The Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis & Saqqara

It was a wonderful, jam-packed day!

We left the Sheraton Dreamland Hotel at 8:30 this morning and headed to the Great Pyramids. We stopped at the largest first, and had time to walk around and on it. Some of us paid to go inside the pyramid as well.

From there, we went further away to get a panoramic view of all three pyramids. Then, we each got on a camel and rode them up to the smallest pyramid and back (about a 25-30 minute ride).

Camel Riding at the Pyramids

Camel Riding at the Pyramids

After, we went to see the Sphinx and then the Memphis outdoor/indoor Museum.

Memphis - Statute of Ramses II

Sphinx at Memphis

Colossus of Ramses II in Memphis

Hieroglyphs in Memphis

We had a wonderful lunch near Saqqara, before heading over to the Saqqara Funerary Complex to see the Step Pyramid of Zoser. We also went into one of the tombs/burial chambers in the complex - it was very narrow - but very cool!

The Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqara

To "kill" time before catching the 8 PM train to Aswan, we first went to a carpet making business to see how hand made carpets are made. It was amazing to see how much work goes into just one carpet. More intricate rugs take 20 days per square foot to make!

After that, we went to a local jewelry store and many of us bought cartouches with our names on them.

 The "Buffalo" moment we all knew would happen, happened at the store. The Group Coordinator, Salah Khattab, of the travel agency helping us/Explorica here (Khattab Travel Agency) was talking to a few of us. Turns out, he has been to Niagara Falls and Buffalo several times. His nephew lives in Penfield, New York and his nephew's wife is from Lockport. Salah is also friends with Dr. Andrew Cappuccino (who saved the Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett from becoming a para/quadriplegic). Salah was extremely kind to us and made sure our trip is going well.

Afterwards, we headed to Giza Station to catch the overnight train. The cabins are small – definitely not as nice as a European train – but they are exactly what we expected from looking at the website. Time for us to go to sleep!