Just off the coast of Alexandria, beneath the Mediterranean waters, lie the remnants of two ancient cities, along with their gods, their stories and their secrets. The port towns of Heracleion and Canopus had been hidden from the world for over two thousand years, lost to the hungry sea, until their rediscovery less than a century ago. Now, they form the eerily silent setting for one of the world’s most unique museums.

The last of Cairo’s houseboats have been demolished or towed away this week, taking with them an important and iconic part of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. Egyptian civilization has grown and flourished along the fertile banks of the river. For thousands of years, the Nile has been the lifeblood of the country, its beating heart, and for thousands of years, people have been using its banks to anchor their floating homes and secluded getaways. But the Egyptian houseboat is now too a thing of the past.

When the weather is this warm, the idea of standing in the kitchen, even for an hour, to cook a hot meal is akin to torture. Right now we’re craving refreshing dishes that take very little time and effort to prepare; the less time spent in the kitchen the better! For that, Gazpacho is the perfect answer.

Somewhere in the once-barren desert that stretches from the Mediterranean coast down to Cairo, lies the Valley of Salt, Wadi el Natrun, a sacred site with a history that dates back to Pharaonic times. But what the valley is known for today are the four ancient monasteries, resting quietly in the Wadi for hundreds of years while the world continues to rush by.

Since time immemorial, humans have been molding and sculpting clay to build their homes, decorate their spaces, and to store and cook their food. For thousands of years, clay has been an essential part of daily life, and in many parts of the world it still is. The Egyptian ‘olla, a traditional clay water jug, may have fallen out of use with the introduction of modern refrigeration, but it’s making a comeback and for good reason.

Year after year, Egypt is listed as one of the top spots in the world for diving. The clear, warm waters of the Red Sea provide not only the perfect environment for life to flourish, but they also make for a diver’s paradise. A sea teaming with life, amazing visibility and warm temperatures all year round draw in divers from all over the globe to come and explore the underwater world. But it’s not just the coral reefs bring people to Egypt.

Few cities in Egypt can boast the special charm that Port Said possesses. Its unique Architecture, found nowhere else in the world, and its serendipitous geographic location make it one-of-a-kind. Even though it’s laughably young compared to some of Egypt’s other towns and cities, the famous port town holds more stories than could possibly be told in one lifetime.

For the longest time Alexandria has been the ‘Bride of the Mediterranean’, and with a history like ours, the phrase ‘longest time’ takes on a whole new meaning. Since the time of its founding in 331 BCE, the coastal city has held an almost mythical and divine status among the cities of the world. It has served as the stage for some of history’s most important events, both creative and destructive, and has been the subject of love affairs too numerous to count.

Matrouh, a small but ancient fishing town, lies a few hundred kilometers to the west of Alexandria, just a short distance from the Libyan border, and it is undoubtedly one of the North Coast’s most underappreciated spots.

Summer is officially here and the temperatures are already soaring. Luckily, Egypt has no shortage of stunning beaches, but sometimes we need to cool off during the week and on weekends where we just can’t get away.

We’re back again with more beautiful pictures of people celebrating Ramadan all over the world, from the Middle East to the Far East and beyond. For so many people this is their favorite time of year; a time of prayer, family, friends, food and festivity. Community takes on a whole new meaning during Ramadan and the collectivist nature of Muslims the world over becomes clear to all; during this most sacred of months, we really are one big family.

Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslim communities all around the world gather to practice and celebrate as one. It’s a time when life slows down just a little bit and priorities shift away from the daily grind and turn instead to family and faith, to the things that matter to us most. It’s a time of giving, of lending a helping hand to those in need.

The month of Ramadan is upon us once again. Marked by the sighting of the new moon and celebrated by millions around the world, this deeply sacred month means so much to so many people. To those who practice, Ramadan is about community, prayer, charity, honest introspection and self-restraint. It’s about being the best we can be. But most of all, Ramadan is about love and respect.

Egyptian cotton has become practically synonymous with luxury. Since the discovery of the long-staple variety just over 200 years ago, it has steadily made its way into every corner of the high-end fabrics industry. Its reputation certainly precedes it, and much like French cheese or Greek olive oil, there are few who don’t know of its unparalleled quality. So what’s the story behind one of the world’s most luxurious textiles?

A seemingly simple question at first, but to answer we first need to take into account the fact that ancient Egyptian culture and civilization covered a span of around 3,000 years.

Egyptians have a long and enduring relationship with gardening and agriculture, a love affair that goes back to the ancients, perhaps even beyond. With the Nile as the lifeblood and dark fertile soil as the canvas, the land here is fruitful and ideal for cultivation.

For centuries, the residents of Cairo, both rich and poor, have been laid to rest within the tombs and mausolea that make up the aptly named City of the Dead, for it is a city, but it is inhabited by the living as much as the dead. In this sprawling necropolis, one of the largest in the world, life and death exist side by side in the kind of harmony you can find only in places like these. This deep-rooted relationship between life and death, between this world and the next, goes all the way back to our ancient ancestors. Even our tombs are a remnant of ancient Egyptian burial practices.

Sitting at the foot of the Giza Plateau is the Mena House, one of Egypt’s most iconic hotels, with more than a hundred years of incredibly rich history; the saying “If walls could speak” comes to mind. With its beautifully preserved architecture and interiors, its fascinating stories and what is arguably one of the best views of the Pyramids the city has to offer, it’s easy to see where the hotel gets its iconic status from.

Less than 100km south of Cairo and just west of the Nile lies the town of Fayoum, a place steeped in ancient history, both human and natural. In a country like Egypt, the word history takes on new meaning, and Fayoum is a perfect example of why that happens to be the case.

Egyptians have long had a way with words. Our local dialects and colloquialisms are unique among other Arabic speaking cultures. Over the years we’ve managed to create our own language almost, an emulsion of classical Arabic, French and English, among others, with a heavy dose of humor and metaphor.