Egypt: Cairo day one

March 22, 2023

Monday March 20, 2023

We are here in a city of 30 million that boasts a population of 105 million in the whole of Egypt. From the air the land was just a barren beige colored sand. As we got closer to the airport high rise buildings sprouted up but still, the color of the landscape. It was as if there had been a sand storm that attempted to bury the city. Very little green could be found.

Our handsome young guide, Ahamed met us and escorted us through the arrival and visa process. A two hour journey on a road filled with cars of all makes and vintage kept us alert. Sudden stops, constant beeping, jockeying around motor bikes and vans filled with people all headed in the same direction and in a hurry.

Mosques with the double minarets dot the otherwise nondescript desert. Fast food such as KFC, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut are mixed in among the old buildings. It was after 7 pm and dark by the time we reached our hotel. It is chilly in the evenings here in the desert. Our hotel was probably quite grand in its day. Our first room, which we reached by electric golf cart, was so far from the main hotel that it felt isolated. We had a meal from the hotel buffet, met some charming cooks and waiters who wanted to make the best impression. One chef took a plate and loaded it with all Egyptian specialties so I could taste everything.

Each $100 bill worth about $7US

Mosques dot the land

Tuesday March 21, 2023

This is the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of King Tut. Today we visited Giza and three pyramids and a Sphinx said to represent Djoser a might leader and Pharoah. We went inside two of the three pyramids. It is an experience I will not soon forget. In one we climbed for a very long way on wooden scaffolding going up at an angle. Then we continued the climb bent over in this shaft. It was strenuous and hot. We then stepped into the burial chamber where a rose colored granite sarcophagus was all that remained. It was difficult going up, but going down was next to impossible due to the number of visitors passing as they assended and I, bent over and going down, departed. Not easy!!