In a small village nestled near the magnificent city of Luxor, a boy named Alaa lived with his family in a humble home surrounded by fields of green and the eternal desert beyond. The village, quiet and simple, seemed worlds away from the grandeur of the ancient temples and monuments that stood proudly across the river. Alaa’s father, a hardworking man with a heart full of stories, would often tell him about the wonders of Luxor, the city where the past whispered through every stone, and where foreigners came from all corners of the world to marvel at the remnants of ancient Egyptian glory.
One summer, as the sun blazed across the sky, Alaa's father finally decided it was time to take his son to the heart of it all — Luxor. It was a trip that Alaa had dreamed of for as long as he could remember, and the anticipation made his heart race with excitement. They traveled by bus, the cool breeze of the open windows brushing against their faces, until the bustling streets of Luxor came into view.
As they approached the city, Alaa’s eyes widened in awe. He had never seen so many people, so many buses, so much life. Tourists from all over the world were everywhere, their faces filled with wonder as they headed to the West Bank to witness the grandeur of the Valley of the Kings and other ancient treasures. Alaa stood by the roadside, watching as these buses filled with curious strangers passed by, each one carrying the promise of a story, a history, and a connection to the land that was so much more than just a tourist destination.
In that moment, something clicked inside him. He watched the foreign tourists chatting with the local guides, hearing stories of Pharaohs, of temples, and of the long history that made Luxor a beacon of Egypt’s past. Alaa knew then what he wanted to be — a guide. Not just any guide, but one who could show the world the beauty of his home, through his own eyes, with the pride of someone who had lived among the very stones and streets they came to admire.
When the summer vacation ended and Alaa returned to school, he couldn’t stop talking about his trip to Luxor. His classmates were eager to hear about the city and the wonders he had seen. But it was his history teacher who listened most intently. Alaa shared every detail of his journey, describing the tourists, the monuments, and the way the river Nile seemed to carry the weight of centuries. His teacher smiled, seeing the spark of passion in Alaa’s eyes, and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. "If you want to be a guide, my boy," she said, "you must learn everything — not just the history, but the stories of the people, the life that flows through the land. That is the true essence of Luxor."
Determined, Alaa dedicated himself to his studies, pouring over books about Egypt’s ancient past, learning the languages of the tourists who visited, and understanding the culture of his own people. With every passing year, his dream grew stronger. He didn’t just want to be a guide; he wanted to tell the stories that no one else would. He wanted to show visitors the Egypt that he knew — the Egypt of kind, humble people who lived alongside the great monuments, whose lives were as rich in tradition and history as the very land itself.
Almost twenty years passed. Alaa worked tirelessly, studying, learning, and honing his skills. Finally, the day came when he stood before a group of foreign tourists as a licensed guide, sharing the story of Luxor with the same passion that had first ignited his heart as a child. His words painted pictures in their minds, not just of the ancient Pharaohs, but of the people who lived in the shadow of the great temples, whose lives were woven into the fabric of this timeless city.
Alaa’s reputation as a guide spread far and wide. His knowledge, warmth, and authenticity shone through in every tour. He didn’t just talk about the wonders of Luxor; he showed the world its true colors, through the eyes of someone who had grown up surrounded by its history, its people, and its beauty.
As years passed, Alaa’s dream expanded. He founded his own agency, dedicated to offering tourists a more intimate, local perspective of Egypt — one that celebrated not just the ancient monuments, but the living, breathing culture that existed alongside them. Through his agency, he welcomed visitors from every corner of the globe, eager to share his love for Luxor, for Egypt, and for the people who called it home.
Alaa had come full circle. The boy who once stood by the side of the road, watching the buses carrying strangers to the land of Pharaohs, had become a man who brought the world to the heart of Egypt. And as he guided them through the streets, he didn’t just show them the history of his land; he showed them its soul.
