Dear Friends and Family,
Cairo, our second stop in Egypt, gave us a lot to think about. Two weeks before our trip, cars were being torched, hotel lobbies were being looted, and the presidential palace was being stormed. Mr. mouse was watching twitter and instagram and the news to see how the situation on the ground was evolving. One week before the trip, it seemed more quiet. And, while we were there, it was manageable. Plus, we were in Giza to see the pyramids which is like being in Disney World. It's its own bubble of a world focused on tourism.
What We Did
We stayed at a hotel with a view of the pyramids. We could see their outline when we checked in at night. But, there's no describing that first moment in the morning when you open your eyes and look and see the pyramids. Originally, I wanted to do the pyramids in chronological order. Our guide recommended doing Giza first and I'm glad we did. By staying at a hotel close to the pyramids, we beat the rush of tour buses that crowd Giza. And, we also got to enjoy the cool breeze the morning air provides.
Great Pyramid of Khufu
Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre
Pyramid of Menkaure
After Giza, we headed to Saqqara to see the step pyramid of Djoser. It was the first pyramid built. It was undergoing restoration, as you can see in the photo. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the restoration. I think they're going a little too far towards fixing. A little bit of crumble is nicer, at least for me, than seeing smooth concrete. Still, as the first pyramid, I'm glad we got to see it.
Technically, we saw the Red Pyramid first and the Bent Pyramid second, but I wanted to show the Bent Pyramid first. You can't actually get up close because it's not open to the public, but you can get close enough for pictures. It's the next evolution from the Step Pyramid to a smooth side pyramid. You can see the adjustment that needed to be made on the angle and you can still see a lot of the original smooth limestone facing.
This was the highlight of my day. The Red Pyramid is the first pyramid built with the classic proportions of the pyramids we all think of when we think of pyramids. It's the third largest of the pyramids. You can go inside. And, we had the whole thing to ourselves. Not another soul in sight if you don't count our driver, our tour guide, and the lonely guy collecting tickets. Unbelievable. Magic.
What We Ate
We went easy on P.
We got room service for breakfast. We got room service for lunch when we got back from our day tour. We went down to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
What I Learned
It really helps to have a guide in Giza if you're pressed for time. Our guide didn't spend a lot of time talking about the sites. But, she did take us unerringly to every perfect photo venue so that I would enjoy the view while Mr. mouse clicked away to capture the moment.
Dahshur should be on every pyramid lover's list. It's a long drive away. But, it's beautiful. And, for now, you'll have the whole place to yourself.
Cheers!
mouse
Cairo, our second stop in Egypt, gave us a lot to think about. Two weeks before our trip, cars were being torched, hotel lobbies were being looted, and the presidential palace was being stormed. Mr. mouse was watching twitter and instagram and the news to see how the situation on the ground was evolving. One week before the trip, it seemed more quiet. And, while we were there, it was manageable. Plus, we were in Giza to see the pyramids which is like being in Disney World. It's its own bubble of a world focused on tourism.
What We Did
We stayed at a hotel with a view of the pyramids. We could see their outline when we checked in at night. But, there's no describing that first moment in the morning when you open your eyes and look and see the pyramids. Originally, I wanted to do the pyramids in chronological order. Our guide recommended doing Giza first and I'm glad we did. By staying at a hotel close to the pyramids, we beat the rush of tour buses that crowd Giza. And, we also got to enjoy the cool breeze the morning air provides.
After Giza, we headed to Saqqara to see the step pyramid of Djoser. It was the first pyramid built. It was undergoing restoration, as you can see in the photo. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the restoration. I think they're going a little too far towards fixing. A little bit of crumble is nicer, at least for me, than seeing smooth concrete. Still, as the first pyramid, I'm glad we got to see it.
Technically, we saw the Red Pyramid first and the Bent Pyramid second, but I wanted to show the Bent Pyramid first. You can't actually get up close because it's not open to the public, but you can get close enough for pictures. It's the next evolution from the Step Pyramid to a smooth side pyramid. You can see the adjustment that needed to be made on the angle and you can still see a lot of the original smooth limestone facing.
This was the highlight of my day. The Red Pyramid is the first pyramid built with the classic proportions of the pyramids we all think of when we think of pyramids. It's the third largest of the pyramids. You can go inside. And, we had the whole thing to ourselves. Not another soul in sight if you don't count our driver, our tour guide, and the lonely guy collecting tickets. Unbelievable. Magic.
What We Ate
We went easy on P.
We got room service for breakfast. We got room service for lunch when we got back from our day tour. We went down to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
What I Learned
It really helps to have a guide in Giza if you're pressed for time. Our guide didn't spend a lot of time talking about the sites. But, she did take us unerringly to every perfect photo venue so that I would enjoy the view while Mr. mouse clicked away to capture the moment.
Dahshur should be on every pyramid lover's list. It's a long drive away. But, it's beautiful. And, for now, you'll have the whole place to yourself.
Cheers!
mouse
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