dream realized

This time, one year ago, I had boarded a plane, solo, to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams and to cross one thing off of my life-time "to do list" - to visit Egypt. You see, I've had a long-standing love affair with Egypt for many, many years. Ever since we learned how to write our names in heiroglyps in grade 6 I've been somewhat obsessed with the country and knew one day I'd visit the land of pyramids, lost Queens and mummies. Since that day in gr.6 I've taken every (well, most) opportunities to learn about it and it's fascinating history: I'd watch every TV special that aired, I'd buy books, I'd visit the museum to check out the Egypt exhibit. So I knew it was only a matter of time before I visited the country.

Sick and tired of waiting for someone to get 'serious' or to save up enough money to join me I decided to just do it. I had the money, the desire and the vacation time. My mom was shocked when I told her, as would any mother be who is told by their child they are heading off to a very foregin land all by themselves (and it didn't help that she kept thinking of Egypt as Iran and Iraq). But my mom knows I'm responsible and once she knew my mind was made up, that I had the ticket in hand - I think she was...impressed. I'd done my reserach and showed her maps and picutres from the 'net of things I would soon see with my own eyes, plus it was a dream of mine.

When I landed in Egypt...I experienced a million emotions: i'm here, i did it being the two most overwhelming. I had realized a dream 14 years in the making and spent the next 2 1/2 weeks discovering the past and present of Egypt.

In honour of my trip 1 year ago I'd like to share some of my images with you all (captions at the end of post).

After all seeing and doing all of the above and so, so, SO much more , at the end of my journey I realized one important thing; I'd barely scratched the surface and would have to return again one day. And so now, 1 year later, I remember my time in Egypt fondly and with a sense of accomplishment. I never tire of speaking about my experience and I still speak of the country with a sense of awe and wonder.

I still watch every TV special that airs.

I still buy books about the country.

But I no longer visit museums to check out the Egyptian exhibit...because it just doesn't compare to the real thing. (Believe me, I went to the museum a few months upon my return and was thoroughly dissapointed and extremely underwhelemed...i was almost depressed at how incomplete and how very little was there. Of course, if I hadn't seen the Egyptian Museum in Cairo firsthand I wouldn't have known what I was missing).

*Captions: Image 1 - The Valley of the Kings, Image 2 - taken inside a tomb at the Valley of the Kings, Image 3 - Mt. Sinai, Image 4 - The sunrise at the top of Mt. Sinai, Image 5 - snorkelling at the Red Sea, Image 6 - typical Egyptian lunch, Image 7 - Abu Simbel, Image 8 - The Crypt of the Holy Family. All images copyright.

** I have another blog on the 'net so if this post looks familiar that's why. This is a slightly condensed version.