Egypt (15 page)

Gannon smiled and nodded.

“We came to tell you that your grandfather’s artifact played a major role in our discovery,” Gannon said. “We were about to call off the excavation, when I found another tile just like it. That gave us the confidence to continue the dig. Before we left Egypt, we wanted to return it to you.”

Gannon held out the tile.

The shopkeeper took it in his hands.

“I knew it was true,” he said. “My grandfather was close.”

“Very close,” I said.

Knowing this with certainty seemed to give the shopkeeper peace of mind. His grandfather was, in fact, a great archeologist, and very nearly made one of the greatest discoveries of all time.

“And I owe you an apology,” I said.

“What for?” the shopkeeper asked.

“For doubting you,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I thought you were trying to scam us.”

The shopkeeper laughed.

“I understand,” the man said. “There are a few shopkeepers in this market who would do just that.”

“It’s like they say back home,” Gannon said, “a few bad apples can spoil the bunch.”

The shopkeeper looked at the piece again. A smile came over his face. He then gripped it tightly in his hand, turned to us and made a slight bow.

“May your journey lead you to a better understanding of those things which are truly important in life,” he said.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Gannon said, “what would those things be?”

His smile grew wider.

“That’s for you to discover.”

MARCH 21
CAIRO


Touring the Great Pyramids of Giza

We’re flying back to Colorado tonight and I’ve just finished packing, which basically involved stuffing a bunch of dirty clothes into my backpack. There’s still about an hour before we leave, so I took a seat on our balcony and have been looking out over the city with the Great Pyramids in the distance. Thinking of all the amazing stuff we learned, one thing in particular keeps coming to mind. Even though our mission wasn’t a total success and we weren’t able to unveil Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s tomb to the world and get our names printed in the history books and all that cool stuff, we were still able to prove what Dr. Aziz kept telling us throughout the fellowship: When you’re pursing your goals, it pays to be persistent. Don’t give up when the going gets tough, and it is definitely going to get tough. That’s a guarantee. And when it does, you have to be strong, believe in yourself, and keep going. Really, that’s the thing I hope to take away from this whole experience.

Okay, now. In closing, I think a special thanks is in order. To all you ancient Egyptians dwelling in the afterlife who, in some mystical way, played a part in deciding that it wasn’t yet my time to join you, much obliged.

Ma’a as-salaamah, Egypt.

At the time of writing this authors’ note, the nation of Egypt is in a state of unrest. The country’s current situation is much too complex to analyze from afar. However, what is clear to everyone who follows the news is that the good people of Egypt are suffering. Amidst political turmoil and violence, many Egyptians struggle to provide for their families; their jobs, their safety, and their general welfare are in jeopardy.

Egypt was home to one of history’s greatest civilizations, and much of the country’s spectacular antiquities remain unspoiled. To tour Egypt today is to marvel at the potential of human achievement. For these reasons, Egypt is a very popular travel destination. Many of us have wondered what it would be like to see the relics of ancient Egypt with our own eyes—to descend into the tomb of Tutankhamen, to walk among the ornate pillars of Karnak’s Great Hypostyle Hall, to reach out and touch one of the massive stone blocks at the base of the Great Pyramid.

Tourism is a critical component of the Egyptian economy. In recent years, however, vacationers have been foregoing trips to Egypt, citing fear for their safety as the primary reason. Such concerns are valid given the current instability. In time, though, a visit to Egypt will once again prove enticing, for at its roots Egypt is a magnificent place.

During our trip, we experienced Egyptian kindness and hospitality firsthand. People would frequently stop us and ask, “Where are you from?” When we told them that we were from the United States, the response was always friendly. “How are you enjoying Egypt?” was the question most people asked next. In Luxor, a family even invited us into their home for dinner. These gracious hosts opened their door to strangers—foreigners no less.

The Egyptian children, like all young people, are playful and innocent. Interacting with the youth is a clear reminder of why we can be hopeful for the future. Inherently children are open-minded, pure in thought, and compassionate toward others. It is our responsibility to strengthen these virtues in our children, instilling in them a lifelong tolerance and understanding of other people and cultures. To quote John F. Kennedy, “For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”

To our friends in Egypt, we send our best wishes. May your future be blessed with opportunity, peace, and happiness.

H
ave you ever imagined traveling the world over? Fifteen-year-old twin brothers Gannon and Wyatt have done just that. With a flight attendant for a mom and an international businessman for a dad, the spirit of adventure has been nurtured in them since they were very young. When they got older, the globe-trotting brothers had an idea—why not share with other kids all of the amazing things they’ve learned during their travels? The result is the book series, Travels with Gannon and Wyatt, a video web series, blog, photographs from all over the world, and much more. Furthering their mission, the brothers also cofounded the Youth Exploration Society (Y.E.S.), an organization of young people who are passionate about making the world a better place. Each Travels with Gannon & Wyatt book is loosely based on real-life travels. Gannon and Wyatt have actually been to Botswana and tracked rhinos on foot. They have traveled to the Great Bear Rainforest in search of the mythical spirit bear, and explored the ancient tombs of Egypt. During these “research missions,” the authors, along with Gannon and Wyatt, often sit around the campfire collaborating on an adventure tale that sets two young explorers on a quest for the kind of knowledge you can’t get from a textbook. We hope you enjoy the novels that were inspired by these fireside chats. As Gannon and Wyatt like to say, “The world is our classroom, and we’re bringing you along.”

Want to become a member of the
Youth Exploration Society
just like Gannon and Wyatt?

Check out our website. That’s where you’ll learn how to become a member of the Youth Exploration Society, an organization of young people, like yourself, who love to travel and are interested in world geography, cultures, and wildlife.

The website also includes:

Information about Egypt, amazing photos of the pyramids, and complete episodes of our award-winning web series shot on location with Gannon and Wyatt!

Guiding us on our epic Egyptian adventure were many wonderful people to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. We would like to thank the Emmy Award-winning producer, Leslie Grief, and the awesome crew of Chasing Mummies; the world-famous archeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, for allowing special access to some of Egypt’s most spectacular tombs; film and television producer, Mohammed Gohar, our dependable producer, Bibo, and the exceptional crew at Video Cairo Sat; Homdi and his family for inviting us into their home; and the kind and hospitable people of Egypt who often went out of their way to assure we had a first-rate experience. Also, a special thanks to producer and cinematographer Robert Smyth for lending his talents to our first major production. And last, but not least, to our favorite explorers, Gannon and Wyatt, for climbing into dark tombs and tight spaces where most people would never go.