“She Asked, I Followed”: A Mother-Daughter Journey to Egypt

Like many children growing up, Barb Lagrotteria, a manager in O.A.T.’s Traveler Relations Center, was “obsessed” with ancient Egypt. “My password for everything back then was ‘hieroglyphic,’” she says—a fact that speaks volumes when it comes to her generation. She had two dream trips planned from her childhood: London and Egypt. Until April of this year, only one remained untaken.

For Barb’s mother, Donna, the choice to accompany Barb to Egypt was simple: “She asked, and I followed,” says Donna. While she didn’t share her daughter’s childhood obsession, “I wanted to learn more about ancient Egypt myself.”

O.A.T.’s Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht marked journey #11 for this mother-daughter duo, who prove that the travel bug can strike at any age. “Neither of us grew up traveling,” says Barb, “but we always dreamed of faraway destinations.” So when Barb began her career at O.A.T., the two also embarked on a new chapter together as world travelers. “We went from barely knowing what to do in an airport to being able to manage it seamlessly,” says Barb.

The adventure began in 2015 with Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam. When it comes to choosing destinations, Donna is happy to have Barb in the driver’s seat. “I’m always happy to go when she proposes a place,” says Donna, “even if I can’t place it on a map.” As a result, the two have shared memories of the beaches of Normandy, mountain gorillas in Rwanda, meeting long-lost relatives in Calabria, and so many more.

On their adventure in Egypt, Barb has found her childhood dreams realized—and then some. “We’ve seen some true wonders from the Pyramids of Giza to the temples of Karnak and Abu Simbel—some built as long ago as 3000 B.C.,” says Barb. But thanks to the expertise of their local Trip Experience Leader, Grace, their new knowledge goes far beyond the famous antiquities. “We learned so much about Egypt, its history, and the role it has played in shaping so many parts of the modern world,” says Barb. “That was not something we expected.”

Regardless of their destination, no knowledge is more precious than what they’ve learned about each other. “We can now read each other’s body language,” says Barb, “so we know when we’re overwhelmed, need a rest, or just want to be alone to recharge.”

On a deeper level, they have bonded over a shared understanding of the world that travel alone can provide. “The stories alone have us speaking our own language sometimes! We’ve become more aligned about the state of the world, which has opened up conversations about how things have changed from when my mom was growing up in the 70s until now,” says Barb. “We have a better understanding of our histories and challenges, past and present.”

While this bond alone should encourage any would-be mother-daughter duos to hit the road together, the two have some practical tips. “It’s okay to spend time alone to reset,” says Barb. “No one knows how you tick like a mother or daughter, and that can be overwhelming.” And yes, sometimes this stems from reading each other’s body language. “We’ve had to learn not to do it too much! Respect each other’s privacy, don’t assume anything, and keep the dialogue open—we’ve had more than one conversation about the temperature of the A/C.”

With 11 trips in the rearview, no minor A/C argument can overshadow how travel has strengthened this mother-daughter relationship—and the two have no plans of stopping, with Tunisia and Algeria planned for October. “We’ve learned what it means to be a traveler and a citizen of the world,” says Barb. Throughout the journey, they could not have asked for better company.

Bring childhood dreams to life—perhaps in the company of a loved one—during Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht.