51 Reasons To Fall In Love With Egypt

    Quickly, to the airport!

    1. The Abu Simbel temples in Aswan.

    2. St. Simon Coptic Orthodox Church, aka the "Cave Church" of Cairo.

    3. The spectacular coral reefs of the Red Sea.

    4. Traditional felucca sailboats on the Nile.

    5. Mount Sinai at daybreak.

    6. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

    7. Colourful fishing boats in Alexandria.

    8. The beach along the Sinai coast.

    9. The lights of Cairo over the Nile at dusk.

    10. The stunning rock sculptures of the White Desert by day...

    11. ...and its stars by night.

    12. Alexandria's waterfront...

    13. ...and its beautiful library.

    14. The delicious street food, koshary.

    It's rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas, crispy fried onions, and as much hot sauce as you can manage.

    15. Friendly camels.

    16. The dunes of the Great Sand Sea.

    17. The Muhammad Ali mosque from the outside...

    18. ...and the inside.

    19. Pistachio baklava.

    20. The City of the Dead, Cairo.

    21. Sitting and chatting in Fishawi's Cafe, in Khan El-Khalili, for hours.

    22. Sand storms.

    23. Hearing someone play the oud, live.

    24. The creamy, nutty dessert, Um Ali.

    25. Al-Azhar University.

    26. Fresh falafel.

    27. Tahrir Square.

    28. Spectacular sunsets...

    29. ...and even more spectacular traffic jams.

    30. Al Azhar Park.

    31. Really old men reading newspapers.

    32. The Black Desert.

    33. The Temple of Amada in Nubia.

    34. The Sahn Pillars of the Muhammad Ali Mosque.

    35. Desert foxes.

    36. The Temple of Kom Ombo in Aswan.

    37. Tiny cups of coffee.

    38. And minty tea loaded up with sugar.

    39. The ruins at Luxor.

    40. Lake Nasser.

    41. The domes of St.Mark Church, Heliopolis.

    42. Taking a stroll through Islamic Cairo...

    43. ...and Coptic Cairo.

    44. More spectacular sunsets.

    45. Flowers in Al Azhar Park.

    46. Kittens in Khan el-Khalil.

    47. St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai.

    48. Ancient stone carvings, everywhere.

    49. The Nile, from space.

    50. ...or a bit closer up.

    51. Oh, and also the pyramids.