When it came to school, I didn’t really fit the mould, but then we studied ancient Egypt, and I was mesmerised. All those stories of queens and kings, tombs and temples, I couldn’t get enough.
Egypt seemed to have such a deep sense of spirituality, passion and purpose that I felt connected to. It’s so rich in a history and culture that is so unique and has inspired the world in everything from architecture to fashion. Pictures of the desert landscape drew me in. What a breathtaking panorama of sand, fire, water, gold and light.
Imagining myself exploring this faraway land lifted my spirit and I dreamed that maybe one day I would get to experience it all for real.
That moment finally arrived for me in 2022. I had now had adventures in places all over our beautiful planet, but I sensed that this journey might change me forever.
I stepped on board the S.S. Sphinx for a 12 day encounter called The Splendors of Egypt and The Nile run by Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, knowing that inspiration was sure to spark.
OUR UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY
Day 1 Cairo
Checked in to the incredible Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cairo
Day 2 Cairo
Tour of Citadel of Salah al-Din, Alabaster Mosque and Egyptian Museum
We also visited “Manial Palace in Cairo” as extra visit
Day 3 Fly To Luxor, Cruising the Nile River
Visit Temple at Karnak with a dedicated tour guide
Day 4 – Dendera, Cruising the Nile River, Luxor
Visit to Luxor Temple, Luxor Bazaar and Sofitel Winter Palace.
A beautiful dining experience on on board River Tosca, with a Galabeya Party with music, dancing and singing by crew members.
Day 5 – Luxor, Crusing the Nile River, Kom Ombo
Hot Air Balloon tour starts at dawn from ship,
Visit to Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple and Valley of the Kings
There was beauty everywhere. I could hear children singing and laughing along the banks as majestic waters, older than time, stretched out before me. I was surrounded by contrasts. New and old, modern and ancient, light, shadow and breathtaking colour.
With the seamless assistance of Uniworld's local Egyptian team, every detail of our incredible trip—from hotels and transfers to tours and extras—was meticulously arranged, allowing us to fully immerse in Egypt’s rich culture and history.
The people I got to know were among the kindest I’ve ever met and I was lucky enough to have local experts to guide me. They all treated me like I was part of their family from the get-go.
Saleh, our Egyptologist, revealed the secret language of hieroglyphs to me and shared the stories behind Egypt’s mysteries and monuments. He took me to Cairo’s oldest bazaars, mosques and markets, where I could have stayed forever.
From the incredible days exploring Cairo, we took a short flight to Luxor to visit the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings. It was here I felt the first flicker of inspiration for my Valley Of The Queens, They Called Her Nefertari and Under Scarab Skies prints.
At sunrise, the following morning I climbed into the basket of a hot air balloon. We took to the skies, drifting peacefully over the valleys below where centuries of stories were set in stone.
Although I didn’t want to come back down to Earth, once we were back on terra firma, I could explore these royal resting places in living colour.
Queen Nefertari was a major source of inspiration for the collection. The favourite wife of Pharaoh Rameses II, he called her, ‘she for whom the sun shines.’ Inside her tomb, beautiful paintings, hieroglyphs and sacred symbols cover every wall and column. Images created to take her safely into the afterlife. Ankhs, scarabs, phoenixes, jackals and falcon-headed gods appear in every chamber and corridor. All watched over by ceiling full of stars.
One of the exciting elements of travel is unpredictability. Little things along a journey can inspire you when you least expect it. As I was out exploring, my eye was drawn to a lilac turban. It was the most incredible shade and became the main colour for one of my prints: Under Scarab Skies.
I wanted to capture the essence of the Valley of the Queens in these prints in true CAMILLA style. We wove together lotus flowers and papyrus, scarabs, wings, cartouche and ankhs with vibrant splashes of colour.
Spellbinding symbols and hieroglyphs were all hand drawn by our talented inhouse artists.
Travel has always been my muse and this journey, facilitated by luxury boutique river cruise provider Uniworld, allowed me to do what I do best.
