Frolic Log Week 43: Egypt
Long ago, in a faraway land
Each week on Frolic Log, I write about places I’ve known and loved, imagining how it might feel to return as a guest in five spectacular vacation rentals.
As sunlight streamed into my Brooklyn apartment this weekend, I found myself daydreaming about the cities, meadows, footpaths, and sidewalks my feet have yet to scurry across. With the magic of spring, I felt free and awakened and decided to break from my self-imposed dogma and freedive into the magical sea of Airbnbs from places I have yet to travel to. Admittedly, it was incredibly therapeutic. And sometimes, we simply need to do what feels good.
A recent, vivid (and slightly eerie) novel set in Luxor planted a seed in my mind, and Egypt’s residential real estate answered the call. I pictured the pyramids, the pharaohs, the lush Nile River Valley, the ancient Library of Alexandria, and the vibrant coral reefs of the Red Sea. All of these adventures await.
But first, my friends… the perfect dwelling!
The Pyramids of Giza
Rising like icebergs from the sands of Giza, the Pyramids stand like proud - unmeltable, unmovable, unshakable - monuments to the ancient belief in the divine status of those who once ruled this land. Just outside Cairo, this farmhouse and stable offer a slower, simpler way of life in the shadow of greatness. The home provides all the comforts, without being tucked into Giza’s most tourist-heavy zones, where photographers and camels crowd the scene.
Valley of Queens
You can be sure you're in for the warmest welcome when you find an Airbnb with nothing but 5-star reviews. Every guest raves about the experience, the food, and the hospitality. Here, visitors are welcomed into a family-owned palace overlooking the Valley of the Queens, just a short drive from the Valley of the Kings. The listing proudly describes the neighborhood as the home of “families, descendants of the ancient Egyptians of Thebes.” Is everything in Egypt so epic?
Downtown Cairo
The city of Cairo, home to ten million people, lies at the gateway to the Nile Delta. Viewed from space, the river fans out as it prepares to meet the Mediterranean, resembling the bright green leaf of a Ginkgo tree. Meanwhile, in Downtown Cairo, this apartment feels like a pistachio rose fever dream: a glamorous space adorned with rescued wooden beams, doors, and decorative details. It features stunning four-poster beds and cozy reading nooks filled with plush pillows, all overlooking a pedestrian stretch of the city just below.
The River Nile (Luxor)
Once a vessel for archaeologists cruising down the Nile, this historical boat has been reborn as a luxury stay. Let’s call her a yacht, she’s earned it. Sadly, she’s retired from Nile voyages, but the views? Unbeatable. And she’s got a trusty sidekick: a zippy little motorboat perfect for sightseeing. With three double bedrooms spread over two levels, it was the top deck, complete with lounge chairs, that stole my heart. Just pray for dry weather. One slick plank and you could cascade overboard into the natural habitat of Africa’s largest reptile: the Nile crocodile.
Luxor
If you’re longing to experience the Nile but a houseboat isn’t your style, you can opt for a more traditional luxury stay. From the safety of a heavenly balcony, safely watch as feluccas - traditional sailing boats - glide by, carrying tourists down the river while the sky shifts from blue to pink with the setting sun. It’s a powerful reminder of why the lush banks of this majestic river served as the lifeblood of an ancient civilization, one that chose this land to build a unified kingdom that endured for over 3,000 years.
The end? Perhaps. But every ending is just the beginning of another tale… waiting to be told.