Pyramids Jan 19, 2008

Today we went to see the Great pyramids in Giza, the Sphinx as well. Walking around the base of the Pyramids was quite an experience. The place is overrun with camels and their drivers as well as horses and their keepers. They are very poor people who want to give you rides on the horses and camels. The Pyramids are just across the Nile from Cairo. On the other side of the river is a big golf course. The whole area is not restricted and we were allowed to walk anywhere except climb the pyramids, but were allowed that in specific areas. There are doorways where visitors allowed inside they structures. I’m quite claustrophobic so I stayed outside. The entrance ways are quite low and narrow. Maybe another time I will be braver. The whole area around the Pyramids has many camels and their drivers, the police even have camel cruisers! There are also many men with Arabian horses offering rides. The ride out to the P was also very interesting, so many vendors and donkey carts driven by child workers, some very young. Next door was a cemetery, not sure it was one where many people live, but most likely so. There are about 1 ½ million people who live in the cemetery/crypts. The P are in dry dessert, no plants just fine dust and sand. I was looking at the ‘gravel’ in the sand and there a pieces which look a lot like amber, the kids at school say it is amber. Went to ‘my’ apartment for another look, and it just may be the one if we can get some items fixed. It has 2 large bedrooms, one huge master bedroom and 2 two bathrooms, The dining and living room area is large. It is on the second floor of a quiet street close to the market, the other teachers and many stores.