Egypt: Imerging into 21st Century Collecting on the Ancient Era

 Wednesday March 22, 2023

Today was incredibly busy. Up early and out at 8am. We visited the Citadel and fortress of Mohammed Ali - the Egyptian one. On site is a beautiful Mosque. Then we drove further into Cairo to a Christian church called the Hanging Church in the city known as Coptic Cairo. The church is built on top of another ancient building and so the name. Afterwards we visited the Ben Ezra synagogue where the holy family was said to have sheltered for 3 months on their 2-3 year journey through Egypt. 

Then we went to the famous Bazaar,  Khan el Khalili that has operated since the the late 14th century.  It suffers from lack of authenticity and shops are repetitive and most are selling nothing unique. It was somewhat disappointing.  However,  I did find nice pashminas and a couple of gifts to bring home to grandchildren.

  

Because we were in a hurry, we ate a falafel lunch in transit to the Egyptian Museum, home to over 100,000 ancient artifacts from tombs and temples. The new museum is STILL in the completion phase so our visit was in the old one. The exhibits are impressive but the museum is dirty inside and out and in disrepair.  Also the lighting is bad and many of the glass cases are dusty and there seems no regard for preservation with special temperature control.  Many of the artifacts are not labeled and some are faded. Not many have descriptions.

Synagogue 

Hiding place for the Holy Family 

Museum 

I saw lots of dead people!

However, there are many wonderful and beautiful pieces to see. The King Tut room has some beautiful jewelry,  his inner sarcophagus  is inlaid with colorful stones and covered in gold leaf. If you plan to be in Cairo before the new museum opens (no one has a clue when) it is still worth a visit. 

Then, we went directly to dinner. Transit in Cairo at rush hour is impressive.  Streets and highways are clogged with cars swerving in and out, horns beeping, scooters weaving, close calls but no collisions. Add to that people wait on the side of the road for rides. 

Pyramids of Giza at sunset

Street magic

Camels on their way home. 

Our meal was in a restaurant overlooking the pyramids of Giza. Then we went to an outside viewing area in front of the pyramids and the Sphinx for a sound and light show. We watched and listened to stories from the time of the Pharaoh's while the dogs of the pyramids put on the best show. Puppies played together,  a lab-like dog sat at our feet and enjoying some petting while rival gangs howeled and growled and ran after each other.  Camels followed their owners making their way home while the stars sparkled above us. 

We were bed by 10 pm as we had a 3am departure for the airport! Next stop Aswan!