Anne Speake

Letters from Cairo Anne Speake

It's said, "you can never go home again," but I've been back to Egypt at least thirty times over the past forty years. The country has changed dramatically since the 70's but the history is the same. The people are the same. My love of both, supersede any of the superficial changes that go on over these many years. I did not return to my beloved Cairo for ten years during the political upheaval. My opportunity came when I read an advertisement from Archeological Tours in the National Geographic offering tours to Egypt. It featured Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptian archeologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, whom I greatly admired, and a visit to the Home of former First Lady, Jehan Sadat. She had been to my home, now I could visit her in her home. This trip, plus the added security that this tour afforded, alleviated any fears of traveling in the Middle East.