2004 09 – Egypt – Day 16

Wake up call this morning is 6:30 a.m. with breakfast around 7:30. We're back on our bus with our entire luggage by 8:00.

Our first good view of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.

At 9:00 a.m. we arrive with our experienced guide at Saqqara. Many buses are at the Step Pyramid by the time we arrive but there was plenty of room to explore all the surroundings of this pyramid.

We had a in-depth explanation of this area by our over exuberant guide. He told us many times that he was on television with National Geographic on the opening of Gander Brinks door in the great pyramid which a few of us seen but never noticed him. His views on how things may have been built are very traditional to say the least. Any of the ideas of modern day experts were pure “Bull Shit” as he put it. It never sat well for many of us including a student from England who is studying Egyptology in London. The student explained they are not taught to believe in a certain way things may have been done to build these massive structures. In reality there is no proof either way.

We are not too far from Cairo. The haze of the pollution can be seen in the distance.

This is the entrance to the underground tunnels of the pyramid and it was not open to the public.

Our group walking around the pyramid. They have found over 6kms of tunnels under this pyramid so far.

Some of the local people who are trying to grab our attention for a horse ride.

This is most of my group listening to our guide with the local people in the background.

The Step Pyramid was built with approximately 2 million blocks estimated anywhere from 5 to 40 tonne each. So far, over 6 kilometers of tunnels have been found underneath and to the one side of the pyramid. Tourists are not allowed inside the Pyramid or tunnels at this time. Next it was a short walk over to some tombs for a visit and again there was no pictures allowed.

We were back on our bus and it was an hour drive over to the Red Pyramid with an opportunity to go inside for most of us.

A scene from the outskirts of Cairo.

Some of the signs along the way explaining what was on site. Not like the signage we are use to in the western world but it is information nonetheless.

Our first close view of the Red Pyramid.

I will be going into the Red Pyramid along with most of my group. You can see the pathway and entrance. It was a long hike down a narrow tunnel barely enough room for 2 people to pass and then back up a short ways to where it appeared to be an unfinished tomb. Again, no pictures are allowed in the pyramid.

A view from the entrance as our group is leaving.

My group is exiting the pyramid.

The South side of the Red Pyramid.

Next we drove over to a viewing area between the Red and the Bent Pyramid for some pictures. This is the Bent Pyramid from a distance, we weren’t allowed any closer as it has been closed off due to some official business.

It was another hot day as we got on and off the bus but it was all well worth it.

By 12:45 p.m. it was off to Memphis again with the same guide for a short guided tour.

Even though this statue is damaged the detail in the carvings are unbelievable.

A statue near the entrance into Memphis.

We had some free time on our own to buy a few souvenirs if we wished in the small bazaar before going back on the bus.

On our way to the hotel we stopped for a snack of falafal and water, 3.50 pounds. We then check into the Caroline Hotel in Cairo by 4:00 p.m. Great little shopping center just a block away and this was a much nicer part of Cairo. Not so many street vendors bothering you as you walked down the street, but the traffic was still the same, INSANE!

We meet in the reception area around 6:00 p.m. for our briefing on tomorrow morning and then a taxi ride over to the main bazaar of Cairo 25 minutes away for a mere 20 pounds split between 4 people per taxi.

An eventful ride brings us to the bazaar for our last chance to spend of remaining cash on hand, as it was put by Sala our tour guide for the second leg of this 2 week tour. A short tour of the many shops by our tour guide and then it was a stop at a local restaurant for some Egyptian pancakes. Costing us around 10 pounds each before any drinks were served.

Then it was some shopping and we generally stayed in the same groups we came over in the taxis with. It was just by chance that I was put with a few that wanted to shop to the end; they were buying some last minute items for family and friends. I needed a few items myself, I ended buying 5 tee shirts for 100 Egyptian pounds after much bartering.