How I Saw Egypt
Giza pyramid complex
Well, what can I say.
I am properly back from Egypt and after my body finally recovered from nearly 40 °C of fever, it felt like the right moment to share the images from this intense and fascinating place.
I arrived with high expectations and, by my standards, reasonably well-prepared. It became clear rather quickly that Egypt is not a country you can truly prepare for. Knowing the usual scam tactics certainly helps, but there are countless variations you will encounter regardless. Egypt is a place where plans remain fragile. Anything can happen at any moment, or nothing at all.
Our journey began in Giza. Yes, the pyramids are undeniably unique. Still, they left me with more questions than answers. Photographing them proved challenging, as avoiding the millionth tourist image felt almost impossible. I therefore turned my attention to people, looking for moments where human presence could shift the familiar perspective and add a different foreground to these iconic structures.
After a taxi scam and an unsuccessful attempt to reach Saqqara, we continued on to Cairo.
It is an absolute dream for street photography. Much of life unfolds in the streets here, bringing with it an overwhelming abundance of moments worth capturing. After some time, you almost become desensitised, simply because there is so much constantly happening in front of the lens. Cairo itself is a compelling city, even though it still holds a great deal of unrealised potential. The traffic, and with it the air quality, is quite frankly at its limits.
Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan/ Al-Rifa'i Mosque
Our final stop was Luxor. Naturally, the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak Temple were unmissable. What struck me most about Luxor, however, was the extent of poverty. Just one street away from the Nile promenade, an entirely different reality reveals itself. Walking through the city could be deeply exhausting. You are constantly approached, whether by taxis, horse-drawn carriages or boats, all offered at inflated tourist prices. A constant acoustic backdrop that, in hindsight, I do not miss.
In conclusion, Egypt was the most historically fascinating country I have ever visited. Never before have I felt so close to ancient history.
At the same time, unless one plans to spend the entire trip at a beach resort, it is an extraordinarily demanding destination for visitors. It requires energy, resilience, patience and solid negotiation skills.
Egypt gives a lot.
But it asks for just as much in return.