Hello, on our first full day in Cairo! As a note, I'm posting this separately from the photos, as there are a LOT of photos to day! (Surprise!). I'm posting the words now, and will follow with the pictures as soon as Robert wakes up from his nap. I think I wore him out today, but as he has very quick recuperative skills, I'm hoping it won't be too long until he can get the photos loaded up and I will send with a separate post!
First off, I have to say, I am really and truly jazzed about being here! Not sure if it’s the fact that this trip has been in the works for over a year, and I have now read numerous books – everything from Champollion and the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone, to the “Red Sea Scrolls”, about finding papyri from the manager of a 40-man work crew taking stones from the Sinai, across the Red Sea and then finally up the Nile to Giza for the pyramids, and numerous books in between (if anyone would like any recommendations, I can provide lots!) – and we’ve “toured” Egypt with the “Great Courses” instructor. I am totally into this adventure! I am enjoying it all, including the Uber rides that are getting us around. So … to start with today.
I had set the alarm to get us up at 8 am – figured that would give us a bit more than 8 hours of good sleep, and that we needed to get out and moving. The bathtub is absolutely WONDERFUL, and we were up to the Executive Lounge on the 22nd floor about 9 am. Excellent buffet available, including (my personal favorite) cold cuts and cheese, lots of different fresh fruits, breads, cereals, etc. Also, more strawberry juice, which is fabulous here! They also do freshly made eggs of different varieties, but we were fine with the buffet as it was.
Down to the hotels ATM downstairs for an infusion of cash. It turns out, that many bank ATM’s only give out a maximum of 4,000. Egyptian dollars per transaction. Apparently that’s the norm, although from my reading, we understand that Bank of Cairo will give larger amounts. That translates to something around $143.00 per transaction. Oh well! Just need to make more stops, I guess! Then, called an Uber to pick us up to take us out the Pyramids.
Oh! A note on Uber. We have T-Mobile service, which has really served us well while we’ve traveled around the world. However, some weeks ago, I did find one review as I was perusing the web, saying that some U.S. lady was not able to get ANY T-Mobile service while she was here! Only found the one review, but that was a concern. Then, when we got to the airport last night, I had planned on taking Uber to the hotel. However, the app was really funny, and only gave me options for some sort of shuttle services – what was that about??? This morning, however, when R told me to check, all was well, and we’ve had it working well ever since! As a matter of fact, the cell phone reception has been really great everywhere we’ve gone! Do hope it continues!
So, Uber out to the Giza plateau, as one can’t come to Egypt without seeing the Pyramids!! And after about half-an-hour’s drive, Wow! There they were! Right there! Incredible! Oh! Note on driving! I can only say that I am SO glad that I never really considered driving here – as most everyone knows that I LOVE to drive, and almost always choose to do that over any other option. What I’d forgotten about, though, is first of all, all the signage is basically in Arabic. And neither of us read or write it!! (I will say, though, that, just like last time, we’ve had to re-learn all the numbers, even if only to read the Uber driver’s license plates!) Then, while we haven’t seen any camels on the highways yet, we have seen horses and carriages – along with Tuk-Tuk’s, buses, taxis, private vehicles – and then there are pedestrians! So … so far, we have seen precisely ONE stop light! They just don’t use them here. They also don’t have any rules regarding roundabouts – oh, and no stop signs either. Everyone drives basically using their horns and charges into traffic like they’re the only vehicle on the roads. And pedestrians are everywhere, trying to cross the streets, but as there are no lights or stop signs, it gets very chaotic. I well remember how my Mom hated taxi drivers in Rome. Let me only say that she would have bailed out of the Uber’s today! Even I flinched, according to R, but then so far it’s only been once. I should keep count!
We were dropped off at the Sphinx entrance to the plateau, and decided on taking a carriage (horse-drawn) rather than a camel(s) to see the plateau. We were driven around the three Pyramids – stopping periodically for photos, and then dropped off back at the Sphinx. Really made it easier than walking, that’s for sure. The last time we were here we toured the interior of Cheops (Khufu)’s pyramid; definitely didn’t need to do thatagain.
