Egypt Trip - Pyramids

Before I describe the pyramids I need to first talk about baksheesh, or tipping, in Egypt. Everywhere we went someone wanted baksheesh from us. Whether it was showing us a room, checking in our cameras, leading a camel or taking a picture. Nowhere was baksheesh more prevalent than at the pyramids. I thought I was prepared to take on baksheesh with several dollar bills, but they started to disappear quickly as we walked around the pyramids. Unlike some stories I've heard about the pyramids, I didn't get ripped off on any camel ride, but I was relieved of my dollar bills.

The pyramids were amazing, but smaller than I expected. The smog from Cairo puts a haze around the pyramids making them look like they were distant from one another. They were actually fairly close, only one or two hundred yards apart. It took us less than three hours to casually walk around and explore all the pyramids.

There are actually nine pyramids on the Giza site. There are six smaller Queens Pyramids to the south and east of the main pyramids. We got to go inside the largest pyramid, Khufu. It was interesting, but really nothing. All we did was walk up a long steep passageway to an empty room with an empty stone sarcophagus. No hieroglyphics or mummies were to be found.

Next to the pyramids was the Sphinx. I don't know what was more impressive the Sphinx itself or the crowds around it. Unlike the pyramids we couldn't get next to it and we had to view it from a nearby ledge.

Pyramid of Khufu

Pyramid of Hafre

Pyramid of Menkaure

Panorama Including Queen's Pyramids

On Khufu

Pyramid of Khufu

The Sphinx

So that's how his nose fell off.

Sphinx Entry

Cairo Sights 2 Egypt Trip Sharm el-Sheikh

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November 14-23 2007