Travel: Observing the pilgrims
Egypt

Travel: Observing the pilgrims


Living in Egypt blog (Maryanne Stroud Gabbani)

I look at Maryanne Stroud Gabbani's blogs most days because they offer a great insight into her life in the rural outskirts of Cairo and Giza. Today she describes taking some visitors to the Giza plateau and it is nice to see the view of the tourists from the pyramids rather than the view of the pyramids by the tourists.

I had a nice couple from the UK staying at the farm for a weekend not long ago and they wanted, naturally, to visit the pyramids at Giza. Even more, they wanted to go inside the Great Pyramid, a trip that takes some organising these days. We got up at 6:30 am to be at the pyramids at 7:30 so that we could be first in line for the tickets to the area and the pyramids. In the old days things weren't nearly so organised and it was just a matter of showing up, but now you have to buy a ticket to the plateau and another to go into either the Great Pyramid or the Middle Pyramid at the entrance. There are two entrances, one down by the Sphinx in Nazlit Semman and one up the road from the Mena House. Once you are wandering around the plateau, it is a long dusty hike back to the ticket offices to get entrance tickets to the pyramids. We were first in line, and they got their tickets to see inside the pyramid.

They wanted to wander around for a few hours and I said that I would amuse myself at the pyramid while they did whatever it was they wanted. Sometimes my visitors want my company, but they were very independent, so I settled down to watch and photograph visitors to the pyramid. It didn't take long for the crowds and buses to begin arriving and soon I had more than enough to watch. It was a Friday morning and there were people from every nation on earth, along with Egyptian families and some school trips towing crowds of children around the area.

See the above page for the full story. Her other blog shows a photograph from Giza or Cairo on a daily basis.




- Illegal Road On Antiquities Land Near Abusir
Cairo/Giza Daily Photo (Maryanne Stroud Gabbani) Maryanne follows this story with the better news that he local families met the other night and told the members who built the road that they could not quarry in this area, but it still makes one wonder...

- Urbanization Threatens Pyramids
jacksonville.com (Brian Norman) There have been several features about this subject over the years, but it never hurts to be reminded. The Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza are the most recognized objects in Egypt and attract millions of tourists each...

- The Pyramids Of Giza
New York Post (Jasmin K Williams) Two page piece looking at the pyramids of Giza. Nothing new, but quite informative if you know little about the pyramids. We've been marveling at this ancient wonder for thousands of years. Here's a look at The...

- Travel: A Visit To Cairo
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/travel/egypts-alluring-siren-song-/282284 "A set of three pyramids with the tallest being built by King Cheops and known as the Great Pyramid. When you finally see the Great Pyramid, one is left speechless because...

- Visiting Dashur
http://tinyurl.com/ct8zz A travel article about the benefits of taking the time to visit Dashur: "Nothing can dispel the wonder of the majestic pyramids at Giza, outside of Cairo--but the KFC and Pizza Hut across the street come pretty close. Then there...



Egypt








.