For all those interested in the past, the name of Egypt conjures up glamour, mystique, and past glories. Between February 1-11, 23 students from HART, led by their Head of Department, Dr. M. H. Gates, experienced all of these things, first hand in a study tour which began in Cairo and ended at Aswan.
While all those on the tour knew of Egypt’s ancient history and its archaeological sites from past courses, few were really prepared for their first encounter with monuments such as the Pyramids and the inscrutable Sphinx at Giza, the tombs of King Tutankhamon and other great pharaohs, and the rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel. These and the many other sites visited left an indelible impression on the minds of all who took part.
Monuments aside, the experience of being in Egypt itself provided a whole series of unforgettable highlights for everyone. To name just three, all will remember the superb food (the tahini being a special delight for some!), the greetings of the bazaar souvenir sellers (‘I give special price, only five pounds!’), and the joys of an overnight journey with Egyptian Rail (never sit in a seat not assigned to you!).