Blogs from Cairo, Lower Egypt, Egypt, Africa - page 98

Christmas in Egypt 1953 Christmas and the Muslim holiday of Id al Adha occurred at approximately the same time, providing enough time off that I could plan a trip to fulfill my long time wish to see the pyramids. By this time, I had a new roommate. Caroline had arrived from Beirut, where she had been teaching in the American school. She was an American who had studied in an Egyptian university. When Carolyn learned I was going to Egypt, she insisted upon giving me a letter of introduction to her Egyptian friend, Soroya, a fellow student in the university who was now married and teaching in a Cairo university. After I arrived in Cairo, had checked into my hotel, and made arrangements for the following day, I called Soroya, expecting to squeeze in a visit ... read more

Cairo was the tenth stop on the Around the World trip. The group stayed at the Nile Hilton. It was a new hotel then, with a gallery of clothing and other shops as one entered. The hotel was preparing for the arrival of a delegation to Egypt of leaders from emerging African nations. We had a city tour of Cairo, including the Citadel and a view out over Old Cairo. A highlight was the the Egyptian Museum. I certainly enjoyed seeing the many Egyptian antiquities displayed there. We went to Giza to view the pyramids and the Sphinx. The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most iconic structures in the world. Standing 454 feet (139 m) the age of the pyramid has been disputed over the years. Generally it is attributed to Khufu and ... read more