I have been preparing to writed this post from the moment I signed up to go to Egypt. Al of this preparation has not enabled me to eloquently discuss just how insanel y cool the Pyramids are. It was just another Sunday, naturally, and a group decided to go on the long awaited adventure to the pyramids of Giza. It took about 30 minutes, or a $4 taxi ride) to get there, and we spent thw whole day walking and galloping areond 9 pyramids, a sphinx, countless tombs, and a museuem of a solar boat....more later.
My first impression of the Pyramids was this: Holy crap, they are not in the desert like I thought. They are literally in Cairo. The city butts right on up to them, challenging the ancient history of the site with rundown shacks and businesses. I lot of movies and postcards make them seem like they are way out in the middle of the desert, but I assure you they are not. The pyramids lom over all of Cairo and make the squallor in the city even more pitiable contrasted with the glory of Ancient Egypt.
The highlight of the trip was definitely riding a camel, named Michael Jordan, out a ways away from the city. It was about 1.2 hour ride to a spot where we could take the "classic" pyramid pictures...and the camels were so great! I loved galloping around with my bedouin guide singing Arabic songs into the wind.
We also went to a museum at the base of the biggest pyramid to see the "Solar Boat" which is an authentic reconstruction of the river boat the Pharaoh used to ride up and down the Nile. It was very impressive!
I absolutely loved the Pyramids and being a tourist for a day. It made me really miss my father who would have died of happiness, and I could have really used his narration of Egyptian history courtesy of devout History Channel viewing....muss him a lot a lot. And, my fair, white, Seattle skin got scorched out there. The sun is relentless even at 10am!
But I LOVE it here nonetheless :)
Miss everyone!
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