Soulful Steps Through Sand and Stone in Egypt

Last night I landed in the legendary city of Cairo—a place where history hums through every street, every sunrise, and every grain of sand caught in the desert breeze. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt it—the magnetic pulse of a city that has carried the weight of thousands of years, yet still beats wildly with life. The air was thick, warm, and alive, carrying the scent of spices, smoke, and stories waiting to be lived.

Our first evening welcomed us in the most magical way possible — a dinner cruise on the Nile aboard the Topaz. As the boat gently drifted along the legendary river, Cairo lit up around us — a dazzling dance of lights reflected across the water’s dark surface.

The evening unfolded like a dream: a sumptuous buffet of Middle Eastern delicacies, lively music, and traditional performances that stirred the soul. First came the belly dancer, her movements hypnotic and fluid, each step a testament to centuries of embodied artistry. Her costume shimmered under the soft lights, catching the eyes and the imagination alike.

Then the energy shifted — and a whirling dervish took the stage. Dressed in flowing, colorful robes, he spun and spun and spun — faster than the eye could follow, yet somehow grounding deeper with each turn.

It was a spiritual sight, a living meditation of surrender, rhythm and devotion.

I found myself swaying gently with the boat, heart wide open, utterly mesmerised by the beauty of it all: the music, the dance, the laughter, the living Nile flowing beneath us.

That night, with the city glowing behind me and the river carrying me forward, I whispered to myself: This is only the beginning.

Yesterday was a day I will always remember: Pyramid Day.

We were dropped off at the main entrance to the Giza Plateau—the beating heart of one of the ancient wonders of Egypt—before boarding a shuttle bus that carried us through three key viewpoints. Each stop offered a new angle, a new awe, a new reminder of how magnificently humans once touched the heavens with stone.

The morning arrived in a golden haze of excitement, and as we moved closer, the pyramids grew larger, grander, and somehow more surreal with every turn, and then, there they were.

The Main Pyramids of Giza and then The eternal Sphinx, silent and strong.

As I stepped closer, emotions flooded my entire body. It felt as if my heart was jumping right out of my chest—a wild, joyful rhythm that matched the wonder stirring in my soul. Tears blurred my vision as I stood there, not just seeing, but feeling the magnificence before me.
The sights, the scents, the sounds all spun together into a living symphony that stirred something ancient in my soul. The pyramids rose high into the sky, defying time itself, each stone whispering of eternity, while the Sphinx sat silent and unblinking, the eternal guardian of the sands.

I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with the warmth of the desert — sun-baked stone, ancient dust and the musky trace of distant camels. Around me, the soft crunch of footsteps, the low murmur of voices and the haunting sigh of the desert wind wove a memory so rich, it would stay etched within me forever.

The moment grew even more surreal as my love and I entered The Great Pyramid of Cheops. Inside, the world narrowed to steep passageways of stone and shadow. Climbing through the narrow tunnels, the air grew warmer, heavier and charged with an almost electric energy that seemed to vibrate through the walls themselves.

As I reached the King’s Chamber, I paused—placing my hand against the cool stone, whispering a silent thank you to the ancestors who built this monument to eternity. It felt as though the walls themselves were alive with memory.

It’s no coincidence that the pyramids, cemeteries, tombs and funeral temples were intentionally built on the West side of the Nile—the place where the sun sets, symbolising the journey into the afterlife, honouring the eternal cycles of life, death and rebirth in alignment with the Sun God, Ra.

Standing there in that sacred silence, I could almost hear the whispers of those who came before. Their devotion. Their dreams. Their unwavering belief in something greater than themselves.

Pyramid Day was much more than a bucket-list moment.
It was a soul-stirring pilgrimage—a reminder that some places aren’t just visited... they are felt, remembered and etched into the heart forever.

Before leaving the Giza Plateau I found myself standing before The Great Sphinx — the ancient sentinel carved from living stone, bearing the body of a lion and the face of a king. Silent and eternal, the Sphinx feels less like a monument and more like a question whispered across the ages who are you beneath the surface? Strength, wisdom, mystery — all woven into a single, weathered gaze that has watched over the sands of time.

Drawn by its timeless pull, I joined a tradition shared by countless travelers before me — leaning in close for a playful, almost reverent moment captured in a photo: a kiss offered to the keeper of ancient secrets, a gesture of connection between soul and stone.

