CAIRO
Cairo, Egypt’s sprawling capital, is set on the Nile River. Nearby, Giza is the site of the pyramids and Great Sphinx, dating to the 26th century BC. The city is overcrowded, dirty and people begging us to buy things. However, the tourist areas were very clean and delighted us with Egyptian antiquities over 3,000 years old.
We had a 4 am wake up call and hurriedly showered, dressed and ate in time to meet the bus by 5am! It paid off, because we were the first tourist bus at the pyramids. The Giza pyramid complex is an archaeological site that includes the three Great Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex.
Yes, Ken did ride a camel.
The Great Pyramid were built for the Pharaoh Khufu, as well as the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Not far from the Pyramids, is the
great Sphinx of Giza, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of one huge piece of limestone.
American kids take field trips to the local zoo and Egyptian kids visit the pyramids.
The Giza Plateau is above the city of Cairo.
On the bus ride back to the hotel someone asked about the neighborhood we were traveling through.
Our guide said, "It was typical town.” Garbage is tossed everywhere, including the water sources.
Sheep and goats roam the neighborhood looking for food.
Egypt is a place where 'the rich are few and have much, the poor are many and have
little.' Forty percent of the population lives in poverty, subsisting on less than $2 a day.
MEMPHIS The Step Pyramid was built in the 27th century BC during the 3rd dynasty rule of Djoser. It is the first pyramid built in Egypt and while it is not a ‘true pyramid’ with smooth sides, like those at Giza and Dahshur, it remains an important stepping stone in their development.
It is also the first large-scale cut-stone structure in the world.
Two years ago Egypt was involved in a civil war so now there are armed police everywhere to keep the peace. We had our armed guard on our tour bus.
Colorful outside bizarres are everywhere.
We boarded a bus to Aswan High Dam and Abu Simbel at 4:30 am. The 3 hour trip took us across the amazing Sahara Desert.
Because of Egypt’s military and political ties with Russia they helped to finance
the construction of the new Aswan Dam built in the 1960’s. The dam formed Lake Nassar.
Lake Nassar
For 3,000 years, the site of Temple of Abu Simbel sat on the west bank of the Nile River. However, in a remarkable feat
of engineering, the temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt 180’ higher on a hill to make way for the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.
of engineering, the temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt 180’ higher on a hill to make way for the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.
Abu Simbel
Back to Cairo for a sunset felucca ride and then to our ship to cruise the Nile the next three days.
Land near the Nile flourishes with greenery and life.
Korn Ombo and Edfu Temples
Valley of the Kings in Luxor
The most famed collection of Egyptian tombs—the Valley of the Kings—lies on the Nile's west bank near Luxor. During Egypt's New Kingdom (1539-1075 B.C.), the valley became a royal burial ground for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II, as well as queens, high priests, and other elites of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties.
Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens is a site in Egypt, where wives of Pharaohs were buried
in ancient times. It was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning –"the place of beauty”.
After disembarking our cruise ship we transferred to the airport to fly from Luxor to Cairo. We spent time wandering through an outdoor market, enjoyed lunch (pocket bread), and had a quick tour of the Egyptian Museum. The museum is a neoclassical building located on Tahrir Square that houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts with more than 120,000 items on display.
Whewww! This was the fastest moving trip we’ve ever been on but we knew it would be when we signed up. Gate 1 tried to show us the best sights in Egypt and the antiquities didn’t disappoint.
