Leaving UAE I have left the modern day castles in the sand and arrived at the ultimate castles in the sand, the 4500 year old Pyramids! Where else can you spend the day hanging out with the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza? How awesome is it to be here in Egypt!
Even more amazing is the fact that I managed to find a mid-range budget hotel room with a full view of the pyramids. The Sphinx also was looking straight at me from only about 200 meters away. Awesome!
The Giza Pyramid Complex
HISTORY
The Giza pyramid complex is an archaeological site on the so called Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo. It includes the three Great Pyramids (Khufu/Cheops, Khafre/Chephren and Menkaure/Mykerinos) as well as the Great Sphinx.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (the Pyramid of Khufu/Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.
The Pyramids
Up early, I was the first to enter the gate. I walked around the pyramids for more than two hours, taking lots of photos from all sides and angles. It was a chilly morning but I didn’t mind. While walking I have been approached by a few guys trying to sell me a camel ride, but other than that, everybody is quite friendly and polite here.
The Pyramids are just amazing and it is unbelievable to be so close! So without further ado (what else can I say about them) I will let the photos do the talking.
And a few more …
The Egyptian Museum Cairo
After my great morning hanging out around the pyramids the sandstorm arrived in Cairo and Giza. It came slowly and by the time I arrived at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo the air was filled with sand. The Museum itself is quite old and currently in the process of being moved to a bigger and newer museum in Giza. Nevertheless this Museum is really worth the visit.
Near the entry there seems to be lots of local guys once again trying to sell you a tour but I like to visit places in my own space. There is so much to see and explore!
Besides the museum I had not much interest in exploring Cairo further. Not on this trip anyway. It was mainly due to the 12 Million population inside the city in a very high density. Which also made for chaotic traffic to get in and out. In addition there was the sandstorm and quite cold, so it wasn’t a day to be outside anyway. Maybe next time.
Luckily the sandstorm settled later in the afternoon so I had my final evening with the Pyramids from my room (me and the heater) before heading south to Luxor, the so called ‘world’s greatest open-air museum’.
My time in Giza was absolutely magical!