Pyramid-Fest

There used to be seven wonders of the world, and now there is only 1 left (2 if you count Tinas shoe collection - "Not, true" protests Tina, "more like your odd socks"). If you have visited the famous Giza pyramids you will know that Cairos expansion has reached them and they are literally on the edge of the city. If they were in London they would be well within the M25 (in which case they would be called the Diamond Geezer pyramids). Having not visited a pyramid or ancient funery complex for over 6 days we felt the compulsion to join the merry throngs of tourists and run the gauntlet of internationally renown hawkers and scammers to stand next to these geometry wonders. When we lived in New Orleans there was always a "-fest" on, no matter what time of year; Swampfest, Gatorfest, you name it. We are now developing pyramid-fest as we get to know these magnificent pointy buildings.

We picked up our Egyptologist Mustapha (everyone should get one, they are sooooo useful), he of funny joke fame - see previous pyramid post, and crossed the city to find the pyramids rising out of the Friday morning haze (or was it pollution/smog) just across the river in the suburb of Giza on the Westbank.

First stop was to the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Standing at the base of this 4600 year old building is indeed incredible, in a word "awesome" or "majestic" or as Joe eloquently put it,"big".

The building blocks are much bigger than lego size, or even duplo, being several tons. Originally the pyramid would have been encased in nice flat limestone outer cladding, all of which has been removed from this one, with the entrance hidden. We decided not to go in as we had at the Red Pyramid the week before due to 1) time, 2) cost and 3) risk of jelly legs. There is a metal pole on the top of 9m height to show the original size which looks about 30cm talk from the bottom!

We moved onto Cheops sons place, the pyramid of Chephren, sneakily the bottom is built slightly into the limestone bedrock, good to see the ancients had an appreciation of geology. Aim was to make it look bigger than his fathers - sons eh?! This one has a bit of cladding still left on the top. We made our was past the last of the main pyramids, Mycerinous (tihnk the spelling went) to a nice viewing point, very romantic just the two of us, oh and the kids and 70 camels plus drivers waiting for fares. Still Nice view.

We made our way back to Cheops place and went in the Solar Boat museum. Doing some clean-up work years ago in the 30s they came across a pit containing the boat probably used to bring the the Big across the Nile. It was so well preserved they put the jigsaw back together and now have a full size ancient boat.

The kids loved it as well as the ropes and knots etc that were preserved, in its way as impressive as the buildings. Best bit was we had to wear these natty little overshoes so we could shuffle about on the wooden floor like speed skaters.

Last stop was the Sphinx and the Chephren Valley temple. The waters of the River Nile used to lap against the buildings here, the boat with dead Pharaoh ("he's not dead he's only sleeping") would arrive, they would pop him into the temple, do the mummification business and after a time take him up to the just completed pyramid, stick him in the middle, lock the door cover it over with the last remaining cladding and bish bosh, start building the next one for the new big cheese in town. Im sure the limestone quarry owners were happy at the situation, at least.

Theres a few stories surrounding the absents of the nose of the Sphinx, one we liked, that Napoleon shot it off sound a little like Brit propaganda, but its good anyway. Probably just erosion.

So another successful day out, managed to avoid having the wife carted off by some beduin for an expensive photo or camel ride, which was quite a victory, she and the boys are becoming a bit more savvy, bless their innocent western ways. I'm sure the pyramids are impressive enough that we will be happy to take our visitors there and not get too bored, at least for the next 6-7 times.