Egyptian Art Route, from the Pyramids to the Mediterranean and then to the Sahara

Ended a seven-day trip in Egypt. If you also love culture and art, it’s definitely worth a visit. Galleries and vintage shops are everywhere along the road, with owners dressed thoughtfully and sporting slicked-back hair. The guide said most struggling artists here hide in cafes selling their paintings, which is interesting. 🔵 An artistic northern Egypt route: Cairo ～ Alexandria ～ Siwa, Mersa Matruh 🟠 Cairo [Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, galleries, markets] Amazed by the grandeur of the pyramids and the vast collection of artifacts in the museum. It’s said the old museum has become like a warehouse piled high. The new museum’s display of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s burial items is definitely worth seeing, and the entire mummification process is clearly presented. The pyramids themselves are huge and solid. At the oldest Khan el-Khalili market, you can bargain for some straw paintings and vintage wallets, but be sure to haggle! 🟠 Alexandria [Heritage buildings, museums, and the Mediterranean] A nice cultural heritage coastal city. Founded by the ancient Greek Macedonian king Alexander the Great after he conquered Egypt, and named after him. • Bibliotheca Alexandrina (a vast collection of books and exhibitions) • Qaitbay Citadel (close-up views of the ancient fortress and sea at sunset) • Royal Jewelry Museum and Greco-Roman Museum (highly recommended) The two museums are top-notch, with a large collection of jewelry and sculptures that make the visit worthwhile. Especially the latter, many artifacts were salvaged from the sea, blending ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian sculptural styles, showing local adaptation. Another part is located in underground tombs. • Mediterranean cruise For about 2,000 Egyptian pounds (around 300 RMB), you can charter a cruise and watch the sunset cast golden light on the sea, evoking visions of San Francisco. 🟠 Siwa (Sahara Desert, oasis, Shali Fortress, salt lake) • Having read San Mao’s "Stories of the Sahara," I always wondered what the desert was like. Now that I’m here, although it’s not the same place, it’s connected. At night, we lit a bonfire in the desert and watched the stars, wandering around the small town. • As a particularly green oasis in the desert, the paintings in director Lee Chang-dong’s film "Oasis" seem to reflect the faint green in the yellow earth here. The salt lake shows a blue-green color, with large white salt mounds piled on both sides. • Unfortunately, I don’t play "Assassin’s Creed," but climbing the Shali Fortress, I saw rows of ancient walls and recalled the miserable scene of being chased by dogs on the other side of the fortress. • In Mersa Matruh, you can see a broader view of the Mediterranean. Suddenly, I remembered that three years ago, I seemed to be on the opposite shore in Sicily, Italy, looking across the sea at where I am now. The world is at my feet, and I love myself so much.