La Petite Traveler: Nile Style

by Katharine Bohlmann

After 15 hours of flying, we finally arrived in Cairo and made our way to The Oberoi Mena House, a grand palace hotel situated on the west bank of the Nile in a city called Giza.

The hotel is a 140-year-old landmark in Egypt and has hosted presidents, dignitaries, ambassadors and celebrities. You can see historic pictures of these people all over the hallways and corridors.

We were escorted to our room and I was amazed to see the three Pyramids of Giza within a stone's throw of my balcony. The next morning, I was awakened by the call to prayer, and when I went to the window, I watched the parade of camels making their way up to the base of the pyramids.

Our first day in Cairo was spent with our guide, Fati, who took us to the oldest section of the city. We visited mosques, churches, and the souk, and our afternoon was spent in the Egyptian Museum, which is filled with many ancient artifacts. The highlight was seeing King Tut's Treasures. Additionally, we went to the Mummy Room where you can see Ramsey II who is over 5,000 years old. You could spend days in this museum, but I reached "mummy overload" and we ventured back to the hotel for a swim in the pool.

Day Two was all about the Pyramids. It's amazing how big they are. Each stone weighs over 3 tons. You can actually go in them but the passageways are only 4 feet high and they are dark, long, and smelly! We visited the Sphinx and rode camels around the desert. It was really hot but the scenery was amazing. We also visited Saqqara (or Sakkara) where we saw some of the lesser-known pyramids and some of the best-preserved tombs. The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife, so they buried their Kings with elaborate treasures so they would have these things in their next life. It was amazing to see the all of the gold work and the precious items.

The following day we flew to Aswan where we boarded the Oberoi Zahra, a luxury cruiser that sails to Luxor. This cruiser is brand new, very sleek and modern and has floor to ceiling windows so you can see the sights of the Nile. Each day, the cruiser would dock in a different location so we could get off and see the temples, the cities and the ancient ruins. There is so much to see and learn in Egypt and we had our guide, Hassan, to explain the history and the meaning of the art. The Egyptians used hieroglyphics to tell a story and to communicate so it was fascinating to see this art, which is several thousand years old. I learned about the ancient Kings and Queens of Egypt and about the various Gods. One of my favorite field trips from the Zahra was our visit to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. There are 62 tombs in this valley and you can visit 16 of them. We went into 3 of the best-preserved burial chambers and also saw where King Tut's tomb had been discovered.

After touring each day, it was always great to return to the Zahra where the staff was so welcoming and ready to please all of the guests. There is a great spa on board and I was able to have a massage and take a dip in the plunge pool, which is on the top deck. As the cruiser sailed up the Nile, it was great fun to watch the sights along the riverbank. Small villages made up of mud huts, green and fertile farm land and people living off the river; these are my memories of the Nile.

We disembarked in Luxor where we flew back to Cairo. I was sad to leave the Zahra and the very kind crew on board, who all affectionately had called me "Princess of the Nile".

My trip to Egypt was fascinating, educational and got me thinking about ancient civilizations. These people were so smart and resourceful. They did all of this great work without the benefit of electricity, computers and email. It must have been something to have lived back then.

In my next life, I am coming back as Cleopatra.

For more information, please visit www.oberoihotelsandresorts.com

Katharine Bohlmann is 11 years old and is currently in the 5th grade. She lives with her dad in Pacific Palisades and with her mom in Santa Monica and two adorable dogs. In her free time she likes to watch Gilmore Girls and Friends, travel, write, and play sports.