Two months ago, before our trip to Cairo, we spent wonderful days cruising along the Nile and later relaxing on the Red Sea in Hurghada. Like many visitors, we were offered a variety of optional excursions by local tour operators. One of the most popular choices was, of course, a day trip to Cairo.
Many people from our cruise group
decided to book it. Some flew there, others travelled by bus. We considered
joining them, but in the end we listened to our hearts and I am very glad that
we did.
One of the reasons we skipped the
day trip was that there was one very special place we wanted to visit, and with
the tight schedule of an organised tour it simply would not have been possible.
Instead, we stayed in Hurghada and enjoyed the sunshine, relaxed by the pool,
and waited until we could experience Cairo properly later.
The typical day excursion includes a
visit to the old Egyptian Museum, the new Grand Egyptian Museum, the famous
bazaar, and of course the highlight for most visitors: the Pyramids of Giza.
When our fellow travellers returned,
they all shared a similar impression. They had enjoyed the experience, but many
felt rushed. There was very little time for the museums, very little time for
the pyramids, and most of the day was spent moving from one location to
another.
Honestly, it is not surprising.
Cairo is one of the largest cities
in the world. Millions of people live and work there every day. Crossing the
Nile, navigating the traffic, and travelling between the city's major
attractions takes time. In many cases, visitors spend more time getting from
place to place than actually enjoying the places they came to see.
That is why my recommendation to
anyone planning a visit to Cairo is simple:
Do not book a day trip if you can
avoid it.
If possible, spend at least three
days in Cairo and Giza. Even better, stay four nights. Yes, it costs more, but
it is worth every penny.
Because there is something that no
documentary, no television program, and no travel video ever managed to prepare
me for.
The energy.
The pyramids have an atmosphere that
is impossible to describe until you stand in front of them yourself.
For me, it was one of the most
peaceful places I have ever visited.
I expected crowds. I expected noise.
I expected chaos.
Instead, I found a place that felt
strangely calm.
A place where time seemed to slow
down.
A place where I could have stayed
for days.
The photographs are impressive. The
documentaries are fascinating. But neither comes close to experiencing the site
in person. Standing there, surrounded by monuments that have watched over
humanity for thousands of years, creates a feeling that words can barely
capture.
Another thing that impressed me was
the organisation.
Despite the enormous number of
visitors, everything works remarkably well. The buses, ticketing systems,
guides, horse rides, camel rides, visitor routes, and security arrangements are
all carefully managed.
Over the years we have travelled
extensively across Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, the Middle East
and beyond. Yet no place has impressed me as much as Egypt when it comes to
hospitality and handling large numbers of tourists.
The country welcomes millions of
visitors while preserving some of the most important historical treasures on
Earth.
Egypt truly is a destination
everyone should experience at least once.
And there is one more thing I took
away from this journey.
For years I watched documentaries
claiming that aliens must have built the pyramids because ancient humans could
never have achieved such an extraordinary feat.
After visiting Giza, I found those
theories less convincing than ever.
At the site, visitors can see
evidence of planning, engineering, and construction techniques, as well as the incredible
human effort that went into creating these monuments. What impressed me most
was not the idea of some mysterious outside force - it was the realisation of
what human beings were capable of accomplishing thousands of years ago.
Rather than searching for fantastic
explanations, I left Egypt with a deeper respect for the people who built this
remarkable civilisation.
Their achievement is extraordinary
enough without adding myths.
The pyramids are not a mystery
because they were built by aliens.
They are a wonder because they were
built by humans.
Thousands of years later, they still
stand.
And long after all of today's
theories, arguments, and internet debates have disappeared, they will probably
still be standing there - watching the world go by.
As expected, this unforgettable journey became the inspiration for my third Egyptian-themed album.
The album is titled 0020CAI. The number 0020 refers to Egypt's international country code, while CAI stands for Cairo - the city that left such a lasting impression on me.
From the peaceful atmosphere of the pyramids to the magic of the Nile, from hidden stories of ancient Egypt to moments of love, friendship, and wonder, this journey gave birth to 12 beautiful songs, each inspired by a different memory from our travels.
I hope you enjoy every single one of them as much as I enjoyed creating them.
Thank you, Egypt, for the memories, the inspiration, and the music.
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