Advertisement
Published: August 8th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
The prototype for the pyramids of Giza and all other pyramids that followed. Meli: The Real Longest Day: 40 Hours to Leroy What is there to say? I got up, packed, took a cab to Orlando airport, and boarded a Delta flight to JFK AT 10:10am. Less crowded this time, so it was better. At JFK, I got the seat I should have gotten (reserved by Expedia, but he booted me off and gave me a crap seat when I checked in at Cairo’s counter), and that made a huge difference. I was not looking forward to the flight, but it was better than the way over. The people were a bit more seasoned as far as traveling and seemed to care more about courtesy (I am excluding the woman who ran her cart over my computer charger). I had a whole row to myself, which means I got to sleep and even watch the end of “The Holiday,” the movie I started but didn’t finish on the way to London. With the time change and the long flight, that was really all there was to the day for me.
Leroy: My last day in Africa. Must see more pyramids! My flight to Paris is at 1:30am tomorrow (or tonight depending on how
you look at it). One last box to check—going to Saqqara for the pyramid that paved the way for all the others, The Step Pyramid of Djoser. Khaled “knows where it is,” but we’ve heard that before and don’t take much confidence in it. Yet, who else is going to drive us? Off we go.
Graceland? First, a pit stop for croissants and Salt and Vinegar Pringles. Saqqara is 30 km south of Cairo and just a few meters after the ruins of the ancient Memphis, home of many former kings (Egyptian), but not “The King” (Elvis). Memphis used to be the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and most of the Pharaonic period, and was a religious and commercial center. They say the size and grandeur of the city’s necropolis (burial ground) centered on Saqqara give an indication of how large and prosperous Memphis must have been. However, little evidence remains of its former glory—temples and palaces have been destroyed and pillaged by foreign invaders from the Romans onwards. Palm groves, cultivated fields, and villages now cover the site of this once impressive city. Further south of Saqarra, Sneferu’s Bent Pyramid at Dahshur will have to wait
Tomb of Imhotep
Architect of the Step Pyramid of Djoser for another time.
The Prototype of all Pyramids The Step Pyramid of Djoser was the prototype for the pyramids of Giza and all other pyramids. In the 27th century BC, the renowned architect Imhotep made a quantum leap in the world of architecture in building the Step Pyramid for 3rd Dynasty King Djoser. Until then, Egpytian royal tombs were underground rooms covered with low flat mudbrick mastabas. Imhotep chose stone over mudbrick and went beyond by placing six mastaba, instead of just one, with one on top of the other, each additional layer smaller than the one beneath (genius eh). The Saqqara necropolis complex once included vast open courts, pavilions, shrines, and chapels, a true testament to the dominance of Memphis in its heyday.
It is Africa Hot outside! The ticket sellers are being pains in the butt, so I solicit help from Khaled in buying tickets. Up on the hill, we pass through the column walkway to enter the complex. Tita Marie immediately heads for the shade. I do a combo of photo and video, dodging the many Asian tourists (they are everywhere and they roll deep), and the pestering hagglers. “Where are you from? You want
necklace, it’s nice.” I respond to one guy with “Não, obrigado!” Peddlers worldwide know please and thank you in just about any language and he recognizes the Portuguese. “Brazil! You from Brazil, meu amigo.” For the next hour, every time he sees me he makes some Brazil reference. I believe I captured him on video. I make my rounds, scoop up Tita Marie and we bounce.
Tita Marie is holding pocket aces Tita Marie orders me a chicken wrap for lunch and I pack up. I also take time to do some blogging while surfing the Internets and watching Melissa’s flight on flight view (it shows you a map and the real time location of any flight). The late night texting Meli is catching up with me, but I resist the urge to nap. One last dinner in Cairo…Tita Marie did the damn thang! She takes it back to Rome and makes a delicious pasta with ground beef, broccoli (Meli’s aversion to broccoli is why Tita Marie hadn’t made this dish in the past few days), carrots and a sauce that I can still taste. AMAZING! Tito Armando and I are practically licking our plates. We have had some
good conversations in Egypt, but not tonight. The only sounds are pasta twirling, utensils hitting the plate, and lips smacking. (Tita Marie, I’d give anything to eat that pasta again.) It is the perfect send-off.
Out of Africa We load the Jeep Liberty and Tito Armando and Khaled take me to the airport. I check in and head for the 1970’s decorated business class lounge—the orange corduroy couches and shag carpet are too much. Only lava lamps and hippies are missing. The redeye flight from Cairo to Barcelona (just a stopover, I didn’t get off the plane) to Madrid are missed because I sleep the entire time. The layover in Madrid (a friggin’ sweet airport) is spent in the Iberia lounge. This being Iberia’s hub, the lounge is tight, but the food is just ok. Two hours later, I am Paris bound…
Advertisement
Tot: 0.083s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 7; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0399s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb