Egypt, Day 0: The Beginning of a Long-Awaited Journey
It’s a quiet Monday morning. Coffee in hand. Still waking up. Still sleepy. And on the eve of something very big.
Tomorrow, I leave for Egypt — for the first time!!
This post marks the beginning of a new chapter: a video and written documentation of my first journey to Egypt, a place that holds deep cultural and artistic significance for me as a belly dancer. I wanted to start recording before the plane, before the travel hustle, before the whirlwind — to capture the feeling of anticipation, intention, and gratitude that comes right before a life-changing experience.
Why Egypt, and Why Now?
I’m Alexandra — a Miami-born and raised belly dancer, teacher, and creative. In 2025, I celebrated 20 years of studying belly dance, and this trip is one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve given myself to honor that milestone.
I’ve traveled before — Europe, Central America, around the U.S., and even Lebanon in 2017 — but Egypt has always felt different. It’s a place I didn’t want to experience for the first time alone or chaotically. I wanted guidance, context, and care.
This journey is being hosted by Shahrzad and Valerick Molinary. Valerick is a dear friend and my business partner, and Shahrzad, is a world-renown artist, an American living in Cairo. Both ladies are deeply knowledgeable, experienced, and well-traveled. Traveling with women I trust — artists who understand both the dance and the region — makes this experience feel grounded and aligned.
Sometimes, timing really is everything.
The Power of Letting Things Click
So… After 20 years of belly dancing, why is this my first time going to Egypt?
The answer is simple — and layered.
Early in my career, I was part of a studio that traveled to Egypt regularly. At the time, I was young, working constantly, and simply couldn’t afford to go. Later, those trips stopped. Then life moved on. I didn’t have the right people to go with. And nothing quite clicked.
I’m a big believer that when something is meant to happen, it finds its moment.
Lebanon clicked in 2017 — through workshops, study, and artistic alignment — and it became one of the most perfect trips of my life. Egypt just hadn’t arrived yet.
Until now.
A January Departure & a New Year Reset
It’s early January. The holidays have just ended. And for me, January has often felt slow… heavy… almost arduous.
But traveling at the very beginning of the year feels like a powerful jump-start.
This year holds many plans, and I already know my future self will look back and say:
“Hell yes. I’m so glad you did this.”
I’m hoping this trip fuels my fire, sharpens my vision, and carries energy into everything that comes next.
Preparing — Practically and Spiritually
Today is about preparation.
I’m packing — with extra space, because I’ve been warned there will be a lot of shopping. I’m journaling, setting intentions, and noting what I want to observe and remember while I’m there.
I’m heading to the library to pick up a book for the flight, finishing the one I’ve been deeply immersed in, and filling a handmade travel bag created by my dear friend Sara — a seamstress and artist. It will hold small personal items, crystals, herbs, and protective objects I like to carry when I travel. Handmade things carry a special kind of energy, and this bag feels like a quiet companion for the journey ahead.
Beyond the logistics — airline checks, chargers, cash, itineraries — I’m focusing on mindset. I’m preparing to walk a lot, see a lot, feel a lot.
Come With Me
I’ll be vlogging as much as I can along the way.
If this is your first time discovering Cairo and Luxor, you’ll be discovering them with me — for the first time.
And if you’ve been before, I’d love to hear your tips, reflections, and insights. Leave a comment, share your wisdom — I’ll be reading.
This is just the beginning. Tomorrow, the journey truly starts.
-Alexandra