We are leaving Egypt today with this journey having shown us another of the world’s amazing places. There is real history here in Egypt but unless one studies it in as much detail as our amazing tourist guides have, it is very difficult to take too much in. Their in-depth knowledge drives them with such a passion that they really do want every tourist who visits this area to understand every little thing about the ancient Egyptians. It would be a fascinating thing if we could!
The ancient Egyptians really had knowledge and skills that in today’s society we cannot fathom, to build giant pyramids, hidden tombs of their Kings and statues of admiration and immense respect for the Kings and Pharaohs of their time.
As I type, I am sitting here on our hotel balcony at the Oberoi Menna Hotel, right under the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza and with an early morning wake-up call to take in the grandeur of the image before me, I have been sitting here nearly an hour now just looking at this amazing ‘pyramid of bricks’ before me in total awe. As usual I have snapped a memory card worth of photos from dawn till now and will pick the best to attach to our travel website.
Egypt in it’s ancient days may have been a very busy and totally different life but today’s Egyptians seem to live very a very simple and relaxed life. Everything runs on ‘Egyptian time’ – the day doesn not really start until about 10.00am and continues through until late in the evening when the streets are amass with cars – 7 lanes of which attempt to out-manoeuvre each other for the 3 lanes there actually are! The highlight of the tour for some of the group one evening in Cairo was the return taxi ride from a local restaurant – 2 taxis seemingly racing through the busy streets of Cairo to return people to their hotel. The story has been re-told every day (with ad-lib versions included!) of the pace and adrenalin filled ride that was!
For me personally, my highlights have been visiting Tutankhamen’s tomb – a $20 AUD add-on that I was the only one in our group to take. It seemed to put the whole story of the Kings, their rule and their tombs into a perspective that I was having trouble visualising prior to that.
Another has just been sitting here this morning under the Great Pyramid. The sun may have risen and the colours changed around it but it still a wonder of this world – and I’m sitting here staring at it!
I would have to consider myself lucky to have seen much of this country and of course the Nile River, although we only sailed a small amount of it, is the lifeblood of the country and our trip down the Nile has been another highlight. Without the use of the Nile’s water, this country would not be what it is today or has been for centuries.
Another highlight – The Pyramids and Sphinx are constructions of immense proportion and unimaginable building knowledge – we can only shake our heads in wonder at how they were built.
And yet another? The Valley of Kings – an almost deserted mountainous region within which are being discovered these amazing tombs dug under mountains of rock, and containing huge sarcophagi, coffins and ancient Mummies of Kings. Each of the King’s tombs are decorated wall to wall and ceiling to floor with ancient hieroglyphics and writings of their time. It is simply awe inspiring.
I could go on and on but it is time to head home today. We leave Cairo bound overnight for Abu Dhabi then on to Singapore for a couple for nights and finally home on Monday.
I haven’t had anyone email me back and say ‘take me off your list’ yet so trust you have all enjoyed my ‘ramblings’ – it really is easier when we get home – the story of our holiday has already been told!
