Exploring the Ancient World

Before starting our tale of the pyramids, we just had to share our culinary delights from last night with you. As we were still stuffed from lunch, we stopped for a sandwich at Gad which is a primarily a take-out joint specializing in shawarma (slivers of pressed, pit-roasted lamb stuffed into pita bread). As Rachel Ray would say, "delish"! Later on our stroll along 26 of July Avenue near our hotel we bumped into today's great find - an Egyptian pastry shop. Inside, we found an entire counter covered with baklava (a flaky filo pastery filled with nuts and oozing honey). As you'll see in the photo, we decided to try a couple pieces of each type. An evening full of "delish"! And better yet, the whole box of baklava cost only 9L$ or about $1.50 US.

A plate of Egyptian baklava!

The pyramids at Giza is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Trivia time: Can you name the other six sites that are part of this group? Click to find out the answer. Just last year, National Geographic surveyed people to help decide what should belong to the Seven New Wonders of the World.

As I remembered Tony Bourdain stating that he wasn't going to visit the pyramids while in Cairo, I now know why. The pyramid experience presents the classic love-hate relationship. As an archaeological site, it are stupendous. The size and majesty of the pyramids and the Sphinx are overpowering. As you stand at the base of the Great Pyramid of Cheops one marvels at how it could have been built some 4500 years ago.

The Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops

The three large pyramids, the smaller queens' pyramids, the Sphinx plus all of the minor tombs cover many acres. From particular vantage points, one can imagine how the ancients revered such a site as both spiritual and ceremonial.

From a psychological point of view (and this is the hate part of the experience), dealing with everyone trying to sell you something is exhausting. Up on the plateau, there seems to be nearly as many hawkers of souvenirs, camels and horses, or other guide services as there are tourists. Since the parking lot is full of tour buses, you can only imagine how many others there are there trying to take advantage of your experience. Of course, without tourism, Egypt would be in dire straights economically speaking. Nonetheless, after several hours of being bombared constantly to buy something or to follow someone, we were exhausted. I remember similar feelings in Moracco ten years ago after a day of saying no to all those who approached us with opportunites for their services. Unfortunately, one stops speaking altogether to people who approach you since it just becomes to much at some point. However, in spite of this, it is not a place to be missed. Perhaps, it would have been better to go with a tour just for psychological protection. But, don't think for a moment that we didn't enjoy ourselves.

Now, how silly is this?

Of course, keeping my professorial dignity in mind 24/7, there was no way that I could stoop to the same silly behavior my better half was engaging in. Being the responsible one here in Egypt, I had to maintain the proper balance between tour guide and scholar.

That must be my twin brother at the pyramids.Couldn't be me!

A full, but exhausting day. We traveled by taxi both out to and back from the pyramids. Not as easy as joining a tour group, but it was easily done at a fraction the cost. Our 40 minute taxi ride out cost only 20LS, but it had to be firmly negociated. This evening, we head back into Islamic Cairo for a performance of the Whirling Dervishes. We'll report on this adventure tomorrow.

Tomorrow: The Whirling Dervishes & the Cairo Museum