Egypt, Siwa

SIWA xxxxI got my police permit and security clearance so I was off to visit Siwa, fifty kilometers from the border of Libya.xxI had a very quiet four-hour trip into desolation worse than Western Kansas.xxIt was flat sand as far as the eye could see.

Siwa was a very conservative town.xxWomen there covered up just about everything as they moved about town.xxThere were signs requesting tourists to also dress modestly.xx( I did -- and I was about the only tourist I saw.)xxBut, it had to be so hot under all those black robes!x Still, I guess they could protect them from the leftovers of the plagues.xxOne of the ten plauges was flies -- and they were still there. Mosquitos, too!.

I checked into the nicest and most expensive place I'd stayed in Egypt except for Sharm El Shiekh.z This was just over $3.00 a night.xxThe desk clerk from the hotel gave me a map of the town so I soon was on my way to Cleopatra's pool.xxIt was a hopping place -- used as the local bathing spot.

I continued on my loop out of town and passed the Amoun Temple and the Oracle Temple where Alexander the Great had visited.xxIt was said he came for wisdom from the oracle, but the mystery was what he was told.xxHe never told anyone and died ten years later.xxThe Oracle Temple provided a great view of where the oasis ended and the desolate sands began.

I took a 6 kilometer hike to Fantasy Island, just outside of town.xxThe "island" was in the middle of a salt lake.x There was not much left at all except salt. You could walk out on most spots.xxSome places were mushy like salty mud.xxSome people were "harvesting" salt for food and olives.

Copyright 2000 by Phillip Martin All rights reserved.	World	Egypt	E-mail

the Temple of Amun the old section of Siwa Harvesting salt at Fantasy Island		SIWA xxxxI got my police permit and security clearance so I was off to visit Siwa, fifty kilometers from the border of Libya.xxI had a very quiet four-hour trip into desolation worse than Western Kansas.xxIt was flat sand as far as the eye could see. Siwa was a very conservative town.xxWomen there covered up just about everything as they moved about town.xxThere were signs requesting tourists to also dress modestly.xx( I did -- and I was about the only tourist I saw.)xxBut, it had to be so hot under all those black robes!x Still, I guess they could protect them from the leftovers of the plagues.xxOne of the ten plauges was flies -- and they were still there. Mosquitos, too!. I checked into the nicest and most expensive place I'd stayed in Egypt except for Sharm El Shiekh.z This was just over $3.00 a night.xxThe desk clerk from the hotel gave me a map of the town so I soon was on my way to Cleopatra's pool.xxIt was a hopping place -- used as the local bathing spot. I continued on my loop out of town and passed the Amoun Temple and the Oracle Temple where Alexander the Great had visited.xxIt was said he came for wisdom from the oracle, but the mystery was what he was told.xxHe never told anyone and died ten years later.xxThe Oracle Temple provided a great view of where the oasis ended and the desolate sands began. I took a 6 kilometer hike to Fantasy Island, just outside of town.xxThe "island" was in the middle of a salt lake.x There was not much left at all except salt. You could walk out on most spots.xxSome places were mushy like salty mud.xxSome people were "harvesting" salt for food and olives.