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Published: March 16th 2006
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The great pyramids of Giza..what can you say? It is such an amazing sight as you catch your first glimpses from the taxi window. Standing there and looking at them for the first time, you can’t help but think you’ve waited your whole life to see them with your own eyes. Everyone says they are much smaller than they imagined, we thought they looked bigger.
In America (or Europe for that matter) if there was something like the pyramids in a town, it would be surrounded by nothing but world class hotels, fine restaurants, condos, etc…not here, not in Giza. The pyramids are literally next door to dilapidated buildings, places you would never dream of staying the night-even with the best view ever. We always imagined the pyramids to way out in the desert with nothing else around…boy were we wrong!! You have Pizza Hut approximately 200 yards from the Sphinx (great views though!) and tons of buildings/city right next to them. It was really disturbing to see that they built a tour bus parking lot in the middle of Khufu and Khafre pyramids. So there you are either trying to take a picture of one, or walking around
and a tour bus is blowing by you…just seemed very wrong and irritating! Keep the cars away from the pyramids!
Another thing is that there are actually 9 pyramids there (the other 6 are tombs of the queens) which again brings up that you never think of anything but the three. It is an amazing and wonderful sight-the whole time you can’t believe you’re there!!
In all of our reading we weren’t prepared for the onslaught of Egyptian pre-teens and teens that wanted their pictures taken with us (Ok, mainly Erin..poor Matt). They were running from everywhere and jumping all over each other to get in the pictures. It was so sad, they all had these super old cameras that barely worked. The funniest times were when the “boys” wanted to put their arm around Erin, hold her hand, or loop arms. There are some funny pictures of them mobbing her and pulling her multiple directions! One boy gave Erin a set of wooden pyramids that he must have purchased for himself as a souvenir. We thought he was selling it, but no…it was a gift! We tried a million times to give it back, pay
him for it, etc…but he wouldn’t take it. He truly wanted to give it to her…it again shows that they are nice and generous people (despite stereotypes). It broke our hearts to think he probably didn’t have much money, but still gave…so sweet!
Next up was the camel jockeys. They are hilarious! Here’s how it goes…
“Hello my friend, where are you from?” (we say “America”)
“Oh, America is #1, High Ho Silver Away!”
“You from Florida?”
“Meet my camel Charlie Brown (or Mickey Mouse) he is my Egyptian Cadillac”
“You want a ride?”
“Special Price for you”
“Don’t Break my Heart!”
Anyway the guys are a kick..a couple of times it was hard to get rid of them (but we got some good pics). It is easy to see how they sucker some poor non-confrontational Americans into paying out their nose for stuff. We ran into some Americans that couldn’t get a “vendor” to go away after buying 2 sheik hats (we could’ve gotten them for E£5 = $1). These people had already given the guy E£150 ($30), and he was reaching into his pockets for more just because he keep saying “not
enough.” They looked at us helplessly, so Matt jumped in and told the guy “you got a very good price” (with his great stern bartering voice (it’s about confidence too)) and off he went!
Lastly, we went to the Sphinx which we didn’t expect to be too exciting…but surprisingly held a “magical” quality! It was pretty small (and overly restored!!!) but together with the pyramids is the symbol of Egypt. We left the area to grab a drink and wait for the sound and light show. So, we ended up in Pizza Hut because of their view (Matt wanted pics). The guys in there were so nice. There was a patio on the 4th floor and they offered to let us stay up there to watch the sunset and show (for free!). We had already purchased tickets, so Matt went out on the street and scalped ours…lol (good thing he didn’t end up in Egyptian Jail, but then again I could’ve bartered his bail price) . Anyway, I can’t describe enough how amazing it was to sit up there as the sun set, just us, just the pyramids. It was the highlight of our trip! Especially when the
call to pray was played over the city (Muslims pray 5 times per day-the broadcasts start at 4:30am). The prayers are the classic sound of the Middle East (Ok, Africa-we know!). The sound and light show was cool only because you get to see the Pyramids lit up…but cheesy as can be! They project pictures on the temple near the Sphinx, and the Sphinx talks..it would be better with just music. We were glad we saw it for free! We generously tipped our Pizza Hut friends and left for dinner. We had quite an amazing full day!
We went back the next morning to finish up and in hopes of eating less sand due to wind. It was better..yeah! We did an hour camel ride in the desert which was great! Riding in the desert with the pyramids in the distance-what more could you ask for?
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Carolyn
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It's great to see that Erin is getting out there and meeting such nice and exciting people. Matt, it's a shema you are as outgoing as she! :) Have a great trip. I love reading all about your adventures. You guys are the real life Indiana Jones!