Bob and Theresa: Egypt - Day 2 - 21 March 2019

Egypt and the Eternal Nile

Day 2 - 21 March 2019

Giza Plateau

Up early again (to beat the traffic, crowds, and the heat).

Giza is the city on the west side of the Nile, directly across from Cairo. We can actually see the Pyramids from the rooftop of our hotel.

On the road. We see mosques a lot, each with it's minaret, where the call to prayer is made many times a day. They used to have a man climb to the top to cant the call, but now they use loudspeakers.

As we neared the Pyramids, we passed the construction site of the new Cairo Museum. The pyramid theme is evident!

Theresa Tourist and friend at the Pyramids!

The closest (and largest) is the tomb of Khufu (Cheops)

Each pyramid got a little smaller.

As we came to expect, Hassan gave us a brief description of the site and pyramids in general.

This view shows the erosion and missing stones on the large pyramid (Khufu)

The second is the tomb of Khafre.
It retains some of the finish stone layer at the top.

The entrance of the Khufu pyramid is elevated quite a bit.
Hassan said there was so much to see, he chose to not go inside these tombs but to wait until we would be at Saqqara where the tomb decorations are far superior.

They have restored some of the limestone topping blocks at the base so you can get a feel for what the entire pyramid looked like "back in the day"

The Four Musketeers!

Hassan walked us to the side of the Khufu pyramid to this pit.
He said the pit had contained a complete boat used either to have transported the body to the pyramid or for use in the next life or both.

He then walked us around to the back side to point out the Solar Boat Museum

The museum has the pit in which this magnificent boat was found.
The large stones were placed back over the pit to show them.
There were enough to form a complete top with them placed vertically as shown.

The display included a large supply of ropes.
I'm guessing they have lost most of their original strength.

This scale model gives a great representation of what the boat looked like when new

As you ascend the stairway, you're not prepared for the immense boat that awaits!

The "cabin" would be occupied by royalty or the royal body

This boat is 143 feet long with a beam of nearly 20 feet!

The ship was built largely of Lebanon cedar with the planks and frames lashed together with Halfah grass. It was reconstructed from 1,224 pieces which had been laid in a logical order in the pit.

Next stop, Camel Land!

It is NOT TRUE that the camel groaned when I got on!

Theresa took a turn too!

Hi Ho Silver! Away!

Hang on tight!

We went in groups of four. Two of our group didn't get the word about raising our hands.

Vallee Donovan from Georgia Tech Alumni office was our official tour hostess. We could not have asked for someone nicer!

"I see what you mean about watching where I step!"

The camels lie down ("Kneel) for boarding. Then they stand with the passenger/load aboard. They are very strong and VERY TALL.

Hassan explained that this is the place where most pyramid photos are taken. It shows all of the pyramids, doesn't make the little one seem really tiny, and makes it looks like it is far out in the desert!

We next drove a short distance to the Sphinx. This photo shows the relative size of the sphinx and the pyramids.

This photo is taken from the place where you can get closest to the sphinx

Facing directly from West to East, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx is generally believed to represent the Pharaoh Khafre.

Selfie Time!

This really cool view is from . . .

. . . our lunch restaurant!

The glare makes it hard to see, but the large window gives a great view of the sphinx and pyramids!

The lunch was excellent (the sausage looking things are actually lamb kebobs. Note the rice pilaf shaped like a pyramid.

While we dined, two Muslim funeral processions went walking by

Our next stop was Old Cairo, built by the Romans as an outpost.

The "Hanging Church" is so named sine the nave "Hangs over" the gate of the fortress

The entry leads into a beautiful courtyard

A central theme is the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt

The early Christians nicknamed it the "Church of Stairs" for the long staircase leading up to the nave

Another icon for the Flight to Egypt

Mass was being celebrated so we could not enter.
The church is dedicated to the Holy Mother and is the Coptic Bishop's Seat.

I called my Son out of Egypt

We walked a short distance to this gate - one of the few to survive Napoleonic occupation . . .

Which led to this "street" . . .

. . . and a glimpse back a couple of millennia

This sign gives an idea of the variety of churches in this area

This beautiful relief is carved in a wooden panel

Ss Sergius & Bacchus Church was built on the spot where the Holy Family rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. It is thought they lived here while Joseph possibly worked as a carpenter at the fortress.

The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, soldier-saints martyred during the 4th century in Syria by the Roman Emperor Maximian.

This sign states that in 1967, during Holy Week, this column seeped blood which stopped when the Coptic Pope laid his hands on it

Another depiction of the Flight to Egypt

The crypt where Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are said to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and, when Nile levels were high, was often flooded.