In 1984 I was in Egypt for the first time. With Barbara we had allowed ourselves 8 weeks trip through the country. After our nightly arrival in Kario we landed in a cheapest dosshouse, looked at the city in the following days, drove then with the bush taxis on the oases (Siwah, Dhakla etc.). This was my first time in a real desert. After the round trip over the deserts we were in Luxor and Assuit, where we also worked in a children's home. Have come to Aswan. Back along the Nile via Suez on the Sinai to the Katharinen monastery. Everything was very exciting, especially at a time when tourism was not so widespread in the area. Have eaten with many Egyptians (Copts and Muslims), lived and played Back Gammon.
2003 I was next time in Egypt, this time with Klaudi and the children in Sharm el Sheik on vacation. Diving in the Red Sea and trip to Cairo, pyramids as well as visit of the desert were part of the program. Was a very luxurious trip: all inclusive.
In 2004 I was in Aswan and Lake Nasser with a group of scientists from the ITT FH Cologne. We had the idea to develop an ecological village at the lake. Therefore we have two weeks in the field with police escort, luxurious hotel with Nile view and good service. It was a great trip with exciting discussions.
In 2005 I was with Stefan Kühne from the BBA in Cairo on a visit to the state agricultural research department, where cooperation discussions took place. It was practically a weekend at the pyramids at the expense of the state. It was exciting to experience the different localities with a local.
In 2019 I went for two days to SEKEM, north of Cairo, for a workshop of the GIZ for the planned Organic Knowledge hubs. SEKEM has convinced me very much that something is feasible (to make the desert green without large project funds, if the conviction and perseverance are given).