cairo
We left for Cairo on Saturday night. After a harrowing week, I literally slept 18 of the past 24 hours on planes and once we got to Cairo. I am still in a daze. It is good to be out of the norm of every day to reflect and think differently.
Our first day was a whirlwind. Of course the first stop was the pyramids. They are so awesome. Huge and just a wow. This is the largest pyramid in Giza.
The other pyramids in Giza were built for the children of the family. The largest one of course being for the father. You can see the one in the back which is more like what I expected a pyramid to look like. Very triangular vs the largest one which isn't as precise.
Looking up at the pyramid gives you a better visual of how huge it is. It consists of 2.3 million limestone blocks.
We walked below into a hieroglyphics which had a variety of etchings about the families buried in the area. Supposedly Obama had come here and thought this particular symbol looked just like him.
The Sphynx is on the otherside of the pyramids. Pretty wild.
Our next stop was for something to eat. I might be regretting that now. Fast food falafel, think McDonalds of Cairo.
On the side were some pickled vegetables that were terrible. Spicy and weird tasting.
Like McDonald's, the lima bean falafel actually was quite good going down.
The area of old Cairo has a bunch of winding streets with walls that aren't very high. We went to see the Ben Ezra Synagogue as well as one of the oldest churches in the area. The Jewish population at this point in Cairo is relatively nill although there are over 12 million people living in Cairo and Egypt grows at a pace of a million more people every 9 months.
En route to the Mosque, I had to stop at this bakery. The smells were delicious. Cumin bread sticks.
Huge pretzels, cookies, rolls.
This was particularly good. The middle tasted like cinnamon sugar bread.
Next door was a spice and bean store.
Down the way was a store where people to go to get their portraits taken.
FInally made our way to the Mosque which is quite huge and beautiful.
Interior is just spacious with beautiful lighting and stained glass.
The rug is blocked out like this so people can stay in line when praying.
Our last stop of the day was the Egyptian Museum where all the contents of the pyramids are kept. Built in 1901. No cameras allowed inside.
We crawled back to the hotel. Big naps coming.
Comments (Archived):
I will be following your blog daily for the duration of your vacation. Fred’s idea of travel blogging is linking to your posts. Great first post. Keep ’em coming.
that’s hilarious. yes, that is fred’s idea of travel blogging. worksperfect for him.
So before I go to sleep, I am going to leave a message:I don’t know your itenary, I have no need to know it. It hit me to tell you the folowing. If you are going to Jordan, which I am going to assume you are because Petra is amazing, you need to be aware of the following:If you go Egypt -> Israel -> Jordan, don’t get your passport stamped with the Israeli stamp. Ask for the paper to insert, because some people have problems with the Israeli stamp at Jordanian passport control.If you go Egypt -> Jordan -> Israel. Ignore that advice unless you are planning to go to Dubai.That, and the exchange person on Ben Yehuda and King George in Jerusalem generally gives a good deal.
Watch for those fava beans 🙂 It’s the staple food there, often eaten for breakfast, it will hold you up well past lunch time. If you’re feeling adventurous, hopefully you’ll try the Egyptian Mouloukhieh.
I must add the photos are great. We could feel the presence of the pyramids in them.