Pyramids...
Trip Start
Oct 07, 2007
1
9
45
Trip End
Oct 31, 2007
Giza,
Egypt
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Today we visit many different pyramids and I am not sure if it is the excitement of that fact or if I am not as well adjusted to the time as I would like to believe or maybe Ben worried me about sleeping through the alarm but I have been WIDE awake since 5am. You may not believe it from a non morning person like myself but it is true. Try as I might, I cannot go back to sleep. There are seven minutes left until I can legitamately wake up Ben at 7am but he might feel me looking at him because he just stole a peek back. He thinks it's definately my ability to adapt to the time that is keeping me awake but I am going with over excitement.
- Ashley
Ugh, why did she wake me up.
- Ben
We reassembled the bags and headed down to breakfast. Our new guide, Rado, found us in the dining hall enjoying some sweet breads and other western food. Our first site of the day was to check out the Red pyramid and Bent pyramid to the south in Dahshur. It is hard to explain the impact of seeing these very old and very large monuments. The Red pyramid is in very good shape and was the first pyramid to be constructed in the perfect pyramid form. As one of the more remote pyramids, it is hardly visited and there were few other people when we arrived. Our ticket included permission to actually enter the pyramid. I don't know what I expected but when I had to duck down and start climbing at a steep decline, I kinda paniced. I took about 5 steps before I told Ben, who was 5 steps in front of me, "I can
t do this" and to return to the outside. Once outside, I was mad at myself and tried to psych myself up to go back in. Ben was a really good help and we tried it again. This time I went first, but the guardian of the pyramid actually led the way instead of waiting at the top and encouraged and asked if things were alright every so often on the way down. It was like climbing a ladder it was so steep. One hundred and twenty five steps later, we were in the middle of the pyramid in one of the chambers. While it is something I am glad I experienced and would recommend to others to experience, I am not sure that the payoff was worth it or that I could ever do it again. You cannot explain the smell, the atmosphere or eeriness that leads to the claustrophobia.
- Ashley
I am not sure if it was because I am supposed to be the guy, or brave husband or what, but for some reason until Ashley said 'I can't do this', I somehow thought I could and was marching (as much is possible bent into a catchers stance creeping forward step by step) right down the shaft. Once outside, I was talking Ashley up to go back in but had a million other thoughts racing through my mind which got worse ever 5 meters we descended. We had been convinced we didn't need our head lamps by the guide because it is "well-lit" in there. Well, I guess that would be the case if three quarters of the lights weren't burned out. So here, we were about 70 meters in, I was crouched down almost as far as I could go with my back still almost scraping the roof step by step and I start saying, "You know what, forget it, lets get out of here" and then saying "No, lets keep going" as my mind went back and forth about what was more important: To know that I did it or to know that I got out alive.
My stubborness outweighed my paranoia and we were in the chamber at the bottom. I looked around the room once and said 'Alright, lets go'. I don't know how she did it, but Ashley ran up the shaft almost like she was able to stand up in there or something, but she was suddenly about 50 steps ahead of me. We got outside and I know that I will never do it again. There was not even close to the payoff I would need to feel that out of control again, yet I kinda, in some weird way am intrigued enough to want to. So we will see who wins out next time, but so far Paranoia is the favorite.
- Ben
Conquered
Once recovering from our first pyramid experience, we walked around the base of the Red pyramid in awe of its size and construction.About a kilometer away is the Bent pyramid, which got it's name because of it's shape. The architect built it at too sharp an angleand it would have collapsed on itself had they not reduced the angle in the second half. Once finished taking pictures, we headed to the second site in Saqqara to see the Stepped pyramid and the surrounding complex. It was really interesting to listen to Rado as this is one of his favorite sites and his enthusiasm was evident. Pictures to come.
- Ashley
Our next stop was the Great Pyramids of Giza. This was the fist time I was actually amazed at the sheer size of the pyramid. The first ones were very impressive but closer to what I expected for some reason. The next thing to note is that despite it being the off-season, there were far too many people there. Where there weren't tour buses, there were people and where there weren't people, there were pyramids. We took the classic photos of holding the pyramid because amongst that may tourists it either rubbed off on us or we just were taken enough out of the moment enough to make it our touristy part of the trip.
Promised Clip
Rado knew of a guy near the third pyrmid that would allow us to have a chance at riding camels and he gladly helped Ashley get into the saddle of Michael Jackson. I didn't even bother asking what my camel's name was after that. It is amazing how tall the camels actually are and it is impressive at first site but even more overwhelming as they first get up onto their hind legs and then almost double in height as they get to a full stance. There we were at some camels and/or the orders of an old egyptian camel trainers mercy. Ashley has ridden horses before and it showed as I had no clue how her upper body stayed so still as I bounced around trying to figure out how someone could hold on with only one hand and steer with the other. Maybe my camel was just more clumsy but I doubt it. We got just a long enough tour to get the full experience and yet not get saddle sores so we were both very happy and promised the owner that we would see him again if we ever return.
Alternate Mode of Transportation
When Ashley said the Sphynx was next, I was suprised. I knew in the back of my mind that was where it was located but it felt at that point we had now finished our tour of Egypt. When we return the picturs everyone will expect to see were taken in the first day!
Familiar Face
This was another monument that was covered with people, obviously not the sphynx itself but any piller, ledge or step to get a clear picture was being fought over but we eventually got our turn, got our photos and finished up our touristy part of the trip. On a side note, trying to ignore the thousands of people it is amazing when you see the size of the Sphynx and realize that it was carved on th spot out of one piece of stone.
Heading to Alexandria...
- Ben
