If you dream of sand, dream big. The inland sea of rolling dunes, dazzling the eye, seeming like something sprung from a fantasy, is a sight that awaits the traveler in Egypt. Home of the gritty and glamorous city of Cairo, the Pyramids at Giza, resorts on the Red Sea… and, of course, the desert.
There is more to the desert than meets the eye. Seemingly barren, it teems with life. And beyond the next false pool of shimmering heat, a genuine oasis may hide. RealTravelers Four Explore had this to say about their trip to Siwa Oasis:
“Suddenly, out of nowhere, we started seeing a few smatterings of green, and before long, we were surrounded by date palms, sugar cane, and other greenery. This is why oases were a big deal to desert travelers in the old days, and still are today. It was remarkable to me how anybody could ever have found this place, because the surrounding country is so inhospitable for so far. But, apparently it has been well known for millennia. They’ve found evidence of human habitation here in Siwa dating from the Neolithic age.
When the Persians invaded Egypt about 500 BC, they sent an army of 50,000 men to destroy the Oracle of Siwa, who was well-known and perceived as a big threat. That army was swallowed up in a sandstorm, and never heard from again. (Too bad they didn’t take the West Delta bus service, as we did.) Alexander the Great made the trip through the desert as well, and had better luck, as the Oracle declared him a son of the god Amun, which gave Alexander justification to crown himself as pharaoh.
Supposedly, Cleopatra came out here, too, and enjoyed the hot springs. It was immediately apparent that this was a very cool place, living up to its reputation. (Our Lonely Planet guidebook says, “Siwa is simply one of the most picturesque and idyllic places in Egypt.” Bingo.)” (more…)
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