DAN BRACAGLIA
Editor, Writer & Photographer

I put this photo first because I feel like it is the type of photo everyone expected me to come back from Egypt with. 

Most of my time spent in Tahrir Square was peaceful, almost jubilant. But arguments did tend to escalate quickly. Random children also got a real kick out of coming up to me, tapping me on the shoulder and whispering, "Death to America."

Traveled by train between Alexandria and Cairo, and caught a glimpse of more rural living. 

Cairo's Khan Khalili Market, a popular tourist area, was the site of a major suicide bomb attack a few years prior. 

The women here are tough and courageous. Egypt is definitely still a male-dominated society. 

Young and old gathered in Tahrir Square daily, to show their support for a democratic Egypt.

This photo sums up 80% of my time in Cairo. Dark alleys, shadowy figures and a complete loss of the concept of time. 

People liked to come up to me and pose for the camera. Some asked if I was a spy. I imagine it would be far more difficult now to walk around Tahir Square, camera in hand, and shoot portraits. Especially if you don't understand Arabic. Thankfully, I had the most wonderful of translators by my side. 

Aggressive street merchants will try to sell you everything from packs of tissues, to cheap nicknacks

Mohamed Morsi won quite a bit of support from individuals in more rural communities, like this one. 

Outskirts of Cairo. 

Lollipops and shattered cars. Signs of the revolution were everywhere. 

I thought this was interesting. Pre-revolution graffiti, written in English. It's almost as if it's an appeal to Western media. 

An all-female voting location. Voting lasted two days. 

Sailed da Nile. 

A random street vendor who was kind enough to pose for a portrait. 

Showing off the freshly-inked finger

Our driver while in Alexandria, Abraham. 

Many of these portraits were taken in-between interviewing individuals about their thoughts on the elections. 

This is Osama, our wonderful guide for the majority of our time spent in Egypt. 

This gentlemen, before posing for a portrait, explained how he had balanced protesting in Tahrir Square, with studying for his college final exams. 

Our incredible host in Alexandria. Not pictured: her bright pink fuzzy slippers, which she specifically asked I crop out. 

We watched this man dip a drinking glass directly into the Nile, twice, and chug the water.

Army trainees 

The kids here get away with everything!

Capitalism, alive and well in the shop windows of Cairo. 

SpongeBob is literally EVERYWHERE. Yes, that is Tahir Square in the background. 

We rode horses through the desert, One of them wasn't feeling so hot. I couldn't walk right for the rest of the trip. 

Kittens, everywhere. There are almost as many kittens as SpongeBob shirts.

Somewhere between Cairo and Alexandria. 

This was shot from a balcony in downtown Cairo. protests would literally form and dissipate non stop throughout the day and night. 

Went back to Tahir Square several times to take in the energy. 

From what I can tell, the Egyptian people are kind and generous. They look out for one another. The revolution and so many of the atrocities committed since I was there certainly overshadow the compassionate nature of these people. 

Even made some new friends and partied like an Egyptian. 

I tip my hat to this great nation and its people. I'm glad I was able to make my way there during one of the most hopeful, positive moments in their political and societal history. I only hope it's government can fulfill its promise to the people and give them back true democracy.