Winter in Egypt, 2024 - Farewell to a Friend

 

We were very saddened two days ago to hear of the passing of our long-time friend, Fergany el Komaty.

Linda first met Fergany some 40+ years ago near the pyramids on one of her early trips to Egypt.  Things were much simpler in those days.  There were no vast crowds queuing to enter the pyramids compound; there was no compound, no gate, no fences.  Tourists could simply walk up to the pyramids and marvel at them without a ticket.

Fergany was a young man in his twenties eking out a living by selling postcards to the tourists.  

In those days, tourists were free to climb the pyramids but most who were inclined to do so hired a guide to insure their safe journey to the top.  Fergany became one of the best known of these.  He quickly became fluent in several languages and his sparkling personality won him many friends all over the world. 

 

These two photos, taken from Fergany's website, show him at the top of one pyramid along with a traveler who had successfully made it to the top.

 

After a time, Fergany was able to develop his own travel agency, "Egypt Your Way," with an early presence on the nascent World Wide Web.  

He added a new hat to his wardrobe - a gift from one of his customers and he soon became well-known as "the man in the Panama hat".

We made it a point to stop and visit with him and his family for a while each winter.  When Linda brought groups of touring ladies to Egypt, Fergany hosted the group at his five-story home overlooking the Pyramids and Sphinx within listening range of the famed Sound and Light Show.

Fergany will be deeply missed by us, his Egyptian friends and all who had the pleasure to tour with him.  Fergany's facebook page is still accessible with many photos.