Crossing Sinai from Israel
to Cairo.
Desert leading in to Cairo near the Suez Canal
split between Asia and Africa.
The air was foul and our guide bragged that Cairo is the 2nd most polluted
city in the world. I argued that
he would have to fight with Beijing and Mexico City.
The buildings all had these foundation spikes sticking out the top. We were told different stories by 3
different guides as to what these are all about. The first guy said that they are
leaving open the possibility of building higher. The second guy said that there was a
city rule that limited the heights of all the buildings so buildings over
that limit had to remove their excess levels. The third guy said that when you
finish construction on your building you have to pay a lot of
taxes—leaving those spikes showing was a way of saying that your
building is not yet finished. We
believe the third guy’s story.
First we went to the Egyptian
Museum, which had 5,000
years of history rolled up into a crowded and poorly-labeled building.
Unable to get to they nearby pyramids on the first day, we were instead
forced to sit through hard sells on perfumes and papyrus art. The woman here shows us how you take
the papyrus plant and make paper.
A beautiful, beautiful picture according to the waiter who later hit on Carmel’s mom.
A table with a decent view.
Here is the waiter that hit on Carmel’s
mom. She left him a good tip.
Finally we get out to the pyramids.
We stand at the spot where Sadat used to smoke pot and stare at the
pyramids.
Sun peeking from behind.
One of many pyramid shots.
Pyramid and Carmel.
Pyramid and camel.
Hieroglyphics.
Heh.
This is what’s left of the shell that made the pyramids smooth.
The pyramids are not so smooth now.
Another sun-from-behind shot.
Okay I actually like this shot.
Makes me feel all artistic and stuff.
Don’t forget the Sphinx, protector of the pyramids. The Sphinx is considered a failure
since all the pyramids got looted.
Carmel poses as
the Sphinx and I pose as the pyramid.
Cute. Kind of.
Oh yeahh, now we’re feelin’ it.
This passing tourist clearly knows what the interesting thing to look at is.
I took a photo of the Sphinx’s huge booty for Cordy.
We actually did a bunch more around Cairo,
like the Citadel.
Friendly, colorful kids outside the Citadel.
Inside the Citadel mosque.
Citadel mosque ceiling.
The story goes that the Pharaoh invited all the leaders of the enemy tribes
to a peaceful dinner. After
dinner was over, the Pharaoh had his army execute all the leaders. Only 2 men survived. One who fell ill the day before and
couldn’t attend. The other
who grabbed a horse in the chaos and jumped from the Citadel wall as shown in
the photo above.
We visited the Church where Jesus and Mary lived for 8 months. That was really cool.
Interior of the Church.
We also visited a Jewish temple, much to Carmel’s mom’s delight.
Another mosque.
Beautiful mosque lights.
Carmel’s mom was forced to cover up with
this sheet (though Carmel
was fine as she was).
One of the many call to prayer towers that rang out consistently throughout
the day.
Bizarre bazaar shopping.
Memorial to Sadat.
A random castle island outside of Cairo.
The sun shines brightly on a richly historic nation.
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