Are you ready to see a different side of Egypt?
Being the second time visiting this Middle Eastern jewel gave us the chance to look at it with a different set of eyes. Yes, the pyramids are mesmerizing, but having seen them before, we could look beyond their majesty and take in the atmosphere around us. Instead of gazing out over Cairo, we could take in the polished marble of an abandoned mosque. The library of Alexandria is filled with one of the greatest collections of literature on earth but it is the modern architecture that is so striking. Students hang out in the complex and ponder the challenges of Egypt's future while we snap shots of its striking design.
Egypt is filled with ancient monuments, but it is walking along the streets and meeting the people that is magical. Egyptians are right up there as some of the friendliest people on earth. As we walked through the streets we were invited into establishments for tea and people greeted us with welcoming smiles. Children approached us to ask where we were from and everyone asked us to take their photograph.
It is a country close to our hearts as the starting point of this great travel journey that we've been on for the past few years and it brought back fond memories walking through its ancient passageways. We didn't have enough time to truly immerse ourselves in this culture, but we will definitely be back.
For now, enjoy these photos of a different side of Egypt.
The Alabaster Mosque's outer courtyard is impressive to say the least
The interior of the Alabaster Mosque is even more impressive.
Sunrise a an abandoned mosque in Cairo, Egypt
A different look at the Library of Alexandria
The sun sets at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt
The Pyramids at night during the light show.
Life goes on in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt
Our trip through Egypt was courtesy of Memphis Tours.
Black Desert
By Mario March 5, 2017 - 5:13 pm
great photos..i just wonder if you use Nikon lens?
I am going in april to Jordan for a couple weeks..w/my Nikon 7100 and 24-70mm Nikon 2.8.
Next year I will go to Egypt.
Any sugestions about lens..day and night time?
Tank you
By Weekly Wanderlusting: Egypt | A Southern Gypsy's Adventures September 21, 2013 - 2:32 pm
[…] Image: ThePlanetD […]
By T.W. Anderson @ Marginal Boundaries July 8, 2013 - 8:58 pm
Stunning.
Hoping to make it to Egypt myself in early 2014 with my SO; these shots are certainly inspirational !
By Richard Gazpacho Horvath April 12, 2013 - 1:00 pm
18mm or 14mm?
By debndave July 15, 2013 - 3:12 pm
16 mm actually. haha, so close.
By Sofia January 23, 2013 - 1:21 am
Beautiful photos, nice with the light show too.
By debndave January 27, 2013 - 2:12 am
Thanks, that was pretty cool to see.
By Peter Lee January 15, 2013 - 7:32 am
Egypt is totally different from other countries. People visit Egypt not only for its history like Mummies and Pyramids but also to be welcomed by friendly and welcoming people. Library of Alexandria looks beautiful in your clicks.
By debndave January 27, 2013 - 1:14 am
Well said Peter. We have travelled through a lot of Egypt and have always had a warm welcome wherever we go.
By Jennifer Dombrowski July 12, 2012 - 2:19 am
Gorgeous photos! And I am incredibly envious you have been to Egypt more than once. We’ve planned our trip to Egypt twice and couldn’t go both times just days before we were supposed to leave on the trip. It’s been my dream to see Egypt for years and I feel I never will.
By Steve @ Back-Packer May 31, 2012 - 6:05 pm
Wow – like the other’s down here i can not start this comment without this 😉
Egypt is a very beautiful country and has much more to offer than just the pyramids – very manifold!
Thx for these stunning impressions
By Maria (Culture-ist Magazine) May 30, 2012 - 3:16 pm
Absolutely stunning photos. Thank you for sharing.
By Kieu ~ GQ trippin April 9, 2012 - 9:19 am
LOVE this side of Egypt! We also took a 2-day tour with Memphis Tour! 🙂 Wish we saw the light show at the pyramids though. Stunning photos!
By debndave April 10, 2012 - 8:12 am
Hi Kieu, Very cool that you toured with Memphis. For me, I thought the light show was lacking at bit. It was a great way to learn about the history, however it needs a bit of an update. I don’t think they have changed it since the 70’s. Just my two cents though, it seemed that the people around us really enjoyed it.
By Mary @ Green Global Travel March 27, 2012 - 6:49 pm
I love that you were able to go beyond the pyramids. Sometimes we tend to brush off opportunities to go to places that we’ve already been before thinking that there is so many other places to explore, however you’re right. Going back enables you to explore the culture on a deeper level. Thanks so much for the great post and amazing photos.
By Maria March 19, 2012 - 9:31 am
I really like anything to do with Eygpt, I admire the history especially the mysteriousness of the pyramid and what lies in it. I really enjoy looking at the pyramids with nice tantalizing colored lights.
By Pinterest and ThePlanetD March 19, 2012 - 5:16 am
[…] Original Post, Egypt a Photographic Journey […]
By Simona February 27, 2012 - 5:14 am
Great pics! The mosque in the 3rd picture is actually not abandone, is a mosque for the police, still in use, I have been there. I love its shape!
By debndave February 27, 2012 - 9:59 am
Ah, that explains it being beside the police station. Our guide said that it was abandoned, but it makes sense that the police would us it. Thanks Simona.
By Photography Digest for 1-20-12 Through 1-26-12 | inspiredvisionstudios January 27, 2012 - 2:05 pm
[…] – A photographic journey #photography #travel Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this […]
By John January 23, 2012 - 2:20 pm
Absolutely stunning images. Certainly a different side of Egypt represented. Thanks for sharing.
By debndave January 23, 2012 - 8:30 pm
Thanks John, it was great returning to explore a few different things in Cairo than we had seen before.
