Pyramids

No matter how many times you’ve seen the pyramids on TV it is nothing compared to being right there and staring at them. To be honest I expected them to be a bit bigger… but then I expected the Sphinx to be smaller so it was a happy compromise! We walked around the pyramids, avoiding the locals trying to sell us camel rides. Anyone trying to take a photo of the camels were ordered to pay some money. I managed to sneak in a couple of shots for free! But Becky paid to stroke a camel which was what she really wanted to do so didn’t mind.

The police guard was still with us today and we have been joined by another Egyptologist, Iman. She is very amusing and chatters away about Cairo traffic. I ask if anyone actually takes driving tests in Egypt. Cairo is full of battered cars and we have not yet seen one vehicle without a bump or scratch. Iman laughs and says that even though Egyptians are supposed to take lessons, most get their licence through backhanders. Sneaky! She wouldn’t say if that was how she got her licence though!!

After spending ages walking around the pyramids and the Sphinx, we had a group photo of us all and made our way to the Citadel. It was beautiful and thankfully I was dressed appropriately in my shirt and cropped trousers. The other girls had to wear bright green robes as they wore vest tops and tiny shorts so had their shoulders, chests and upper legs exposed. Iman briefly told us how the Muslims prayed in the Citadel and the customs they observe. It led to an interesting discussion about how Muslims in other countries are usually more strict than those still in their countries of origin.

By now its 2pm and with the heat taking its toll we move to have lunch… at the Hard Rock Café. I know, I know, I’m in Egypt and we go to an American chain! Its sacrilege really… But we got there and found the buffet was not all that appetising anyway. Not so much as a burger! Wish we could have ordered off the menu! I was cheered up by the Harley in the lobby though. That made my day right there and then!

Lastly we went to the Cairo Museum. It has no air conditioning and is incredibly hot inside, almost sauna-like. There are fans dotted all over the walls and we keep trying to move so we can stand in front of them! Despite the heat it was a really cool museum and wished we could have spent more time on our own in there. We were shown all the treasures that Tutankhamen had inside his tomb and we even got to see all three of his sarcophaguses, as well as his jewellery, ankhs and all sorts of adornments. It was truly amazing. Sadly they have a lot of replicas in the museum as the originals are in other countries, mainly Britain, France and Germany. A lot was made about the Rosetta Stone in London and the head of Nefertiti in Berlin…!

By this time I feel terrible and poor Becky is very dehydrated and not well at all. We find the minibus and go back to the hotel. Trying to go by a back route we hit another driver. The minibus driver gets out, says sorry, and then drives off! Apparently this is the way things are done! It seems there are too many cars for all the narrow streets and I keep wincing every time we squeeze past yet another double-parked car!! In Cairo, rush hour is every hour. Almost like London, although you’ll find that going through Central at some times of the early hours its not so bad.

Back at the hotel we chill by the pool and just mooch around. The guy selling perfume in one of the hotel stores tries to sell me a non-alcoholic perfume made from pure lily of the valley. It is the most gorgeous smell in the world but I have no way of transporting it back.