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Published: February 21st 2012
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They jut above the rooftops of Cairo (Giza) totally dominating there surrounds as they should. They are The Ancient Pyramids of Egypt. To get to them is (of course) not so easy, it never is. We have hired a car and driver for the day thinking naturally he will take us by car but to our dismay. Ha! Ha! He wants us to go by camel insisting this is the only way to see the pyramids. We stand our ground pointing out our hate for camels. He moves on to horses or maybe horse drawn carriages. Cost of course would be an additional 200 Egyptian Pounds each (6 to 1 conversion). We win this small battle and are driven right up to the first pyramid. Entry fee is 60 pound each plus 130 to go inside the first and third pyramid.
The place is deserted of tourists but full of touts, wish there was a few more tourists to mix with the touts. Anyway enough of the whinging, the pyramids are huge up close. Overlooking Cairo one way and the Sahara Desert behind them. There are three big pyramids: The Great pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of
Menkaure where the Pharaohs are buried and four small ones where the Queens and children lay. These great structures have stood the test of time. Constructed four thousand years ago and visited since by many famous men including Napoleon and Hitler. And somehow still one the most famous locations on the earth.
The construction of these giant tombs is possibly the most marvelling thing about them. Surprisingly it took only 30 years to build considering the largest is 137 metres high of square stones weighing 1 tonne each, brought downstream from Aswan 500 kms away. The pyramids are situated on a rise and the boats could only reach them when the Nile was in flood. Their engineering is astounding considering what they had to work with.
The locals could make the experience a little better though: the dusty surrounds, potted roads, groups of foul mouthed youth. Crooked officials and tout after tout. Our driver cum guide, Said, is driving me crazy. He ‘has’ to walk with us around the pyramids, continually bullying us to move faster. At the third pyramid the guy who took our tickets and made us leave our cameras behind, followed us in and offered
to take our photo for a price. What a place!
Down the hill the Sphinx appears to guard the pyramids. A cat’s body with a human head. Kathy posed for the usual kiss the sphinx. The nose, it is believed, was taken by Napoleon, but Natarsha assures it was accidently chiselled off by the sculptor as Aladdin and Jasmine flew by on a magic carpet. The sphinx apparently is dying of the same cancer as my water troughs at home.
Next stop The Saqqara Pyramid which is known as the Step Pyramid. It is quite a drive through the streets of Cairo to reach. Less tourists here than the others and less touts. Not that impressed, I guess second best.
Return to the hotel through the usual traffic jam and really enjoy that beer.
*Try this at home, it’s a real tongue tier: repeat “the sphinx stinks” as fast as possible.
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george
non-member comment
hello, if you,ve gone all the way around the world to get a bad tounge twister you need to have a good look at yourself .