By Lane January 19, 2012 - 1:10 pm
OMG. These are amazing photos! *envy*
By James - Ouroyster.com January 15, 2012 - 4:05 am
The Alabastar Mosque looked so surreal. Such a beautiful place 🙂
By Kevin - The Mad Traveler January 14, 2012 - 12:41 pm
That’s awesome, guys! I really would love to get back there some day. Too much to see!
By Charu January 14, 2012 - 10:26 am
Your images of Egypt make me want to visit! We were planning a surprise 60th birthday trip for our mom last year, and then the entire uprising happened and we decided not to go. Too bad because the best time to visit was right after the crisis. I’m excited to explore Abu Dhabi this year though. Inspiring shots!
By world tourism news January 13, 2012 - 9:18 pm
What camera you use?very beautiful pic,i love it
World Tourism News
By debndave January 13, 2012 - 11:35 pm
Thank You. I use a Canon 5D Mark II
By cheryl January 11, 2012 - 10:24 am
STUNNING images .. as always. Makes me want to Egypt stat.
By Egypt Excursions cairo February 12, 2012 - 5:19 pm
Our country is the best, thanks for post
By debndave February 13, 2012 - 4:01 pm
You are welcome, I am glad that you liked it and we agree. Egypt is amazing.
By Erica January 11, 2012 - 10:10 am
Love your photos!! What kind of lens did you use to shoot the landscape photos of the Alabaster Mosque? I’m a Canon DSLR user and looking to buy a new (wide angle?) lens for an upcoming trip to Cambodia. Thx!
By debndave January 11, 2012 - 3:55 pm
Hi Erica. Thank you for the compliments and for enjoying the photos. The Alabaster mosque was shot with my 16-35mm 2.8L on my full sensor 5D MKII. If you are using a crop sensor camera you could look into the 10-22 but be aware that it an EF-S lens and is not compatible with the full sensor bodies. Hope this helps. Have fun in Cambodia!
By AlexBerger January 11, 2012 - 5:51 am
Fantastic shots of Egypt. I love the colors on the pyramids. A fun way to remember that they would have looked completely different in their heyday as well.
By Kathy January 10, 2012 - 6:37 pm
Your photos are amazing. Thanks for sharing them…I first read the blog post on the Lonely Planet website and then followed you here. My question/comment is–I REALLY want to go to Egypt but my husband is concerned with all the unrest. We’re fairly adventurous (or like to think so) but figured it would be better to wait until things calmed down even more…can you give me some impressions you got during your trip? We would not only like to do Cairo–but the Nile and maybe into Jordan too. What do you think?
By debndave January 11, 2012 - 1:04 am
Only one answer….go to Egypt! Really, we’ve been twice and spend a total of 5 weeks in the country and the people of Egypt are some of the most friendly and welcoming people on earth. The unrest is not targetted to foreigners and it is localized to the Square in Cairo. Enjoy!
By saurabh January 10, 2012 - 3:06 am
picture owsome and nice one sir and mam
By Andrea January 9, 2012 - 10:58 pm
Gorgeous shots! Egypt is next on our Middle Eastern list…
By Candice January 9, 2012 - 9:23 pm
That last photo. Unreal.
By Laura January 9, 2012 - 8:42 pm
Gorgeous images guys! I especially love the one inside the Alabaster Mosque.
By DTravelsRound January 9, 2012 - 5:26 pm
These are stunning!
By no travel required | the lazy travelers January 9, 2012 - 3:14 pm
[…] Check out all of these photos, but the romantic & hubs can attest that the Alabaster Mosque really was this amazing. Egypt – A photographic journey […]
By Amanda January 9, 2012 - 2:38 pm
Absolutely stunning photos! Wow!
By Abby January 9, 2012 - 9:20 am
Ohhh that sunrise photo is beautiful. I’m up now in the dark — almost makes me want to take my camera outside somewhere and take some photographs at sunrise! I also like the angles of the library.
By Dayna January 9, 2012 - 4:13 am
Your photos absolutely NEVER fail to amaze me. I think the abandoned mosque was my favorite, but they are all really stunning. Thanks for sharing!
By Angela January 9, 2012 - 3:37 am
Wow, gorgeous pictures, can’t wait to go to Egypt.
By Dean January 9, 2012 - 2:39 am
Amazing photos as always. I have to say I have never seen the pyramids lit up in different colours like that, it’s quite different.
By Bobbi Lee Hitchon January 9, 2012 - 1:32 am
These photos are breathtaking. I especially love sunrise at an abandoned mosque and the last one. So beautiful.
By Zablon Mukuba January 9, 2012 - 12:20 am
the alabaster mosque looks amazing
By Joya January 8, 2012 - 10:28 pm
The interior of the mosque looks amazing! I can’t image what it looks like in person. I think I would be speechless. Gorgeous photos!
By JoAnna January 8, 2012 - 6:19 pm
Beautiful photos! I especially love the one of Alabaster Mosque.
By Alouise January 8, 2012 - 3:02 pm
Fantastic photos, once again. I’ve never heard of the Alabaster Mosque, it looks amazing.
By Bryan Snider January 8, 2012 - 2:26 pm
Incredible photos! Makes me want to go back to this beautiful country.
By Bret @ Green Global Travel January 8, 2012 - 2:12 pm
WOW! WOW! WOW! Exceptional images, as always. Just stunning work, guys!
By Global Basecamps Ali January 8, 2012 - 12:34 pm
Absolutely stunning photos!
By Sabina January 8, 2012 - 12:24 pm
I have never heard of the Alabaster Mosque. I am so glad I read this post! I am definitely, positively going there when I hit Cairo again in a few weeks.
By Laurence January 8, 2012 - 8:24 am
Just fantastic photos. As always!
By Kurt W January 8, 2012 - 5:14 am
Amazing captures. Egypt truly is a majestic land!