I went on a trip with a small group a few weeks ago to Minia, in middle Egypt.  I know essentially next to nothing about any of the sites we visit on any of these trips, but it’s enjoyable just to go and learn along the way.  We saw a lot of interesting things, but were not allowed to take any pictures in some of the cooler places.  For example, the tombs at Bani Hasan, which are decorated with amazingly intricate paintings of scenes of funeral preparation, people working, wildlife, what appeared to be specific dance steps, and dozens and dozens of specific wrestling moves (which included old favorites, like the pile driver).  Another example was at Tounah al-Gabal, where there are catacombs that extend at least 3 km, and are filled with thousands upon thousands of mummified ibises and baboons.  Not to say that there wasn’t plenty to photograph.  See below.

One other thing that I found really cool/somewhat disturbing:  In many places we would find ourselves walking over ground that appeared to be covered in light red red rocks, so thick that you could not see the sand beneath.  Turns out they weren’t rocks at all, but the sun-bleached shards of must literally have been hundreds and hundreds of thousands of broken Roman era pots, or as our encyclopedic guide, John Swanson, called them, the “plastic bags” of the Romans.  Use and toss.  The joys of living in an empire built on consumption and excess must be universal.