Last of Egypt before Ethiopia

On Saturday, Kimmie and I slept in and then went to visit Kimmie’s two students (Kimmie volunteered as a teacher), Yorda and Aisha. These girls are both refugees, the former from Eritrea, the latter from Burundi. They study at a Catholic mission called Saint Andrew’s, where Kimmie volunteered on Saturdays. We taught them the parts of speech, and I discovered the two girls learned their grammar faster than I did! They are incredibly smart and it is deeply saddening to know that unless something exceptional happens, their futures are far from bright (especially for Yorda, who is in Egypt with absolutely no family). It is deeply upsetting to see countries like Eritrea which are so poor and have so little, and yet waste so much.

After that simultaneously inspiring and upsetting experience, Kimmie and I walked to the Cairo museum. What can one say about the Cairo museum beyond “spectacular”? The collection of Egyptian art, spanning over 4,000 years, and covering many, many dynasties, takes one’s breath away. Our tour guide, who probably overcharged us (big
surprise in Egypt!), was nonetheless interesting and, from what I could tell, knowledgeable. Supposedly a doctor in archeology, she walked us through the gist of the collection (going alone is not an option, unless you are an expert, since nothing is marked), emphasizing the time of King Tut. We later explored other emperors and dynasties on our own. The elaborate complexity of the art, its variety and its good condition struck me.

The following day we set on our “pyramid tour” to Memphis, Darshour and Saqqara. At Saqqara we saw some of the first pyramids ever constructed (by Imhotep) and some burial structures. At Memphis there was little to see, except for a colossal statue of Rameses II and a smaller sphinx. Memphis is important, however, because it has a claim as possibly the first human city and definitely Egypt’s first capital. It was abandoned after the Muslims attacked and ransacked it. Finally, at Darshour we saw some very interesting pyramids. (Quick note: it’s incredible to see these massive structures, thousands of years old, rising from the desert sands… it truly is spectacular). But anyway, at Darshour we visited the first pyramid ever built, the Red Pyramid. We also went down into its chamber – a long but worthwhile trek through a narrow, straight tunnel with no light (we had flashlights). However, some Italians who wouldn’t stop their annoying, abnormally loud chatter did make it difficult, although not impossible, to enjoy the pyramid. All in all, though, it is always worthwhile to go down into the heart of the pyramid.



I will write about Ethiopia in my next entry…