Travel: The splendour that is Egypt

The Times, South Africa (Dr Deena Padayachee)

Egypt is a popular holiday spot for South Africans, and one can quickly see why.

We experienced both the romance of a luxury cruise on the Nile and the excitement of seeing for ourselves timeless wonders that are awe-inspiring and magnificent, like the temples at Abu Simbel and the colossal statues of Ramses II.

However, I must confess to being surprised at the plethora of Chevrolet trucks, American hotels, Coca-Cola adverts and KFC stores. It was mind-blowing, too, to see the multitude of Jewish, American and other Western tourists cavorting and relaxing all over the country.

Archaeologists from Poland to the United States and Germany have helped excavate Egypt’s proud heritage, but a heavy price has been paid. There are more mummies located internationally than in all the museums of Egypt. A massive commemorative obelisk from Luxor decorates the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

The country itself still has a romantic Islamic ambience, with the male galbella (a long flowing gown) being the norm rather than the exception. The hijab appeared to be less common. Interestingly, black is not a popular colour among Muslims in the north but is far more popular in the south.

However, the overwhelming feeling (for a beleaguered South African) was the climate of safety.

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