Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis

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It is very surreal being here in Egypt after waiting so long to get here! We headed out about 9am to go up the Saqqara and visit the first ever pyramid to be built - the step pyramid by Djoser built over 4000 years ago. Our guide - Saleeb or Sal - was fantastic. He had been studying Egyptology for over 12 years and is a Dr at one of the universities here.

He filled us in on Cairo as it is today - crazy traffic in all where you didnt need a license to drive until a few years ago, where people don't finish building their houses from the outside as you don't have to pay property tax if you don't and where people are constantly calling out to tourists and trying to get any sort of 'baksheesh' (tip) out of you.

The Step Pyramid was fantastic (very hot too, only about 38 to 40 degrees today compared to the 50 it will be next month) buy I won't bore you with all of the history otherwise you prolly won't be able to stop me!

From there, we went to the ancient capital of Egypt, Memphis. It is now just a small, poor village, but we went to the open air museum there where they have a small sphinx with the face of the first queen of Egypt - Hatchepsut. The chick was pretty cool - she tried to look like a man so she could prove she was worthy of ruling Egypt - fake beard and all - and ruled from the age of 26 for over 25 years. Eventually her son, Tutmosis III, who she strived to have put on the throne, killed her and chopped her up so she could not be mummified - not a nice kid. He only ruled for three years and the country kicked him off the throne.

They also had one of the 'smaller' statues of Rameses II, who ruled Egypt for 67 years in about 1294 BC. The 'smaller' statue weighed about 25 tonnes and was very cool. Sal told us that though Ramses II was thought to be the Pharaoh at the time of Moses, turns out they just found about 4000 ancient swords and a few chariots at the bottom of the Red Sea bearing the name of Rameses II's son - Merenptah. How cool is that? Blows your mind that the story could actually be true!

After having a quick bite to eat at lunch - in front of the Giza Pyramids (!!) we met up with the rest of the group and took a taxi into the city for dinner. We had 'pancakes' which were more likes pizzas stuffed with things - I went for the cheese and tomato to be safe - and then had a walk through the Bazaar where they all called out to us. Tell you what, your ego can do quite well here - I got a few honies, lovely and even a goddess!

We then sat down and smoked the flavoured water-pipe called the She-shaa. Don't worry, it was only water, flavouring and a little tobacco - the strawberry one was very nice and mild and we had a good laugh trying to smoke it without coughing!

From there we had a crazy taxi ride back to the hotel and our taxi came first after some massive turns and break neck speeds! Yee hah!

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Photos

Step Pyramid
Outside the Step Pyramid of Djoser

Rameses II
The 'small' statue of Rameses II

Sphinx of Hatchepsut
Sphinx of Hatchepsut or better known as 'hot-chicken-soup'

She-shaa time
Dabbling in a little She-shaa in Cairo

Comments

[Kimmie]

Oh My God!
Hey guys, Wow, you tell such a good story and the photos are breathtaking. It sounds like you're having so much fun, I wish I could be there with you! Hopefully within the next 12 to 18 months I will be able to get back over to Europe and finish the trip that I started in 2000. I put my discharge in again (despite being on operation in Timor at the moment) so hopefully I will have better luck this time and maybe I'll be back in Canberra before you know it! Keep having a blast. When are you due home? Love lots, Kimmie xoxox

[noreen]

question about tips and bargaining
enjoyed your journal very much. I work at Disneyland and FOR YEARS Ive been planning to some day make it to Egypt. I'll be on a Nile cruise in Nov. Just exactly does one survive the culture shock of the tipping? And were you intimidated by the bargaining while shopping? :) Noreen [e-mail]