Day 2 The Giza Plateau and the Great Pyramids

Monday March 21^st

This morning the three of us embarked on our first excursions with Sam. We boarded a private mini bus for the 40 minute drive through the chaotic traffic of Cairo. We saw a number of animals pulling carts or carrying people in the heart of this huge city, donkeys, horses and camels. Also saw two herds of goats and sheep feeding at a trough right on the side of the road. It certainly doesn't help the traffic situation.

This morning was foggy and gloomy. It didn't look good for pyramid viewing, I mean who gets foggy pictures of pyramids? We're in a desert man! Indeed our first view of them as we drove through Giza was pretty bleak. When we arrived Sam gave us a history lesson about the Egyptian civilization and as he was talking the sun tried to peak out. It never cleared totally, but at least we had some blue sky to go with the haze.

We wandered around taking photos and following Sam's two pyramid rules: don't talk to strangers and nothing is free! The recent revolution has severally curtailed the tourist industry here. It's been really hard on anyone who relies on it, guides, hawkers, camel riders, all of them. As a result they are pretty eager to get your business. It's good for us though, in that there is no one here. We were one of three vans that were parked in a big parking lot that I am sure is usually full of buses and tour groups.

The Great Pyramids were built for three kings. The largest is for the Pharaoh Khufu who is the father of Pharaoh Khafre who has the second largest, and the smallest of the three is for Pharaoh Menkaure. As a sign of respect a son could not build a pyramid larger than the one built for his father. Hence the oldest is the largest.

After our wandering and exploring time we got back in the van for the short trip to the panoramic view point. From there you can see all three pyramids. We also had a half hour camel ride from there. Getting on the camel is interesting. It complains and groans as it's forced down on it's knees. Then once you get on it lurches up, back end first, which would pitch you off the front if you weren't holding on. The guide took us to another point where we the three pyramids were lined up one in front of another. At that view point we dismounted for photos. Getting off it fun too, as again you almost go over it's head. For some reason he had me stand on the back of the camel while it was down, and jump off.

Next we a short drive to the Sphinx. It is a little smaller than I imagined, but very impressive. It must have been amazing when it was complete and it's face perfect. That completed our tour of the Giza plateau. When we left we stopped at a local restaurant for take out lunch. I had a falafel and a shawarma.

We drove back through the crazy traffic, where white lines are only suggestions for lanes, and arrived at the Egyptian Archaeological Museum. This is a huge museum housing thousands of artifacts. Inside are items from all three kingdoms of ancient Egypt, but the most spectacular exhibit is most of the collection from King Tutankhamun's tomb. Here were his masks, coffins, jewelry, personal items and everything that was buried with him for use in the afterlife.

I was disappointed that all cameras had to be left outside as we were not allowed to take photos inside. I don't understand this and it seems to be happening more and more. Nothing I can do about it, I will just have to raid the internet again! Sam gave us a guided tour of some of the more important and interesting things, including the Rosetta Stone, before we had free time to wander around. I liked the room where they had dozens of sarcophagi. They were beautifully painted and decorated.

I found the museum to be somewhat dirty and dusty inside. It could really use a coat of paint and better lighting. I was surprised that even the label identifying items were only computer print outs on card stock under glass. Not nearly as fancy as museums elsewhere.

After our tour we drove back to the hotel for some free time. I used mine at the internet cafe to catch up with some e-mails.

Then it was time to take the van to the train station. After braving the traffic again, we arrived an hour early, because even though there is a schedule, Sam says that timing is approximate. So we waited an hour before it arrived. The train was quite old and tired but we had sleeping compartments that were quite nice. Only two to a room this time, instead of four like in Turkey. I shared a room with a Peruvian soldier. He was a captain in the army and now is doing a years service with the UN in Liberia. He and two friends are on holiday here in Egypt. He is reading a book about Rwanda, called the Bishop of Rwanda, so we talked about that. He told me that he took a course in Nova Scotia in 2008 and all his friends there were asking him about Machu Picchu. He'd never been to it. So when he went home he took a trip there.

We talked for a while and then the porter came and made the beds. I slept very well with the rocking motion of the train and thankfully it didn't stop as often as the other.