Bubastis, the home of the Egyptian cat god left us with very little to remember her by, unlike the nearby city of Tanis, roughly 80km away, which left behind more than most other places in Egypt. The artifacts excavated from this town can be found in Cairo’s Egypt Museum. Even the world’s most famous archeological find, King Tutankhamun’s tomb can also be found here when it’s not on tour. Young people are always on the lookout for exciting new experiences, and we promise their needs will be satisfied further on in this article. But first, let’s pause and appreciate the captivating world that thrived long before our time. There is much to be enjoyed in rediscovering our fascinating past.
"Treat your cats with kindness and respect, as the bond between humans and cats is inseparable"
The ancient city of Bubastis was the worship center for Bastet. Located in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta, this area boasts the world’s longest river, known for sustaining humanity for millennia. Today, Bubastis has the more colorful name of Zaqaziq. So, our journey will take us to this part of the Nile Delta. As mentioned in the intro video, Egypt didn’t train cats first, that honor belongs to China which first domesticated cats 1500 years earlier. Interestingly, the Ancient Chinese revered a cat goddess, Li Shou, assigned to rule the world which she relinquished to humans due to disinterest. However Hollywood has left us an indelible image of associating cats with ancient Egypt, and when has Hollywood ever been wrong? (Sarcasm intended)
Bastet was revered as the goddess of home, fertility, and protection, and she was often depicted as a lioness or as a woman with the head of a lioness. She was believed to bring joy, prosperity, and good fortune to her worshippers in the region of Lower Egypt. Nowadays, that ancient city is recognized as Zaqaziq, an intriguingly named town that serves its residents well with top-notch education, beautiful farms, and lots of industry. Alas, the modern town has forgotten about its great ancient god in terms of monuments.
"Winning is not about me scoring goals; it's about us as a team achieving our objectives and celebrating together."
133 km west of Tanis, is the village of Nagrig, the birthplace of one of Egypt’s most famous human exports, Mohammad Salah, the football all-star also known as, you guessed it, ‘The Pharaoh’, among other nicknames. His prowess is particularly notable when the stakes are high, as in the UEFA Champions League. In 2020, he reached the pinnacle of success guiding Liverpool to their first English premiere league championship in three decades. A year earlier he made it to the UEFA Champions League, prompting Time Magazine to name him to their 100 most influential people in the world list. Internationally, Salah is a crucial part of the Egyptian national team.
He spearheaded Egypt’s entry into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their first in 28 years. Despite being injured, he still managed to net two goals at the tournament. The still relatively young man has everything going for him to make Egyptians proud.
Watch this phenomenon’s highlights here.
"Come blame me. Set your heart at peace and find peace"
You might have heard of Tamer Hosny, Cairo’s born superstar, often referred to as the ‘King of Generation’. He’s a talented musician, entertaining actor, and gifted composer noted for his incredible stage charisma and impressive vocal skills.
His singing career took flight in 2004 with the release of his debut album called ‘Hob’, which translates to ‘Love’ in Arabic. The album was a hit and shot him to fame in Egypt and the Arab world. While most of his melodies are in Arabic, Tamer’s also done tracks in English, French, and Turkish, revealing his linguistic prowess.
In 2016, he stepped into the film industry with his directorial venture ‘Tesbah Ala Khair,’ or ‘Good Night’. The film was a hit, adding another feather in his already feathered cap. Beyond his achievements, he’s genuinely admired for his work supporting children’s hospitals and cancer charities.
Sample his music on our playlist here. When in Cairo, check out the Cairo Opera House, who knows he may have a scheduled show there, if not listen to some other great artists when visiting this concert hall.
Do you know what the most beautiful and perhaps most visited places on this planet have in common? They are very dry landscapes, virtually deserts. Think of the most visually stunning natural wonders in the USA, the desert-like and arid Grand Canyon, and the nearby ‘Painted Desert’. The Botswanan Kalahari desert is a must-see on any nature show and In Greece, the most photographed place is a relative desert famous for sunsets, the island of Santorini. Here in Egypt, the wonders of nature abound because the country is mostly desert, providing some of the most stunning pictures the world has to offer. Just to the west of Cairo, we head to the White Desert.
In ancient times it was not uncommon to mummify cats along with their masters so that their companionship could be preserved for eternity. This relationship is fully explored in the Luxor Museum in Luxor, Egypt, home of the infamous Karnak temple.
Fast-forward to today and cats are revered differently. To cater to this feline population, the country has numerous cat cafes, where one can enjoy a cup of coffee while pampering either their cat or one of the many ‘community cats’ that have taken residence in these establishments. While the idea originated in Taiwan, it seems to have found a perfect new home in Egypt. See the trend, A Chinese-speaking nation makes a wonderful invention for cats, and then we showcase Egypt -). Don’t worry though, as we will make it to an Asian nation soon! The picture above is what AI thinks a cat cafe in Egypt looks like. This just proves that sometimes humans are still smarter than AI!
Exotic locales require exotic tours. Let’s face it, if you’re going to Egypt for the first time, what is it that you want to see? The Pyramids and the grand antiquities of its ancient cities and temples.
Hence we have picked the ‘Temples & The Nile’ guided tour which you can visit by clicking the advertisement below. This is what’s cool about it. You fly into Cairo and visit the Pyramids of Giza, and then on day 3, the real jaw-dropping moments start. As we take a flight to the city of Luxor. Here we get to see the world’s second-largest religious building (The temple of Karnak), unsurpassed except by one in over 5000 years. Any good trip requires a visit to a lesser-known site, which is equally as intriguing. That’s where we visit the temple of the forgotten, goddess of love, Dendra.
The real star though is the Nile River and the Nile Delta. There are lots of river tours out there, but can there be any river out there on this planet with the history and the idealized romanticism of the Nile? The answer is no. So yes there are a couple of days of Nile cruises built in. The tour appropriately ends in the Valley of the Kings, a valley steeped in pyramids that is perhaps the greatest relic that remains from the time of the world’s four oldest original civilizations (Egypt, Iraq, China, and India).
Perhaps having originated in the region where Mohamad Salah, the athlete was born, Koshari is a national treasure known for its combination of flavors and textures, with the rice and lentils providing a hearty base, the macaroni adding a chewy element, and the tomato sauce adding a tangy and spicy kick. It is a delicious vegetarian meal that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. When in Cairo, visit the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek, Cairo’s must-see food district. For street food visit the Maadi district.
Wiley On Line Library – Ecology and Evolution(Cat domestication history), Planet Sport (Mohammed Salah), Enigma Magazine(Tamer Hosny)
All images are AI-generated using Fotor and are meant to describe the subject matter they portray figuratively, not factually.
