Hibiscus tea and Egyptian Temples!

Egypt is a great country steeped in thousands of years of history and culture. I’ve loved reading and learning about it since I was young, and I’ve also completed two Egyptology courses with Exeter University. I try to impart to people what an amazing place it is, but words never seem to wholly do it justice, I always say, the only way to learn about a country is to go and see it for yourself.

Egypt is filled with culture and history. Modern day life sits neatly alongside ancient monuments that are thousands of years old. Contrary to some reports Egyptians are friendly accommodating people who will welcome you with open arms and make you feel at home. We all know about the famous sites such as the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, but there are many more magical places to see in Egypt. There’s the fantastic mortuary temple at Medinet Habu in Luxor that has some of the best coloured reliefs, and accounts of Egyptian life I’ve ever seen. Or there’s the temple of Isis at Philae, a beautiful temple that only stands today thanks to rescue work undertaken many years ago by UNESCO to save it from flooding and being lost forever. If you have the time you could journey to the edge of Egypt itself to gaze upon the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel, a sight that just takes your breath away and leaves you wanting more. The list is endless, with so many temples, tombs and other ancient sites spread throughout the Country, you’re spoilt for choice.

Egypt also has many museums to house its collection of treasures. The largest is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo which contains artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb, as well as items belonging to the heretic King Akhenaten, and if you have a penchant for the gorier side of life you can gaze upon a well-preserved collection of mummified bodies of Royalty past. In Luxor there are two museums, the aptly named Luxor Museum housing treasures found during excavations in Luxor and Karnak, and the Mummification Museum, where every item is dedicated to the ancient art of preserving the dead for the afterlife.

If you get bored with the history, and I promise you, you won’t, you could meander your way through the many shopping streets and bazaars bartering for some interesting souvenirs, or beautiful hand-crafted goods, whilst accepting a friendly stallholder’s hospitality of a glass of hibiscus tea. If this isn’t to your taste the luxurious Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor is an ideal place to have a break for a relaxing lunch overlooking the Nile.

I could go on. There are so many incredible things to see and do in Egypt, whether you choose to visit Cairo, Luxor, or venture further south to Aswan. You could even combine all three by leisurely cruising down the Nile on a Dahabeeyah.

There’s more to see and do in Egypt than you could ever fit into one visit, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms and feel at home in a country that was just made to be discovered. If that hasn’t persuaded you then just imagine stepping onto a felucca, and relaxing as you sail serenely along the Nile, watching the beauty of Egyptian life passes you by, as the sun slowly sets leaving you with a bright shining moon and twinkling stars to guide you gently back to shore.

Look out for a blog post every day this week where we will continue to explore all three books and their locations! Don't forgot to share the posts and support other authors in the #IndieAuthorWeekUK hashtag across social media.

• Have you been to Egypt? What was your favourite place? Comment below!

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Chrissie is an author who loves history and enjoys travelling and days out exploring. www.chrissieparker.com/books