheets. This method has been used since around 3000 BCE, highlighting the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians.
The institute also displayed beautiful artworks painted on papyrus, featuring motifs and hieroglyphs that tell stories of daily life and religious beliefs. It was amazing to see how these ancient techniques are still alive today. I even bought a small piece of papyrus art to take home, a tangible connection to this rich cultural heritage. This visit deepened my appreciation for the craftsmanship and history of Egypt.
So now we are on the bus heading toward crossing the border into Israel. I’ll catch up with you later. I am sure I’ll have more experiences to share.
This is part 2 of an 8 part series.
#PharaohsFootsteps #EgyptianHistory #PyramidsOfGiza #PapyrusArt #CulturalImmersion #AncientEgypt #TravelWithPurpose #BiblicalConnections #ExploreEgypt #TravelMemories #LeadershipSummit #traveljournal