The population of the greater Toronto Area is just over 6 million. Greater Cairo has over 25 million people! Imagine the giant traffic jam when we first arrived—we were so glad we had arranged for someone to pick us up. The 30 km to our hotel took over two hours. We were involved in our first fender bender 10 minutes out. Road markings are merely suggestions here and everyone talks on their cell phones while they drive. There was a lot of yelling and honking, but no one was hurt. Our guide discovered dad liked street food so not once but twice, as we snaked through traffic, he jumped out of the car and bought us snacks along the road. The fresh squeezed sugar cane and roasted sweet potatoes were a taste treat for tired travellers. By the time we reached our home away from home Egyptian House Music was blasting through the car and we were learning local dance moves. Indeed the adventure had started.
This morning we headed off to our first pyramids. Although the pyramids at Sakkara and Dahshur are less known than the Giza pyramids they are actually older. In order from oldest to youngest are: The Step, The Bent, The Red and then The Great. Of course there are actually many, many other pyramids, but those are the Biggies. In Fact I haven’t even listed one of the lesser pyramids we went in today which was actually my favourite—The pyramid of King Teti. But let me tell you the story of our first adventure into a pyramid—the Red Pyramid: Before you climb down you have to climb up—really far up. I’m too excited to notice that the winding pathway is actually cut into or built on the side of the pyramid. I am ahead of Dad....I don’t want to look back. I hope he isn’t thinking about that moment when we will go from the bright daylight through the opening into the narrow dark tunnel. I remember the first passageway will be just over 60 metres down at a steep angle. Here I go. I’m very glad to see that they have put small boards across the path to help you from sliding—although that would be quite a ride. It is becoming very dark. Sometimes I have to bend over to get through...sometimes I have to squat. I think there is someone ahead of me—I’m not sure. Someone behind me gets out their cell phone to light my way. It’s Dad—he is conquering the pyramid and his fear of small spaces like a champ. A couple more horizontal passages and chambers and we are in the third chamber—the burial chamber. We are both so excited to be in a pyramid, but especially Dad😄 One really cool thing is that the chambers have super high ceiling that are pyramid shaped. I didn’t expect that. One not so cool thing is that it smelt like really strong cat pee inside. I didn’t expect that either. Our day was amazing. From the pyramids to the hieroglyphs to our incredible guide Sayid. This is only really day one and already we have seen so much. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. P.S. We also discovered what you have to do when an Egyptian bank machine eats your bankcard, but that is a story for another day.
33 Comments
Nano
1/24/2019 09:27:51 am
Hell no on the tight spaces - nice work Dad!
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Diane
1/24/2019 09:53:06 am
He didn’t even blink...maybe sweated a little😄
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Mason
1/24/2019 10:05:18 am
Will you see more pyramids.
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Diane
1/25/2019 03:50:41 am
Yes, tomorrow we see the a Great Pyramids of Giza
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emma
1/24/2019 10:06:02 am
hi how are you doing the bus was cansld
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Diane
1/25/2019 03:55:10 am
I heard you had a lot of ice. The weather is nice and warm here.
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RDL
1/24/2019 10:06:19 am
Did you see a tomb?
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Diane
1/25/2019 03:56:52 am
Yes, we saw many tombs at Saqqara. The scenes of everyday life and hieroglyphs were fascinating.
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A.M
1/24/2019 11:21:31 am
Did you go on a camel?
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Diane
1/25/2019 03:58:20 am
Not yesterday but we have been on trips by camel before in India and Morocco
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Owen
1/24/2019 11:24:11 am
Have you seen the Great Sphinx?
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Diane
1/25/2019 03:59:21 am
No, we saw as all Sphinx at Memphis. We see the Great Sphinx tomorrow.
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jc
1/24/2019 11:31:40 am
Did you see any hieroglyphics in the pyramids?
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Ray
1/25/2019 04:04:09 am
Inside the Pyramid of Teti was inscribed with texts in hieroglyphs.
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Miss H.
1/24/2019 11:35:04 am
Glad to see you arrived safely - minus the fender bender! :)
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Ray
1/25/2019 03:58:28 am
The fender bender, (or more exactly the mirror crashing) did add some excitement.
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c.p
1/24/2019 01:28:09 pm
glad to see you arrived safely.
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Ray
1/25/2019 03:56:18 am
Yes, it was so good to arrive at our hotel.
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W3B
1/28/2019 07:01:54 am
There are a few of us here at school today because our buses are canceled again! We wish we were in the nice warm sun with you!
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Ray
2/6/2019 08:08:44 am
It is much warmer here than back in Listowel but not hot. Yesterday at the Egyptian Museum we did not go into the Royal mummies room but did see some animal mummies; crocodiles, fish, a dog and a baby baboon. No Cobras have been seen. The treasures of KingTutankhamun at the museum were unbelievable. The last coffin was made from 110 kg of gold and was very beautiful.
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Ray
1/28/2019 07:59:23 am
It is much warmer here than back in Listowel but not hot. Yesterday at the Egyptian Museum we did not go into the Royal mummies room but did see some animal mummies; crocodiles, fish, a dog and a baby baboon. No Cobras have been seen. The treasures of KingTutankhamun at the museum were unbelievable. The last coffin was made from 110 kg of gold and was very beautiful.
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ciara
2/4/2019 09:55:32 am
did you see lizrds yet
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:09:33 am
Yes, but thank goodness not in my room.
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abbi
2/4/2019 09:56:16 am
did you see any mummies cases?
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:10:42 am
The museum in Cairo has tons of mummy cases. They are beautiful and creepy at the same time.
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T.G
2/4/2019 09:59:14 am
where are you staying?
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:11:35 am
Last night we camped in goat hair tents in the desert...tonight we are in a nice hotel. We needed a good shower.
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I.H
2/4/2019 10:00:32 am
where are you going on the camels?
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:12:19 am
To get a good view of the pyramids of Giza
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J.M
2/4/2019 10:01:55 am
why is the traffic out of control in the one video
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:08:09 am
Lots of people live in Egypt and the drivers kind of do what they want with lots of honking.
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Ms. Arnold's Class
2/5/2019 08:56:58 am
Hi Diane and Ray, we are thinking about Ray's claustrophobia and wondering about the tunnels to the pyramids. Did they get smaller once you were inside? Did Ray overcome his fear of small spaces? Can you explain what the sand felt like? How long was the tunnel?
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Diane
2/6/2019 08:07:00 am
We went in three pyramids but the Red Pyramid was the longest. They say it is over 4500 years old. The tunnel is over 200 ft and gets quite small. Ray did great. I told him to shine the light and he concentrated on that instead of his claustrophobia. It is winter here so the sand is only warmish and &eels really soft if you walk in bare feet.
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