Tuesday June 10th
Today we got up early, like around 7:30 and headed off to the Pyramids. We tried to get breakfast at Cinnibon, but were amazed when they said they didn’t have any ready and wouldn’t for another 30 minutes. This was at 8:15. I guess
More annoyingly, the cabbie who I think during the entire cab-ride there was trying to set it up so he would take us back, which I think I kept refusing, took us to meet his friend, who was a tour-guide and wanted to show us the pyramids. When this happened, I curtly explained that the wanted the door only, and nothing else. So after this little affair, we ended up walking up towards the Pyramids by the Sphinx. A pretty spectacular road I must say, as the history is almost palpable. So we headed off to the main Pyramid and surprisingly we weren’t harassed maybe because it looked like we knew what we were doing and what we wanted.
After goofing around the Pyramid for a little while, we tried to get into in, only to find that the tickets were sold out already. I guess we were supposed to show up earlier, but no matter, we headed off to the second one which was much cheaper. The Pyramid itself, must have been made by midgets because the crawl space down was back-breaking low. Plus, it was god-awful hot, and definitely had a smell about it. After descending into the Pyramid for what must have been like 30 meters, we found ourselves in a small room with another ramp leading up. This ramp was equally tiny and this time we were heading up. We finally got to the main room to find ourselves in a crowded, although fairly large room that was sweaty, smelly, and featured a large sarcophagus. I believe, a little boy attributed the smell to dead people. There was also a young lady being fanned by two African males who were chanting to her, in what seemed like some-kind of spiritual, religious activity. It was weird.
He headed back out and emerged to find some overweight women who were about to try and make their way down. I felt bad for them, and for the people who would have to try and get out at the same time they were trying to get down. They definitely would fill the passage. Anyways, we picked up Megan’s camera from the Guard, and headed off to find some Camels.
As we were leaving we meet our first persistent haggler, who wanted us to take a picture of him, or something. I remember refusing and making up some lame excuse. He did however offer 5,000 camels for Megan, which I thought was a pretty good amount. I didn’t know of anybody being offered more than 2000. I was pretty impressed. After he gave up, we walked around the second pyramid and found a guy who would take us on a camel ride. As usual, we ended up getting a cheap first price, then he were charged for the guides, and then tip ontop of that. Luckily it was still all within reason. They took us off and we headed off into the desert. Megan was wearing a skirt, which worked well in the heat, but not so much on a camel. I probably should have told her we would be riding a camel when she was getting ready, but I didn’t. Oh well. Anyways, the camel guys took us about, got a picture of us “shaking hands.”
After taking the pictures we headed back, paid the men and then walked around the third pyramid. After taking a little break for snacks and water, he walked back towards the Sphinx, where we hung out some more, tried to get a picture of Megan kissing the Sphinx, which ultimately turned out kind of funny. Finally, feeling kind of tired and hungry, we decided to go for lunch. However, I didn’t know where to pick up the taxi’s so I asked a soldier, who showed me to his friend who showed me to his friend, who eventually ended up taking us back to Midan Tahrir, downtown Cairo, in just a regular light blue, fiat, that was the definition of a hooptie, and I was thankful just to make it back to downtown.
Downtown we meet up with Courtney and Megan S. at Koshery-tahrir, or K-tah as we call it, so Megan could get a taste of authentic Egyptian food. I also had her try some beloved Apple Fanta, forgetting that she usually doesn’t drink/like soda. Oh well, it just means I got more of it.
After sneaking Megan into the school, and by sneaking just relying on the guards lackadaisical nature not to check our ID’s, we jumped on the internet and printed off the reservation for Sharm. We then got a cab and headed off to Khan. Khan to me was a frustrating sea of hagglers and swindlers, a life-draining tourist trap, that is hardly enjoyable, but nonetheless necessary to buy quintessential Egyptian merchandise. We were looking for a scarf for Megan so she could go to the Mosques and what not. I also picked up one for my Mom. Khan, and Egyptian culture soon wore me out, so we started checking out the Islamic Cairo, meaning the Gates and the Mosques. Since I had taken the class on Islamic Cairo, I was designated the tour guide, and was forced to put my knowledge to the test. I am not sure if they cared at all about the interesting facets of the architecture but I gave it to them and used the guidebook to give them the important dates and architects.
This being my third time checking out these Mosques, I grew tired quickly, luckily so did everyone else, and we soon called it a day and headed off to some quality Italian food at Dido’s. I love cheap food, so Dido’s is always a must stop. The next day we were heading off to
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