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The Pyramids of Giza
me and "Canada Dry", Im sure this isn't his real name, but the guy was just trying to make me feel special for being Canadian..Yesterday was quite uneventful. I was on a bus pretty much all day. I enjoyed my morning Siwa style, getting some fresh bread for breakfast and then relaxing until my bus at 10am. It took about 4 hours to get to Marsa Matruh, where I hungout for an hour and a half until the 3:30 bus to Cairo. I met a military pilot on the bus who was very chatty and asked me uncomfortable questions such as North American persception of Arabian/Muslim pilots after 9/11 because he wants a job in Canada...touchy subject. He bought me some banana juice at the stop, and we had a nice chat. Locals can be so nice when they aren't making catcalls.
Today I got up early and took the subway to Giza and caught a shared taxi to the Pyramids. They were amazing! I got a good deal on a camel ride to get the complete experience. I went into one of the big pyramids (there are 9 at this site- 3 big ones for the Pharoahs and 6 smaller ones for the queens) and one of the smaller ones. The shafts are so small and it is so hot and humid inside,
Into the Pyramid
down the shaft into the pyramid. Yes, it is as steep as it looks! but there isnt much to see, although the experience was definitely worth the five dollars.
There were so many stupid tourists wearing nothing (I guess they aren't aware that they are in a Muslim country, and this alone will cause trouble), getting ripped off by the camel drivers (really their own faults for being so stupid) then crying about it (creating a huge scene/ yelling match), and just plain acting like idiots. I hate it, gives tourists a bad name, and makes it more difficult for those of us who aren't ridiculous.
The area around the pyramids is filthy which is a shame. With such amazing heritage site, they have a moral responsibility to keep it nice, and they don't at all. I saw a shaft (treasure/air, who knows) filled with garbage bags- really terrible.
The Sphinx was really cool, and I got some good pics.
In the afternoon, I came back to Cairo and had some good Egyptian food before heading to the Egyptian Museum. It contained so many amazing treasures, but I found it rather disorganized so some value was lost. I spent the extra 50 pounds (WOW!) to see the mummies, and I'm
The Obligatory Photo
haha it had to be done...along with other combos such as me eating pyramid and leaning against glad I did. (haha I tried to get the guards to let me in for free, but they said I would have to marry them, so I decided against that). They were really amazing- it was much more powerful than the one mummy I saw at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. They were all remarkably well preserved, although a few had skin that was cracking. It was also really cool to see the animal mummies- some for food for the afterlife, and some that were beloved pets.
The treasures that were included in the tombs are just unbelieveable. It was amazing to see.
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Andrea
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Love the Camel!
Hey Whippo! Glad you are still having fun! Too bad not all tourists are as wise as you and aware of the different cultures!!!! I love the pic of you on the camel! made my day! I am so jealous of everything you are seeing! i cannot wait til you are home to share even more pictures and stories! Miss you! xoxo love An