Preparing for the Trip
Traveling internationally can come with challenges and unexpected circumstances. To best prepare, make sure all requirements are obtained. Some other things to consider are the temperature at the time of year visiting, diet and clothing.
The Sahara desert is the main desert in Egypt. The Western desert, which is the northern area near the Nile River is where the Giza Pyramids are located. We visited in October and the temperatures were between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
I picked some cotton clothes to wear because cotton and silk are the coolest clothes to wear in hot temperatures. I also brought a scarf in case it was cool in the evening. A scarf can also be worn as a hijab, which is the head coverings worn by Muslim women. Muslim is the religion of the area.
Traveling to different areas of the world also stretches your pallet. Each country/ area has its own distinct flavor. I like to research the common foods in the area then I pick a couple I would like to try, and I memorize its name so if I come across it on the menu, I know what it is. If I am traveling and don’t find anything I would like to try, I will bring protein bars with me. This way I know I will be getting some nutrients. For more on the diet in Egypt check this link Egyptian Food: 20 Most Popular and Traditional Dishes to Try
Lodging
For this visit, we stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel CityStars Cairo. It was a nice hotel with all the amenities located between the Cairo airport and the Nile River.
The hotel had its own entrance into the mall next door. The City Stars Mall offers all the premium brands as well as souvenir shops. Don’t expect any bargains at the mall if you a bargain hunter. Each country has its own unique trades; I normally research what the country is known for and the must haves. Researching the average prices and if bartering is accepted or not, is also helpful.
Tour Day
Some areas we visit we feel safe to walk around, get a ride share, or even the local transportation. I think the most important thing is being able to speak the language, know your surroundings and be safe. This particular visit we only went on a guided tour, and I would recommend only doing a guided tour if going to the pyramids. Read on to learn more.
While on the bus we traveled through the city. I like to the architecture of the area. Pictured above is an apartment building, but I liked the contour design of the building. Another thing I found interesting was the shops nestled under the overpass of the highway. The picture below is not very clear as we were driving, but it gives an idea of the kind of shops they had there.
History Museum
Our first stop was the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The museum was small, so it did not take very long to go through all the exhibits. Upstairs were artifacts and the history of how the Egyptian civilization has changed through the years.
Downstairs were mummies and their tombs. Many had their burial grounds looted or damaged for another reason. The museum had them relocated to the museum to be protected and preserved. Photography was not allowed in this area. It was fascinating to see how well preserved the mummies were.
Below is a picture of a golden mummy tomb seen in the museum. For a detailed blog for the museum visit see: Egyptian Museum
Giza Pyramids
The Giza Pyramids are probably the number one sightseeing sight visitors visit. It is amazing how many pictures of sand and rocks we took at this stop! Seeing a Wonder of the World, whether from the ancient world or the new list, is always incredible! See the Wonders of the World link for more information. Usually, the questions that come to mind are “how did they do that back then!” The Giza Pyramids are no different.
Each massive stone, carefully built on top of each other making perfectly shaped pyramid. It is not only mindboggling how it was built, but also how each pyramid contains rooms and passageways inside the pyramids.
In case you did not know, the Giza Pyramids are actually tombs of three great pharaohs of Egypt. Briefly, the Giza pyramids are three generation pharaohs tombs, the smaller ones below are their wives’ tombs. After the looting of the pyramids, future pharaohs started building their tombs underground.
A Camel Ride
I wanted to ride a camel on my visit to Egypt, but I did not think I would have the opportunity. However, when we arrived at the pyramids, there were camels available for us to ride.
A camel, according to Brittanica encyclopedia, (genus Camelus), any of three species of large ruminating hoofed mammals of arid Africa and Asia known for their ability to go for long periods without drinking. The Arabian camel, or dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), has one back hump, while the domesticated Bactrian camel (C. bactrianus) and the wild Bactrian camel (C. ferus) have two.
The camel is an extraordinary animal. They can go hours without food and drink which makes them perfect in the hot desert landscape.
For my full camel story visit Camel Ride.
The Great Sphinx
We ended the tour of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. It is amazing how these monuments have lasted 4,500 to 5,000 years! The Great Sphinx is made of limestone and is over 60ft tall!
Dinner
As we gathered for dinner, still on site, we were given black Muslim style robes to wear. Live music was performed with the pyramids in the background. A Tanoura Dance, which is an Egyptian folkloric dance, was performed as well.
The night ended with dinner and a light show. We enjoyed an Egyptian traditional meal while the sunset behind the pyramids. Honestly, I do not remember what we had! Our table thought the appetizers were dinner and we gobbled it all down, then when dinner arrived no one was hungry!
The show was narrated and spoke of ancient stories. The pyramids and the Sphinx light up with different colors as the story unfolded.
