Egyptian Palaces and Villas by Shirley Johnston

Home from a wonderful trip to Egypt and enjoying leafing through this lavishly illustrated book of colour photographs: the ultimate bedside book to relive the romance of Travel. Egypt is a beautiful, fascinating country and I long to return. I loved revisiting Mena House, where we stayed close to the Pyramids, the Cataract Hotel, Aswan and the Winter Palace, Luxor, imaging walking through the rooms again as Agatha Christie once did when she wrote 'Death on the Nile' in 1937.
' " That's Hercule Poiret, the detective," said Mrs. Allerton. She and her son were sitting in brightly painted scarlet basket chairs outside the Cataract Hotel, Assuan.'
'Poirot passed out on the other side on to the terrace overlooking the Nile. Here were little tables set for tea, but it was early still. He stood for a few moments looking down on to the river then strolled down through the gardens.'
'Dinner was over. The terrace outside the Cataract Hotel was softly lit. Most of the guests staying at the Hotel were there sitting at little tables.'
I first came across this book of palaces and villas on SSMisr, a lovely old steamer on which we travelled up the Nile visiting temples and tombs on the way. Birds flew in and out of the deserted temples, and I was reminded of the little swallow in Oscar Wilde's story, 'The Happy Prince' who was 'waited for in Egypt. My friends are flying up and down the Nile and talking to the large lotus flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King. The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in yellow linen and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves.'
 And now I am fascinated by all the other palaces I may never see, beautifully photographed with exquisite attention to detail.I long to visit Alexandria, and should I return to Cairo, I vow to stay at the Gezira Palace,, transformed for the Empress Eugenie's stay in 1869. Travel is a wonderful experience to be savoured long after returning home, thanks to such a sumptuous book: a veritable feast of delights.