There’s a kind of wisdom that doesn’t come from books or timelines.

It comes from places. From standing where ancient feet once stood. From breathing in air that has carried prayers across centuries. From listening to what stone, sand and spirit still have to say.

Ancient wisdom isn’t something lost to the past—it’s something still alive, waiting for us to remember, to feel and to honour.

When have I felt deeply connected to something ancient, timeless, or bigger than myself?

What wisdom do I sense lives within me, passed down through generations or soul memory?

If I could hear a message from the ancient world today, what might it be?

How can I honour the cycles of life, death, rebirth and legacy in my own life?

Let your pen become a bridge between the ancient and the present.

Write slowly. Listen intently. Feel deeply. Flow gracefully.

After this soul-stirring encounter, we traveled along the Ring Road — the main artery connecting Cairo to Giza — and arrived at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the pyramids. There, a magnificent lunch awaited us: a mixed grill feast of succulent char-grilled meats, rich tahini, whipped garlic dip, and creamy hummus, filling the table and nourishing body, heart, and spirit alike.

But wait there’s more, as the magic of the day was far from finished.

Our next stop was the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
Even from outside we were greeted by the colossal obelisk that was carefully designed so that the reflection of the sun points the way toward sacred places of worship and memory.

We then moved toward the entrance — where Ramses II himself awaited.

As we stepped inside, we were immediately met by the awe-inspiring sight of the massive, single-piece granite statue of Ramses II, weighing an almost unimaginable twelve tonnes. Majestic and almost otherworldly in his presence, his left foot steps forward — symbolising the eternal act of following the heart, a message that feels just as alive today as it did thousands of years ago.
The entire museum was built around him, a living tribute to strength, spirit, and sacredness.

From there, the wonders continued:
The powerful statue of a Ptolemaic king, regal and watchful
The fierce and protective energy of Sekhmet, lioness goddess of war and healing
Intricate, ornate displays capturing the beauty of daily life and sacred rites from thousands of years ago

One of the most moving pieces was the Book of the Dead — sacred writings meant to guide a soul safely into the afterlife.
A reminder that words, when spoken with heart and purpose, can and do carry us across worlds.

After this soul-stirring day, it was time to return to the Sofitel El Gezirah.
Swimsuit on, refreshing drink in hand and toes dipped into the cool pool while gazing out over the mighty Nile — a perfect moment of rest, reflection and reverence. I closed my eyes, feeling the sun kiss my skin and whispered gratitude to this land, this journey, this moment.

The adventures of today carried me even deeper into the timeless soul of Cairo.
We explored the sprawling Cairo Citadel, marveled at the stunning ancient mosques, and wandered through the peaceful beauty of the old churches and the Jewish temple in Old Cairo — each place carrying its own echoes of faith, hope and resilience.

Of course, no visit would be complete without getting a little lost — and a little enchanted — in the winding alleys of the Khan El Khalili market.
The smells of spices, the sparkle of lanterns, the sounds of haggling — it was a sensory symphony that filled my heart and left my spirit wide awake.
Spices, silks and trinkets filled every alleyway, each corner a new adventure.

Cairo, you have already etched yourself into my heart and soul and somehow, I know there is even more magic yet to come.

Night slipped its silver fingers through the sky as the Nile whispered old songs only the soul could hear. I stayed at the water’s edge, a wild thing between worlds — no longer just a traveler but a thread woven into the ancient tapestry of this land.

The day clung to me like a second skin: the scent of spices, the echo of footsteps through sacred halls, the pulse of forgotten prayers stirring awake in my chest.

In the ancient arms of Cairo, I wasn’t just living a story; I was remembering one.

A story older than pyramids, older than names — a story written in stardust, in hieroglyphics and blood. My heart and body burning with something both fierce and tender, I knew that all the ancient places do not merely stay in the past.

They breathe you alive.
They call you home to the wild, untamed memory of who you have always been.
They stir the sleeping magic in your bones.
They awaken the rivers of ancient knowing that still sing through your veins.
They remind you that you are not merely walking through history — you are woven into it, a living thread of an endless, eternal tapestry.
They whisper that you are timeless. You are sacred.