Walk Like An Egyptian

For a really exciting day, there wasn't much to tell really. "Saw lots of pyramids" just about sums it up, but doesn't really do it justice. I suppose, like most people, I've been seeing pictures of the pyramids and hearing stories about them all my life, and then suddenly you can touch them, and it seems so surreal.

After breakfast on the rooftop again, we were picked up by our guide and driver, and taken to the Giza entrance. First up was the Great Pyramid, the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World. Yep it's big. Had lots of facts and figures thrown at us about its age and height and builder and architect and discoverer, but really you only need to remember two things - it's big and it's old.

You hear the words that the Great Pyramid was built about 2600 BC and nod wisely, but standing there I realised that this was 1000 years before Moses was born. For over 4,000 years it was the tallest monument ever built. It has been estimated that approximately 2,300,000 blocks had been used to build the great pyramid, each averaging 2.5 tons, making a total mass of 5.75 million tons, and can fit 10 football fields inside. It's just hard to get a perspective.

Then it was off to the other two nearby pyramids built by the son and the grandson. Each was smaller but more developed than the last, as it was unacceptable to build one larger than your father's. Finally to the Sphinx, which guards the lot.

A twenty minute drive brought us to Dahshur and the Red Pyramid, not as big but better preserved than the Great Pyramid, as it was cased in red granite rather than limestone. Nearby was the Bent Pyramid, so called because the angle of the pyramid started at the usual 52 degrees, but changed half way up to 43 degrees, so it looks bent.

Lastly it was over to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid, so called because it is build like a wedding cake with several layers or steps. Along with the Step Pyramid was a whole mortuary complex with preparation chambers for the burial, and tombs for the builder and his family along with the nobles.

Arrived back at the hotel for a late lunch and a relaxing afternoon, before dinner again on the rooftop overlooking the Giza complex. A memorable day.