After a good look around, we headed back outside and called for our Uber to take us to the Egyptian Museum. That got us there around 1 pm. Not any line for tickets to the Museum, and really not much of a line to get through security and through the door. R decided we should start at the top of the museum and work down, although there are only two floors. So … we spent about 2½ hours at the museum, and covered most of the top floor. There is a new special exhibit about King Tut, put on because 2022 was the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter.
The Egyptian Museum was initially opened in 1902, and honestly, hasn’t had much maintenance or attention since then! The cases are truly ancient – reminded us so much of the Egyptian Museum in Turin, before it was completely overhauled about 10 years ago. Huge wooden frames with plate glass fronts and sides, housing dusty artifacts, most of which aren’t labeled at all, let alone in English. Turns out, a brand-new museum, known as the G.E.M. (Grand Egypt Museum) is actually finished, but hasn’t been opened yet. It is being touted as “the largest museum in the world.” (It was scheduled to open in November 2022 … no date as of now, but gives us an excuse to come back!). The result of this new museum, though, is that many of the cases in the Egyptian Museum have been culled of their finest exhibits. In fact, the entire King Tut collection will be there. The new Museum of Egyptian Civilization is open, and contains all the mummies now. (We’ve got that one scheduled on Sunday, I think!) So, while there is still plenty to see, it’s rather an interesting time for the old Egyptian Museum.
About 3:30 pm we were feeling a bit tired, and decided to have a sit down, especially as we haven’t had any water at all since about 10 am! That is an incredibly long time for me – the one who perennially carries a water bottle around with her, but I’ve discovered that the less water you absorb, the less often you have to use the toilets – which, of course, come with a baksheesh request if you would like something simple like toilet paper! So … nice café in the inner courtyard, where we purchased water as well as a Coke … some sugar, if you please! Nice to rest for a bit, that’s for sure! Then, out the gate and out to the street, and Uber’d up a nice driver to take us back to the hotel. (As a thought struck me, I just checked, and find that the glitzy shopping malls here in town seem to be open all day Friday, which was of momentary concern, as Friday is their holy day!). Also, while I know that Muslims have call to prayer five times a day, we’ve just heard the mosque announcements once! A credit to the double-glazing of balcony glass, obviously!
So .. back to the hotel, and it’s about 4:45 pm. Heading up to the Executive Lounge shortly for beverages (hopefully some wine, but not counting on it!) and hors d’oeuvres. Still trying to decide where to go for dinner!
So, more later!
m
xxx
Just back from dinner! We had lovely glasses of white wine and appetizers in the Executive Lounge. My favorite were the chicken tenders with honey/mustards sauce. Great! Never thought I was a tenders fan, but boneless with a sauce? Amazing! We then went downstairs in the hotel to Kamala, the hotel’s Asian restaurant. Fabulous dinner!! I started with a Gado Gado salad. That is par-boiled cabbage and sprouts with a peanut dressing and hard boiled eggs. It was excellent! For mains, R had their grilled shrimp platter, and I had an Indonesian beef dish – both were amazing, although I preferred the beef … which came with a tongue-numbing sauce!
For dessert, I ordered their chocolate lava cake and ice cream – wonderful, and R had their fried banana with ice cream. Not sure I would like bananas teriyaki but he very much enjoyed! All washed down with two glasses of Semillion, which were really good. All this for a total of approximately $66. US. … only thing I can say is: WOW! But, for the really sensational news!!!
R SAYS WE CAN GO BACK TO TURKEY AGAIN!!!! Never, Ever, Ever thought I’d get that “OK”! I don’t plan on a Turkey IV exactly. The agreement is we would enter and leave Turkey through Izmir (probably through London), then skirt along the bottom stopping to see Adana’s FINALLY renovated archaeological museum, Sanliurfa’s brand-new archaeological museum, and, of course, Gobeckli Tepe! Wow!! Can’t tell you how wonderful that news is!!!!! Not sure when it will happen – probably 2024, possibly May or June, and we will incorporate other things into the trip – possibly some of Northern Spain, or possibly Bulgaria and/or Romania for a spell. I am just SO jazzed about possibly seeing Gobeckli Tepe again!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!!
Much love to you all!
m
xxx
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