Cairo Day 2: The Great Pyramids

We set out early to see the pyramids and the sphinx, but by the time we got there, it was already hot and smoggy, and there were huge crowds. School groups from all over Egypt come to the pyramids for their field trips. (How awesome would it be to get to go to the pyramids for a school field trip!) But, even though there were what seemed like hundreds of busloads of people there, the area is so huge and expansive that it didn't seem crowded at all--at least not when we were there.

The pyramids and the sphinx were awesome.  It's almost surreal to see them in person. You probably think that since you have seen millions of pictures, you don't need to go see them in person.  Not true. What you need to do is go buy yourself a plane ticket to Cairo and see them for yourself!

The desert area surrounding the pyramids is huge.  But, you can get up close and even climb on and go inside the pyramids. There are several parking lot spots, and some of them are quite close to the pyramids, so not much walking is required to get up close. Or, you can hike up from some of the more remote parking areas--if you really want to walk across the hot, dry, smoggy desert. (You can see the thick smog in the picture.)

Or you can take a camel ride. There were lots of camels lined up waiting to give tourists a lift closer to the pyramids.







After we visited the pyramids and the sphinx, we went to a couple of shops. (I'll have more to say about shopping in Cairo in the post for Day 3.) The shops had a great view of the pyramids.

Then, we visited Muhammad Ali Mosque in the Cairo Citadel. (No, it is not named after the boxer.) Unlike at the mosque we visited the day before, Maggie and I did not have to cover ourselves to enter this one.  It was filled with tourists--from inside and outside of Egypt. Many, many school groups were there.




Maggie was approached numerous times by groups of teenagers asking if they could have their picture with her.  One girl introduced herself in extraordinarily good English and inquired about Maggie's name and nationality and then very politely asked for a photo with Maggie.  We said "sure, where is your camera?" and she replied "no, with her camera!" Apparently, it was exciting just to be in a picture with Maggie, even if she would never even see the picture.  Here is the photo of Maggie with the two Egyptian girls. Some kids just came up and snapped pictures of us with their phones or cameras without even bothering to ask if it was OK or if they could be in the picture with us.

Here are a few more pictures of the Muhammad Ali Mosque.

Stay tuned for Day 3, on which we visited Khan el-Khalili Market.