Seeing the Pyramids

Trip Start Feb 07, 2009
1
8
41
Trip End Mar 19, 2009


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Egypt  ,
Sunday, February 15, 2009

Mike and I woke to the sound of Fluffy snoring. It was funny because I had thought it was Mike and kept kicking him to stop and when he didn't I sat up in bed and we realised it was Fluffy snoring like a freight train! We were pretty much awake by then so we got up, had a cuppa and then ate breakfast and got ready when the kids got up.

We were picked up in Tresor Travel's small bus and we set off for our Pyramid trip, including Joe and Lina. We got stuck in traffic so it took ages to navigate along some of the roads. The first glimpse of the Pyramids was still just as exciting as the last trip. Adrian was getting pretty excited and was snapping pictures like crazy. We stopped at a little area in front of a green paddock for photos then back in the bus to battle the traffic again. Finally we arrived and got out at the ticket office and walked up to the Great Pyramid. It was great because there was only us on our tour and we pretty much got to set the pace of the whole tour. We stopped for ages to take pics and look around, then we went over to the 2nd Pyramid so the kids could go inside. The Great Pyramid was closed but they still got to expereince the hot claustrophobic atmosphere inside the 2nd pyramid. Alanna didn't like it much and almost turned around and came out, but she perservered to the burial chamber then all the way out again. I think all of them hit their heads either on the way in or our. After we had taken another few hundred photos we piled in the bus for a quick drive up to the panoramic viewing area for more photos and a look at the market stalls. Group pic before arriving at the Pyramids
Group pic before arriving at the Pyramids
 I took a few photos in wide screen format so it will be interesting to see how they came out. We drove don to the Sphynx area and had a good walk around and again took lots of photos, including some great kissing shots.

By then we were getting peckish but we were herded on the bus again and drove (some of the way in traffic, some on quiet sreets) to the complex of Saqqara. This is where the Step Pyramid is, as well as several smaller pyramids. This was an interesting place to visit because Mike and I hadn't been here before and the Step Pyramid is such a different shape and design from the Giza Pyramids. After spending a while wandering around and taking pictures we were back on the bus again. It's been so nice just having the 7 of us with our own guide Ahmed as we seem to have more time to spend at each site. We still haven't eaten by this stage and I think it's about 4:30-5 by this stage but I think we were beyond the point of feeling hungry. We then made a stop at a perfume factory where we saw them making hand blown little bottles - just amazing how they can turn a single piece of glass into such beautiful little bottles. Then into a different room to view all the different perfume oils. We got a special pack with 6 oil bottles (4 for Adrian and Ange, 1 each for Alanna and I), an oil burner and 8 little glass bottles for 1500LE. The oil I chose is like Chanel No 5 - can't wait to try it.

Again back in the traffic for the drive back to Helene's place for dinner. And what a feast they had prepared - lasagne, pasta, chips, salad. It was worth waiting all day for. The 5 of us piled in Joe's car then to drive to City Stars mall so we could use our passports to buy duty free alcohol for Tarek and Joe. We were going to do a felucca ride but it was getting too late and we had to get up early in the morning.
Slideshow Print this entry Cairo hotels