The Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments of Ancient Egypt.

Built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert plain close to the Nile the intriguing pyramids were more than just tombs for kings and the mysteries surrounding their symbolism, design and purpose have inspired much debate.

 

As we drove up the sandy road towards the Giza plateau, leaving the city behind us, the vision of the pyramids appearing before our eyes was quite emotional.

 

 

From the view point at the Giza Plateau the best way to absorb the atmosphere and return to the pyramids is by camel, you feel as if you could be crossing the desert and discovering the amazing structures for the first time.

 

 

 

Below, Lica, Gavin, Carol, Michelle, Andy and Vanessa

 

 

 

 

The experience was truly amazing despite the fact that my camel was prone to stumbling and lurching forward which made taking photos whilst also staying in the saddle extremely difficult !

 

The largest Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is 140 metres high and is built using 2.3 million limestone blocks, each weighing around 2.5 tonnes, it was built in 2750 BC.

 

 

 

Originally all three pyramids were totally encased in polished white stone which would have made them gleam in the sun.

Unfortunately over the centuries this stone has been stripped to use in Mosques and palaces, leaving the softer inner core stones to the elements.

 

You can see a little of the remaining outer casing at the top of the second Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren)

 

 

 

This will make you laugh – the girls here thought I looked like Angelina Jolie (I wish ) and wanted their picture taken with me !

 

 

From the Pyramids we descended the causeway to see the Sphinx, a huge sculpture representing the body of a lion and the head of a human.

The Sphinx is carved of natural bedrock and appears to be guarding the entrance to the largest pyramid of Khafre.

It is likely that the head portrays the features of the Pharaoh Khafre and is framed by the nemes, a striped head cloth worn by royalty.

 

 

Below you can see the huge front paws and also the tail, the sculpture faces away from the prevailing winds to preserve the features from the eroding sand.

 

 

 

The nose is missing and it is thought that it was damaged in 900 AD to show people that this was just a statue and not a sacred object.

The sculpture has been buried in sand several times and excavated to restore its presence.

 

 

Typical of all Egyptian ‘promises’ we didn’t stay in the Marriott !

However we did stay in the oldest hotel in Cairo with views of the Pyramids from the hotel reception and gardens.

We also enjoyed the enormous swimming pool and a nice hot bath !

 

 

 

In the evening our mini bus fought the chaotic traffic of Cairo to deliver us for a moonlight dinner cruising along the Nile.

Lovely food and hilarious entertainment including ‘Abba’ singers, traditional swirling dancing, a local ‘band’ with guest singers (straight from the Mosque I think) and a very top heavy belly dancer !

The boat was very old and ornate and reminded us of the dinner cruises along the Thames.

 

The next day we headed across town again to spend the morning looking at the awesome exhibits in the Egyptian Museum.

 

I’m afraid that’s the only photo you get of the museum as cameras are strictly forbidden – so you will have to visit yourselves !

Highly recommended, a few hours do not give it justice, however the highlights must be the Tutankhamen and the Mummy rooms.

 

The artefacts of Tutankhamen were truly amazing, such intricate workmanship and such a huge amount of Gold.

If this much treasure was given to a King who reigned for just nine years between the ages of 9 to 18, imagine what treasures the raided tombs such as Ramses must have held.

               

 

 

After a brief look around the market area and a stop for provisioning at Carrefour in Cairo, we headed back to the yachts.