By Geraldine McClintock
Cairo is the capital city of Egypt but it is most famous for being the home of one of the wonders of the ancient world, The Pyramids at Giza. With the Sphinx who sits watching and guarding the last resting place of some of the greatest Pharaoh’s of the ancient world. Egypt has all the things you want on a vacation sun, sea and sand with plenty of things to see, do and to experience this culture first hand and it is definitely one vacation spot you will not soon forget. If you’re looking for some quiet Exile in Egypt then a Nile Cruise may be just the thing for you. A floating hotel which takes you down the Nile stopping at different ports for you to explore ancient temples and ruins but you don’t have to get off at every port so there is plenty of time to get some rest, relaxation and sun bathing. The cabins are spacious and deliver excellent views of the real beauty of Egypt as you sail from one destination to the next, and your whole vacation doesn’t need to be spent entirely on the cruise you can book just a few days to get your head together and then go ashore feeling rejuvenated to your main hotel for the rest of your stay. There are plenty of places to Explore on your visit to Cairo from museums to pyramids, temple ruins, bazaars and mosques. The Pyramids at Giza consist of three pyramids one of those pyramids is known as ‘The Great Pyramid’ which was built by the pharaoh known as Khufu in the fourth dynasty approximately around 2560 BC when it was built it was about 481ft high but through time it has lost some of that height. The Great Pyramid is the tallest structure on the earth and has been for 43 centuries. As you look up to this great structure which can make you dizzy, you try to imagine the builders of the pyramids and wonder how they felt as they were finishing the very top of the pyramids did they look down and feel dizzy or sick, I think I would have. The pyramids are only about 10km from downtown Cairo; it’s a strange looking city where old and new seems intertwined in perfect sync. As famous as the pyramids is ‘The Sphinx’ the statue is that of the body of a lion and the face of a man it is 70m long and 20m high, the lion in most cultures represents power and might while the head shows the headdress of royalty. The human face of the Sphinx watches the rising sun as it guards the last resting place of some of Egypt’s pharaohs. One of the best story telling attractions is The Sound and Light Show which is held at Giza, the pyramids and the sphinx are used to create an atmosphere of a time travelling journey through the ages and lives of the ancient pharaoh’s of Egypt who are buried in the three pyramids. About 24km south of Cairo is Memphis which is one of the oldest cities in the world it was founded around 3,100 BC. In the old kingdom it was once the capital city of ancient Egypt.
Although not much of the ancient city remains there is a museum there which houses many statues of interest, Sakkara was the cemetery for Memphis and is well know for The Step Pyramid of King Zoser that is dated around 2700BC this makes it one of the oldest stone structures. Sakkara is the main site for many tombs from the first and second dynasty. Where as ‘The Pyramids at Giza’ where built with limestone the pyramids and tombs in Sakkara were mostly made out of mud and breaksand.
Another tourist attraction well worth Exploring and shows the true Expressionism of the city and the ancient world is The Egyptian Museum in Cairo among the statues, coffins, canopic jars, ancient furniture, sculptures, architectural decorations, writing utensils and ceremonial equipment there is an amazing collection of items that where found in the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun which include jewellery, shields, sandals, statues, vases, tomb equipment, sculpture, ancient games, furniture and the burial mask of the boy king, this piece is absolutely amazing it is life sized and decorated in gold and precious stones.
There are many chances to taste the delightful cuisines of Egypt from street vendors but the hygiene of the street vendors is not always the best and there is more chance of getting sick. Even if you want to stay with familiar western food or try out the cuisene of Egypt it is always best to take your meals in the hotel this is the best way to avoid food poisoning. It is also advisable to only drink bottled water it’s pretty cheap and will save you from trotting to the bathroom to often.
You will have lots of chances to Exercise on a trip to Cairo between exploring ancient ruins and temples, trotting round museums and if that isn’t enough Exercise for you then you may want to try the most famous bazaar in Cairo ‘The Kal el Kahilili Bazaar’ this is one of the oldest markets in Cairo and it’s a great place to pick up a bargain or two for friends or family at home. But remember you need to haggle with the street vendors; they specifically look out for westerns and although it can be fun its best to go with an idea of what you want and how much you will spend. There are many bazaars throughout Cairo my best advice is if you see something you want to purchase barter for half of what they say is the actual price and stick to it this way you wont be done.
Egypt is truly a memorable trip for everyone who journeys to the land of the pharaohs but Cairo is best enjoyed with friends; their culture is very different to that of western culture. So on this Ex Experience get one of your friends to join you on this trip of a lifetime doing this will give you peace of mind and when you get back home all you will want to do is Exhale as you relax and move on to positive new things.
Comments