Travel Inspo: Egypt
A Family Journey Through Time
For my mom’s 80th birthday, my brother and I wanted to do something unforgettable. Egypt had always been high on her list, so we made it happen—a trip that turned out to be as meaningful as it was awe-inspiring. Over a week, we traveled together along the Nile, taking in temples, tombs, and the hum of daily life. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.
Sphinx and Mosque of Muhammad Ali, also known as the Alabaster Mosque.
Cairo: First Views and Familiar Chaos
We started in Cairo, where the Great Pyramid stopped us in our tracks. There’s nothing quite like standing in front of something that ancient—it’s humbling. Nearby, the Sphinx felt just as mysterious, weathered but enduring. And high above the city, the Alabaster Mosque in the Citadel offered a sweeping view and a glimpse into Egypt’s more recent history.
And the food! Cairo knows how to feed you. From koshari and falafel to warm, fresh bread dipped in tahini, we ate well. One of the highlights was lunch at Naguib Mahfouz’s restaurant in the Khan el Khalili bazaar—cozy, classic, and full of flavor. Everything was delicious. I still think about the bread and hummus.
Entrance to Naguib Mahfouz Cafe.
Philae Temple
Aswan: Peace and the Start of the Nile Cruise
From Cairo, we flew to Aswan—a beautiful change of pace. The city feels slower, softer, and the Nile is stunning here. We visited the Temple of Philae, which felt like it was floating on water. Then came one of my big travel dreams: starting a cruise along the Nile.
Views along the Nile
Nubian Village
One of the most memorable moments was visiting a local family’s home in a Nubian village. Their generosity, especially toward my mom, really stuck with me. We didn’t make it to the Old Cataract Hotel (where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile), but it’s officially on the list for next time.
Kom Ombo Temple
Kom Ombo and Edfu
In Kom Ombo, we explored a temple uniquely dedicated to two gods—Sobek and Horus. The symmetry of it all was fascinating. Edfu’s Temple of Horus was another standout. It's one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and it honestly felt like walking through a film set (except real).
Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple
Luxor and Karnak: Immense and Moving
Luxor took things to another level. Karnak Temple was massive and full of intricate details. We walked the Avenue of Sphinxes connecting it to Luxor Temple, all while the call to prayer echoed in the background—it reminded me of my time in Fez, Morocco. Those little moments stick. Forever.
Valley of the Kings: A Quiet Kind of Awe
One of the most unforgettable parts of the trip was floating over the Valley of the Kings at sunrise—my first-ever hot air balloon ride. Seeing the tombs and the surrounding desert from above was breathtaking. The landscape felt both ancient and alive, bathed in early light.
Later that day, we explored the valley on foot. You can visit three tombs with a standard entry ticket, and we chose a mix that gave us a sense of the artistry and scale. Ramses IV’s tomb stood out for its vibrant, well-preserved wall paintings, while others had passages that seemed to stretch endlessly into the earth. Each space told a different story—some grand, others unexpectedly intimate.
Standing in front of Tutankhamun’s tomb was surreal. It's smaller than you might expect, but the weight of its history is impossible to ignore. We only had an afternoon there, but it wasn’t nearly enough. I’d love to go back and spend more time exploring the lesser-known tombs.
A big part of what made this experience so meaningful was Aziz, our Egyptologist guide. By the end of the trip, he felt like a friend—generous with his knowledge, and so tuned into the spirit of each site we visited.
Echos of Egypt: Bringing It Back to the Studio
Back home, the textures and tones of Egypt started to show up in my work. The piece below, Giza, was one of the first. I made a mold of small pyramids and used them to build a charcoal clay vessel, finishing it with a soft satin patina. It’s meant to feel worn and weathered, like it could have lived in Cairo all along.
Giza, 2023. 6.5”H x 10”W x 10”D
Midnight Opulence: Holding Egypt’s Dualities in Form
Midnight Opulence is another piece that grew out of our time in Egypt. I was struck by the contrasts I saw everywhere—shiny gold alongside rough stone, the intricate next to the monumental. Egyptian art and architecture seem to live in that tension between boldness and restraint, and I wanted to capture some of that energy in clay.
This vessel was made specifically for Raku firing, a technique that felt right for the kind of drama I was after. I started by throwing the base on the wheel, then added small, handbuilt “bricks” to the surface. The reflective gold glaze against the raw black clay created the kind of tension I loved seeing throughout our trip.
Midnight Opulence, 2023. Raku-fired.
Gold carries such weight in Egyptian history—revered not just for its beauty, but for its symbolism. It was believed to have protective powers, used in everything from jewelry to sacred objects and royal tombs. It felt meaningful to echo that legacy in this piece.
One thing I was especially looking forward to was visiting the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), but its opening had been delayed. It’s a reason to go back, though—there’s still so much more to see.
Midnight Opulence process
Travel Notes in Clay
Each place leaves its mark—stirring new gestures, and reshaping how I translate experience into form.
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