Siwa Oasis
Matrouh Governate
Egypt
January 21, 2020
I am shocked as I view the exposed ancient seabed in Great Sand Sea.
The rock formations are identical to the Boszhira Valley of Kazakhstan that lies 2500 miles (4000 km) to the east!
Siwa
Matrouh Governorate
Arab Republic of Egypt
February 18, 2020
Welcome to Siwa!
The urban oasis of Siwa lies 750 km (466 mi) west of Cairo and only about 50 km (31 mi) east of the Libya border. Consequently, the population of 33,000 is mostly ethnic Berber.
Siwa sits atop the aquifer that begins in Sudan and runs northward in an arc under the Western Desert. South of Siwa, towards Luxor, several other oasis cities lie along the arc and benefit from the springs.
Siwa is blessed with fertile soil, abundant date palms, lakes, streams, irrigation works and scenic hills.
Siwa
Matrouh Governate
Arab Republic of Egypt
February 19, 2020
In her book The Western Desert of Egypt Casandra Vivian writes “Siwa is different. It is not Egyptian, but North African. Most Siwans are Berbers, a people who once roamed the North Africa coast from Tunisia to Morocco as early as 10,000 BCE. The Berbers are the true Western Desert indigenous people.”
The Berbers had many visitors: Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Christians, Arabs, British, Germans, Italians … and Yours truly.
I visited four of the ancient sites:
Khartoum
The Republic of the Sudan
February 18, 2020
Hello,
Sadly, I must leave Sudan.
Before I leave, I will acknowledge the wonderful men, women and children I have met.
Here are the Faces of Sudan.
Jan
Omdurman
Khartoum State
The Republic of the Sudan
February 12, 2020
My Friends,
I had planned a destination for today. I never arrive. Instead I make a series of unplanned stops along the Nile.
It’s a marvelous day.
Across the Nile into Omdurman, I spot a sign for a Fish Market. The traditional market is a noisy scene of blood and guts. Busy fish mongers butcher and clean, chop and slice, weigh and sell the daily catch. The diligent butchers barely acknowledge my presence. A few smile.
Jabal Awliya
Nahr An Nill State
The Republic of the Sudan
February 14, 2020
Jebel Aulia (Jabal al Awliyā', Jebel Aulia, Gebel Aulia) lies 60 kilometers south of Khartoum. The village is the home of the Jebel Aulia Hydroelectric Dam that harnesses the waters of the White Nile.
Built by the British for the Egyptian government, the dam opened in 1937 and was the largest dam in the world.
In the village I found impressive works of graffiti, curious/friendly people, and heaps of enormous watermelons.
