Where We Be
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| The Sphinx looks like it's carrying the weight of a heavy pyramid on its back |
| Giza Pyramids & Sphinx -- Cairo, Egypt |
| The Sphinx is thronged -- they don't show this in the brochures! |
| Dung beetles really do roll little balls of dung around. In Egyptian myth they're also said to roll night into day. |
| Unusual view of the Pyramid and Sphinx apart from the crowds. You can’t walk right up to the Sphinx anymore or touch it, which is understandable when you consider the poor state it is in -- but it is an iconic symbol of Egypt and a must-see on everyone’s list. |
| The Pyramids of Giza -- one of our dream destinations |
| Pinnacle of Cheops in sunlight. We also get to see the pyramids lit up at night as part of the Pyramids Light Show. |
| After a full day of dusty pyramid touring, it feels good to relax poolside. Meanwhile, Ramadan comes to an end tonight, so many Egyptians are in full celebration mode. |
| The Pyramid of Cheops is the biggest in the world, and it has been in place for 4,500 years now. Until 1889 it was also the tallest structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower was built! |
We pay extra to climb into the burial shaft of
Cheops' pyramid. This is definitely worth doing
if you like to collect unusual once-in-a-lifetime
experiences. From the entrance shaft, you
climb a long way uphill inside the pyramid, bent
double, with lots of other people for company.
The tunnel is constricted enough that it’s
difficult for people making the return journey
to pass by. But pass by they must, because
there’s only one way in and one way out. As we
hike up, we get a great view of the surprisingly
modern-looking, smooth-walled shaft.
Finally we reach the top, walk down a short
corridor, and enter a rectangular room at the
center of the pyramid. The walls are smooth but
undecorated. An empty sarcophagus sits at the
far end. It’s a dead-end room with stale air and
feels like what it is, a burial chamber. You find
yourself wanting to get out as quickly as
possible and feel like you’re a long way from
fresh air. If you’re at all claustrophobic, it’s a
test of will to stay put.
Cheops' pyramid. This is definitely worth doing
if you like to collect unusual once-in-a-lifetime
experiences. From the entrance shaft, you
climb a long way uphill inside the pyramid, bent
double, with lots of other people for company.
The tunnel is constricted enough that it’s
difficult for people making the return journey
to pass by. But pass by they must, because
there’s only one way in and one way out. As we
hike up, we get a great view of the surprisingly
modern-looking, smooth-walled shaft.
Finally we reach the top, walk down a short
corridor, and enter a rectangular room at the
center of the pyramid. The walls are smooth but
undecorated. An empty sarcophagus sits at the
far end. It’s a dead-end room with stale air and
feels like what it is, a burial chamber. You find
yourself wanting to get out as quickly as
possible and feel like you’re a long way from
fresh air. If you’re at all claustrophobic, it’s a
test of will to stay put.
| Wow, these pyramids are big! Just look at those massive stone blocks behind Robin, then let your eye be drawn upwards. |
| Perhaps the most identifiable skyline in the world |
