I’m writing this from a bus crossing the Sahara, on my way to Abu Simbel with 27 friends.
Egypt holds opposites without tension. Donkey carts and feluccas move alongside city buses and Nile cruise ships. Barren desert sits next to the river that’s witnessed life for centuries. Mud huts line the villages while the Marriott Mena House overlooks the Pyramids of Giza.
Shepherds herding sheep and government motorcades. Fully covered women in black and tourists in western wear. Warm bazaar vendors and Egyptologists and archeologists moonlighting as tour guides. Paganism, Christianity, and Islam all leaving marks on the same ancient stones.
Ancient engineering and modern tech, side by side. Both incredibly amazing and mind boggling in their own unique ways. I had ChatGPT in voice and video mode the whole trip, uploading images, asking about signs, food, history, even random rocks. I found myself more curious, not less. I asked about things I would have walked right past.
On my connecting flight through Frankfurt, I was on an airport bus with a woman from Cameroon. She was tired and visibly worried she’d gotten on the wrong bus. Her boarding pass didn’t show a gate. The bus had no flight information. I pulled up Perplexity and asked about her Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul using her flight number. She relaxed and we smiled.
Our group is its own kind of opposite. Americans, Swedes, Filipinos, Indians, Kenyans, Australians. Many came from humble beginnings and built meaningful lives. And our new Egyptian friends are proud of their history and generous in sharing it.
Just now, our bus stopped to pick up a couple from another tour. A truck tried to overtake their car and slammed into the side of the road. They’re shaken but okay. Now they’re with us, riding to Abu Simbel with 28 new friends.
What unites us is belief in humanity, gratitude for the help we received along the way, and commitment to paying it forward.
Who we are today was shaped by those who came before us. Their hardships, their learnings, their stubborn belief that each generation could have it better.
We don’t recreate their journey. We walk in their footsteps with awe, wonder, and gratitude.
We’re also celebrating our dear friend Christine / Chris Heckart’s birthday. She brought us together for this magical trip. We love you Christine! Nothing beats experiencing life with those who make it so special.
Happy Thanksgiving. Recharge, enjoy your family and friends, and soak in the moments with people you love.