The Pyramids at Giza
The last remaining Seven Wonders of the World – now guarded by police on camels!
Khufu’s & Kafre’s Pyramids.The Pyramids are on the vast Giza plateau. You could see them from our hotel and they did not look very far away. However it still took the best part of an hour to drive there, a combination of the their size and the awful Cairo traffic.
We were a bit windswept at this vantage point. The largest pyramid is on the left (Khufu’s) with his son’s (Khafre’s) in the middle and the grandson’s (Menkaure’s) on the right.
So many classic view’s to take.
Ann, Jo & me at the entrance, part way up, of Khufu’s pyramid. With this photo, you get an idea of the size of each of these limestone blocks. There are 2.5 million of them.
Next to the second great Pyramid; the Sphinx is assumed to have the face of the Pharaoh Khafre. Shame the Turkish army used it as target practice in the 16th century, shooting off its nose. Visiting the Pyramids was for me a very uplifting experience. Is there any limit to what we can achieve, given the will?
It may have been an uplifting experience, but it was also fun.
Thanks by the way to our guide, Abou, for many of these silly photos. If you visiting Cairo and want the email address of an enthusiastic & good guide – I have Abou’s details – do contact me & I will be pleased to pass them on.
The Solar Boat
In 1954, excavators found this Solar Boat, fully dismantled by Khufu’s Pyramid. It has been reassembled and is now housed in a special building next to the Pyramid. It is 160 feet long and was used to transport the body of the Pharaoh along the Nile to his final resting place.
The details of the construction of the Solar Boat are amazing to see close up. Still in good “nick” after over 4,500 years.
Not a single nail was used in its construction. All the timber pieces were bound together.
If you really want to you can get a camel ride round the Pyramids.
The Sound & Light Show was very corny and sounded as if it has not been updated for a very long time. (Maybe it has been updated by now 🤞)
Memphis was at one time the ancient capital of Egypt. Except for a few scattered monuments, there is nothing of the old city remaining. There are photos of our Memphis visit, here.
Sakkara is where the first Pyramid was built by the Pharaoh Djoser in the 3rd Dynasty, over 4,600 years ago. There are more photos of Sakkara here.
