| Back to Cairo --- 14 to 17 March 2006 |
We took a two-hour morning flight from
Aswan to Cairo and then took almost as
long to get by minibus from the Cairo
airport to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel
near the Giza pyramids. This hotel is set
in an attractive garden with excellent
views of the famous pyramids.
Aswan to Cairo and then took almost as
long to get by minibus from the Cairo
airport to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel
near the Giza pyramids. This hotel is set
in an attractive garden with excellent
views of the famous pyramids.
At Mena House Oberoi Hotel were first
assigned a nice balconied room with a view
of the pyramids but also adjacent to a
main road with heavy loud traffic which
made sleep almost impossible even with
the window closed; sitting on the balcony
was out of the question. We were able to
change to a more quiet room after the
first night.
assigned a nice balconied room with a view
of the pyramids but also adjacent to a
main road with heavy loud traffic which
made sleep almost impossible even with
the window closed; sitting on the balcony
was out of the question. We were able to
change to a more quiet room after the
first night.
The Great Pyramid of Cheops viewed from
our dining room at the Mena House Oberoi
Hotel, Giza, Cairo, Egypt
our dining room at the Mena House Oberoi
Hotel, Giza, Cairo, Egypt
On our first evening back in Cairo our group was taken for dinner to the apartment of a well-to-do
Egyptian family. The husband and wife were both interior decorators and architects whose home was
very modern and beautifully furnished. They host small tour groups such as ours on a regular basis,
perhaps weekly. The couple and their two teen-age sons spoke English very well and were genial hosts.
The buffet-style dinner was very good but may have been catered. Although this Egyptian "home
visit" was somewhat artificial and atypical we enjoyed the evening and were glad to see the truly
beautiful apartment.
Egyptian family. The husband and wife were both interior decorators and architects whose home was
very modern and beautifully furnished. They host small tour groups such as ours on a regular basis,
perhaps weekly. The couple and their two teen-age sons spoke English very well and were genial hosts.
The buffet-style dinner was very good but may have been catered. Although this Egyptian "home
visit" was somewhat artificial and atypical we enjoyed the evening and were glad to see the truly
beautiful apartment.
The following morning we visited the famous Giza pyramids and Sphinx, built about 4,500 years ago.
These enormous monuments are truly impressive.
These enormous monuments are truly impressive.
Sphinx being restored
Giza pyramids viewed from garden of the Mena House Hotel
Then we drove about 25km (15 miles) for a close-up view of some smaller pyramids and temples in
Saqqara, built about 5,000 years ago.
Saqqara, built about 5,000 years ago.
Temple interior, Saqqara, Egypt
Temple entrance, Saqqara, Egypt
Archaeological excavation site, Saqqara
The "step pyramid" of King Zoser, Saqqara
The following day we visited The Citadel, a plateau in Cairo with the remnants of a medieval fortress
and the very large and beautiful Mosque of Mohammed Ali, probably the most visited mosque in
Cairo. There we saw many Egyptian families and school groups visiting the famous mosque; through our
guide/escort we were able to have several brief conversation.
and the very large and beautiful Mosque of Mohammed Ali, probably the most visited mosque in
Cairo. There we saw many Egyptian families and school groups visiting the famous mosque; through our
guide/escort we were able to have several brief conversation.
Mosque of Mohammed
Ali. This famous large
mosque differs from
most others in that it
does not have the usual
courtyard
Ali. This famous large
mosque differs from
most others in that it
does not have the usual
courtyard
Woman at prayer, Mosque of
Mohammed Ali, Cairo, Egypt
Mohammed Ali, Cairo, Egypt
Young visitors to the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, Cairo, Egypt
Four friends visiting the Mosque of
Mohammed Ali. The young woman on our
extreme right wears a garb similar to that
worn in public by most Egyptian women.
Next to her is a woman in a black outfit
totally concealing her except for her eyes;
that type of garb is worn by some (usually
older & married) Egyptian women; she said
she was wearing it mainly because she was
visiting an important religious shrine. To
the left of her is a woman in jeans, denim
jacket and cap, a modern outfit worn
publicly by few Egyptian women; she said
that if she were married she might be
wearing something similar to the woman
next to her. The young man on the extreme
left is likely to be a close relative of the
woman next to him. Good friends who for
this outing decided on diverse apparel!
Mohammed Ali. The young woman on our
extreme right wears a garb similar to that
worn in public by most Egyptian women.
Next to her is a woman in a black outfit
totally concealing her except for her eyes;
that type of garb is worn by some (usually
older & married) Egyptian women; she said
she was wearing it mainly because she was
visiting an important religious shrine. To
the left of her is a woman in jeans, denim
jacket and cap, a modern outfit worn
publicly by few Egyptian women; she said
that if she were married she might be
wearing something similar to the woman
next to her. The young man on the extreme
left is likely to be a close relative of the
woman next to him. Good friends who for
this outing decided on diverse apparel!
The following morning, 17 March, we transferred to the Cairo airport and took EgyptAir flight 985
back to New York. The end of our 2006 tour of Jordan and Egypt.
back to New York. The end of our 2006 tour of Jordan and Egypt.