After a couple of “recovery” days (the jetlag was brutal), my third day here was spent at the Giza pyramids. The pyramids strike you in different ways. First, they’re located in a city suburb, surrounded by slums. You’re driving down a highway and you see the pyramids sticking over the houses and buildings on the side of the road. They are massive and perfectly shaped. Second, when you arrive, you are immediately approached by men trying to get you to ride a camel or a horse. It’s incredible how these men speak all languages imaginable, including Spanish! And they loved Kimmie. Third, once you actually enter the park, the first thing you see is the sphinx. Although you can’t walk directly up to the sphinx (you have to watch it from a distance), you are able to appreciate how skillfully it was made. Plus, the sheer size of it amazes you. We took some good pictures of it, some of them “classics” of us “petting” it.
After the sphinx, you get to see three other pyramids (at least we did). The most impressive one is the Great Pyramid, built by Khufu (if I remember correctly). Impressive as the pyramid is, it’s also sad to see that the guards just let people climb all over it, right next to the “No Climbing” sign… some families were even having picnics on the pyramid! We also went into the pyramid, to the main tomb. The tomb is a dark, completely sealed room of rock walls – not advisable for anyone with claustrophobia. You get to it by walking down these narrow passageways with low ceilings. The feeling inside this tomb is difficult to describe… it is the heart of the pyramid, built over 4500 years ago, stuck in time and space. I highly recommend it.
After that, we just walked around the rest of the pyramids. They are not as large, but are still impressive. And you get good views of the adjacent Cairo suburb.
I will write about today in my next entry…
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario