We started by going to the famous pyramids of Giza. The grand pyramids. They were AMAZING ... can't believe that have stood for thousands of years!! We got to go inside the largest pyramid and see the room where the King's sarcophagus was. We read somewhere that Napolean slept alone in this room once, with gaurds outside only, and was never the same afterwards and wouldn't talk about it. After climbing the narrow stairs, hunched over, to the hot room ... maybe he was just parched. But, it would have been VERY dark with no lights ...
After the pyramids, and a camel ride, and requisite TIPS, (above, Spencer & I) to the pyramids, we headed around the back to the Sphinx. I think we were told it was the largest one in Egypt. (that's our whole group above - Bodens on the left, our family in the middle, extended Shirley's on the right) We were told that the Egyptians don't really care for the British (who took the beard off and have in a museum in London), and the Turks (who used the nose of the Sphinx for target practice).
Here is our family (above) next to the grand pyramid. The one in the background is actually shorter, but built on higher ground, and has some of the original finish still on top of the tip. They built with large blocks, then covered it all with cement-like stuff.
This is Shelby (above) petting the Sphinx ...
This is Devin, having grown huge muscles this year, squashing the pyramid...
After pyramids and the Sphinx, we went to a Papyrus museum. Here we saw a demonstration of papyrus paper being made and had the chance to purchase a print. Darren got one with Eyptian ducks. Spencer got one with his name in a Cartouse (horizontal oval that Kings names were written in hyrogliphics).
We had lunch at McDonald's - so anyone who wanted could try the McArabian. The kids enjoyed this meal MUCH better than dinner at the hotel the night before, and it was about 1/4 the price!!
After lunch, we went to the Cairo museum. It had an impressive display of the treasures from King Tut's tomb. It was amazing what they fit in it! King Tut became king at 10 years old (the boy king), and lived until he was 19. Apparently, tombs began construction when a king came to rule, and was continually built and expanded until the death of the king. Then there were 70 days (during the mumification period) to finish the tomb.
After the museum, we headed back to the hotel. The kids had another nice dip in the pool. The Bodens were kind enough to watch Shelby & Spencer and take them to dinner. The rest of the Shirleys (me, Darren, Devin, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Bry, & Ann-Marie) went "outside the wire" with our friend Will who lives near Cairo. Will came to our hotel, and MUCH to the dismay of the hotel security, we got a taxi for the 8 of us back to his side of town. The taxi driver agreed to wait a couple of hours for us, and then return us to our hotel (good thing, or we could still be wandering Cairo!!). We went to a shop where Will likes to get his souvenirs. This man had replicas of the prints from the Pearl of Great Price on (replica, I think) papyrus paper. We got those and a few more things and enjoyed talking with the shop owner. Then had dinner at a "fast food" Egyptian place. It was a great evening! (THANKS Will!!)
