Aegyptica - The Western Oases

The Western Desert Oases are not the usual tourist fodder in Egypt. They are far from the Nile Valley the Five Star tourist trails and the Cruise Boats and possibly lack popular appeal at least for the time being. All to the good for our study group with the small crowds on the sites suggesting we might potter about and take photographs without being bothered. Well almost.

Deep in The Great Sand Sea these Oases are amazing places to visit having cradled their individual civilisations for thousands of years. Once places of refuge, remote, and providing opportunity for lush cultivation and safe settlement we were in for many surprises. The oases are in very large depressions below the desert that once allowed the ancient aquifers to seep to the surface and even to create large inland seas. Now as the water table has subsided pumping stations bring the sometimes hot artesian waters up for reticulation. Some of the pumps discharge into pools where late afternoon therapy eases way the days kinks from the relentless pounding of the 4 X 4. Modern Egypt calls this The New Valley.

Although evidence exists for much activity in Pharaonic times, it is here that one can see the boundary of the Roman Empire at its amazing best, with the work of its military engineers and artisans beneath ones feet. And to look out from the emplacements as the young conscripts from Gaul must have done so very far from home.

Alexander came here to Siwa with some mates, an awful journey we covered from the Mediterranean in a couple of hours in comfort. He was rewarded at Jupiter Ammon by a thoughtful Priesthood who agreed with him that he was God so that he could go and get on with his business. Didnt much help however as he too had to die.

We start in Cairo, then down to the Delta and Alexandria. Along the Mediterranean coast to el Alamein to the desert turnoff near Mersa Matruh and down to Siwa Oasis. Over four hundred kilometers of open desert to Bahariya and the Valley of the Golden Mummies and then to Farafra. Dakhleh and Kharga to complete the Western Oases journey. A three truck convoy of us split of at Kharga to go down to the Deep Libyan Desert, the subject of another galleria. Returning to Kharga we go on to the Nile and to Luxor, Cairo and home.

To help with navigation the Galleria is broken down into sub galleries covering the major destinations. You may start at Cairo if you wish or jump about to your hearts content. As usual all the Galleria wont spring to life at once, so we hope you will have the time and the patience to return as time permits.
Current work in progress takes us from the oasis of Siwa, through The Great Sand Sea, the oasis of Bahariya and on into the awesome Black and White Deserts. There are many VBL Panoramas in the Deserts which may be of additional interest. We have now arrived at the The Oasis of Farafra and to Dakhla where we will take a look at Rome at its mighty best.
Thanks as ever for visiting.
Note: As a first off you may be boggled by the term VBL Panorama. This is an invention of Robaires and stands for Very Bloody Large. We use this on Rusticana to size a rendered composite of many images to your screen in the vertical and to extend off screen usually to your right. Use your cross screen toggle button to draw the full image over screen. Take in Panoramae and The Panorama Society while you are with us. Enjoy.
August 2010