Pyramids of Giza
Trip Start
Mar 08, 2008
1
4
25
Trip End
Mar 24, 2008
Where I stayed
Giza, Egypt
Monday, March 10, 2008
Another very full day. It is amazing that the pyramids are so close to town. One minute you are driving through the busy streets and the next you can see the Pyramids towering over all the buildings and shops like a huge mountain. It was another smoggy day with low visibility (about 700metres) so hopefully it will be clearer when we go back again at the end of the trip.
Why are the pyramids considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world? It is because there is so much mystery surrounding them, for example on one level of each of the three pyramids at Giza food does not decompose (23rd step of the largerst, 7th step of the middle and 3rd step of the smallest. This is the same level that the pharoahs were placed on. Gravity is lighter inside the pyramids than out. Electronic Equipment does not work inside. These unexplained things are only evident at the Giza pyramids.
Added Later.... I have another pyramids mystery of my own, which I shall tell you about at our second day at the pyramids.
Did you know that there are 97 Pyramids in Egypt and each of them have small ones nearby for wives and children and each of them has 4 boats (to help the king/pharoah sail to heaven) and a Sphinx? The Sphinx is considered to be the protector of the tomb as the ancient Egyptians believed that it would come alive at night and roam the pyramid. There are many still buried. They know where alot of artifacts are buried but either need the funding to excavate or to buy the land where it is situated and many of the owners are of course asking too much. The owners can't dig up the artifacts themselves or they'd go to jail.
The pyramids are just so large. The size cannot be believed unless you are there. Photo's just do not do justice. I have added only a selection of the photo's taken. Once again, I took too many.
My memory card stopped working at the pyramids, the camera was taking photo's but they were not recorded so lucky I had a spare card. A bit spooky though as I was taking a photo at the same spot where Kelly's camera stuffed up when we in Egypt last time.
The hasslers haven't changed at all but boy does it make a difference being able to speak a few words of Arabic. The reaction is unbelievable and they stop hassling you immediately. Some of the others on our tour group were impressed when I had a short conversation with one man (only two sentences). I am picking up more all the time.
Then we went on to the Sphinx, which didn't have any scaffolding this time so I could take better pictures. Once again my Arabic came in handy.
Then we went to the Papyrus museum. Did you know that the word paper comes from Papyrus? I hadn't really thought about it before but it makes sense. Papyrus (like so many other things) is considered sacred as the stalk is shaped like a Pyramid (not round) and the top looks like the rays of sun.
Then we went back to the museum again. It was the same tour that Alex and I did in 2006 and my back was hurting (don't have Alex to carry the backpack!) so I couldn't concentrate properly.
Mum and I had an early night as she was tired from all the walking. I was glad for the early night as my back was hurting and I am not used to being woken up at 4.47 each morning (call to prayer) and getting up early.
