Photo Essay: Egypt By Sea and Sand
I recently discovered a new way of exploring the country through Egypt Bike and Sail. Much more than a leisurely cruise down the Nile or a camel ride to the Pyramids, biking around Egypt exposes you to the sights, smells, and sounds of the country in a more intimate way.
1. Our Bedouin jeep drivers sitting atop a 2,000 year old well out in the middle of the Eastern (Arabian) desert.
2. Transporting our mountain bikes through the Red Sea mountains.
3. Hassan, a local Bedouin checks out one of very few water sources in the desert. Thick green shrubs mark the spot.
4. A herd of goats seeks solace from the harsh sun under an acacia tree.
5. Docked in the Red Sea is the La Vela, a wooden gullet ship which took us sailing along the coast.
6. A 35km bike ride from the port town of Safaga to the 5,000 year old deeply religious seaside town of Al Qusayr (Al Quseir).
7. Teenage girls dressed in school uniforms and white hijabs return from school in Al Qusayr.
8. Al Qusayr shimmers and glows at night, belying its conservative culture.
9.Selim, Sheik of the Bedouin village in Fustat Port Ghalib, shares a tender moment with one of his camels.
10. An early morning trip to the mangrove forests of the Räs Qui’ran islands in search of ospreys, reef egrets, and other migratory birds.
11. Riding alongside wild camels at sunrise. Wild camels and other animals come out during cooler hours of the day (sunrise and sunset) as well as at night.
12. A local Bedouin from the village of Hamata awoke to the sounds of my footsteps on the sand.
13. In the village of Qu’laan during low tide, you can walk out hundreds of feet into the ocean with the water barely reaching your shins.
14. Our group of travelers was the first to bike through Wadi Gemal (Valley of Camels), usually reserved for only jeeps and camels.
15. A water taxi carrying Nubian villagers cruises along the Nile in Aswan.
16. An Ababda Bedouin woman from the village of Qu’laan.
17. Columns etched with Egyptian hieroglyphs at Kom Ombo temple.
18. Catching a water taxi at sunrise to take us from the eastern side of the Nile to the West Bank in Luxor.
19. Daily life — farming and fishing — along the Nile.
20. A felucca at sunset, one of the popular ways of cruising down the Nile.
21. A local man soaks in the early morning sun before starting his day at the water taxi stand.
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Traveling to Egypt soon? Check out What NOT to do in Egypt.
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12 Comments... join the discussion!
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@Mike – And boy, did it get hot! I suffered heat stroke later that very same day.
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Gorgeous Lola. Love #9 and the lighting/shadows in #12.
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@Carlo – Thanks!
Regarding #12, that shot was straight out of the camera at sunrise without editing. The Bedouin’s shed was pitched right on the beach and I just leveraged natural light to get his glow.
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Very cool, Lola. Thanks for posting these here.
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Love seeing Egypt through your eyes, Lola! I like the portrait of the Ababda girl best (she looks like she’s wearing quite an unusual hijab), as well as the daily life scene along the Nile – such a timeless shot. Thanks for sharing these here!
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Lola I love all the pictures!! Hard to pick which one is my fav
Thank you for sharing!!
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@Adri – Thanks
@Hal – Anytime!
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@Nick – Absolutely loved Egypt and look forward to going back soon (hopefully this fall)
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wow and WOW. stunning photos of a trip that looks incredible. Thank you for sharing your talent with us Lola.
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Superb, Lola! It’s amazing we were on the same trip. My photos certainly don’t look anything like your stunning shots! I need some photography lessons big time. Congrats on your terrific work!
Ann Lombardi
“The Trip Chicks”
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lola – these extraordinary photos make me smile – and want to GO. i love the shot of the man just waking – such power you show with your camera. thank you for sharing!
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