Day 12 - Cairo and the Pyramids

Today we began the day by going first to the Egyptian Archeological Museun which is right off Tahrir Square, about 3 blocks from our hotel.  It is here that the original artifacts from the pyramids are housed.  Many artifacts from the pyramids were stolen by the pyramid robbers and sold to private collections or on eBay.  We saw many famous relics, but the most interesting were the mummies from the pyramids.  They exist in bones with some having some hair - these were preserved by the type of embalming and burial in the pyramids.  They look like something from a horror movie, but they are authentic and real.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside the museum so what you see below is the building. In one picture you will see a burnt out building to the left of the pink/orange museum - this is the headquarters of Mubarak (former president) political party which was overthrown in January, 2011 and set on fire.

 

 

 

From the museum we travelled to Giza (about 30 min. and a lifetime away) to see the first pyramids.  On the way we passed the US Embassy which is heavily fortified and is about 2 min. from the hotel we are staying at.  Giza has it all  - dirt roads, a canal filled with all kinds of trash (the government is planning to cover the canal to prevent the trash), mercedes cars, horses and donkeys and camels all on the same roadway.  The pyramids are set apart from the little village and vendors and camels exist on the grounds of the pyramids.  It is hard to believe that the pyramids are 4000 yrs. old, were built in 30 yrs (probably by tremendous manpower) and consist of blocks of stone.  The pyramids were designed to give honor to the pharoah and serve as their final resting place before entering the hereafter.  Here at Giza is the Great Pyramid of Cheops which is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world.  In the pyramid is not only the body of the pharoah, but also everything the pharoah holds dear, needs until they pass into the after life and protection against enemy and curses.  They cannot be described adequately, just held in awe.

 

 

 

 

At the Giza pyramids, we rode a camel out to the desert area behind the pyramids.  While it is easier to get on a camel than a horse as the camel sits down, I still didn't feel comfortable riding a camel.   

 

 

 

 

 

After the camel ride, we went to the Solar Boat museum on the grounds.  In 1954, they discoerred 2 of the boats that were used to transport the pharoahs up the Nile in one of the pyramids.  They have excavated and restored one of the boats and plan to do the same with the other boat after finishing the testing.

 

 

 

We also visited in the Giza area a papyrus factory where we saw how they take a papyrus plant and make the paper upon which they recorded history.  We purchased an Egyptian map in papyrus.  Also, to allow our tour guide for the day, Yashir, time to do his mid day call of prayer, we visited a perfume/glass blowing factory. 

 

 

 

 

 

We then travelled to old city Cairo to the bazaar.  The bazaar is many labyrinth streets with all kinds of products for sale.  You haggle with the seller to get the best price.  We purchased a camel bone cat for $10 and a scarab (amulet assuring a good life) for $7. 

 

 

We returned to the hotel around 6 pm after a full day of activities.  What struck me most is that we were all over Cairo today and would not know that there is any problems in Cairo if not for national news.  Yashir, our tour guide, unlike yesterday's is defintiely voting no on the referendum for the constitution as he feels Morsy is a weak leader.  His take is that Morsy's party (the Muslim Brotherhood) was viewed as better than the corrupt regime of Mubarak during the presidential election and thus won.  However, he distrusts the Muslim Brotherhood and its influence over Morsy.  Yashir knows everyone is Cairo (it seems) and everyone he greeted got in a discussion of how they will vote - yes or no.  They vote by paper and put their ballot in a box which is manually counted.  In the presidential election in the last 18 mos. Morsy won by 1 million votes over the Mubarak party with 50% of eligible voters voting.  This was the first ever vote by the people.  Everyone seems actively engaged in the process as they are so new to being a democracy.  Yashir feels the country was safer under dictatorial rule, but democracy produces more rights - now Egypt just has to draft a constitution that ensures everyone's rights.  I feel we are in a place where fledging democracy is taking place.

 

Tomorrow we leave on a 7 am flight to Luxor to spend the day at the Valley of the Kings and the Queens and see the the great Karnak pyramid.  We return around midnight tomorrow to Cairo.  Friday is a quiet day as people begin going to the mosque at noon and spend the afternoon in religious activities.  The door to our balcony is open tonight and all is quiet outside.