Egypt picspam: part 1

[bennet_7]

So here's the first part of my Egyptian holiday picspam. I had hoped to have this up sooner but life has been a little difficult since I got back.

Part 1 is all about Pyramids.


You get off the plane in Cairo expecting to see the Pyramids of Giza lying romantically in the distance but in that you are very much disappointed. So when you finally catch a glimpse of them you start frantically taking pictures no matter how bad the shot is.



I must confess to some ridiculously girly squeals of delight on first seeing the Pyramids.

I went to Giza twice, something I very much recommend.



The Great Pyramid of Khufu. They only let 300 people in per day because it's so cramped that air gets stuffy quickly. So I didn't get to go inside this one but I did go inside the second pyramid, that of Khafre. You have to bend right over inside this tiny passage way and it gets hot quick, so if the Great Pyramid was worse, I'm glad I didn't go in.



Queen's pyramids to the side of the Great Pyramid.







Third pyramid, that of Menkaure.









Temple complex near the Great Pyramid.











That's the Sphinx and that's a pile of rubbish out the front. Egypt has no rubbish collection system so trash is just dumped everywhere.



The most shocking thing about the Pyramids is the way they are encircled by the city. This fast food place is directly opposite the Sphinx. Best view in the world.



View from Great Pyramid.



View from second pyramid. Romantic huh?



The tourist guards walk around with guns. It is very freaky.

Sakkara



The Step Pyramid at Sakkara.



Early pyramids were not very impressive and are often confused will hills and piles of sand.



I was pretty shocked to discover that this was a pyramid. We went inside and it was much more impressive.

So that's for part 1. Part 2 will be up soon.

Comments

[afrocurl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing!

The pictures look great, and I'm shocked about some of the pyramids being more like piles of sand.

[bennet-7.livejournal.com]

There are at least 94 pyramids in Egypt and after we discovered what kind of conditions to expect, every hill in the distance was declared a pyramid by my group ;-)

[vintagejoy.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, the pyramids are AMAZING. And the Sphinx! Your photos are incredible. This makes me determined to get out there and include Egypt in part of my world-trip in the hopefully not too distant future. Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to see more photos!

[bennet-7.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Egypt is so amazing and confusing and odd - you have to go. I can't say I developed a great deal of affection for the country independent of its ancient treasures but it sure made me appreciate my life in Australia and for that I'll always be grateful.