The Pyramids & SphinX

The star attraction of a visit to Cairo is of course the pyramids. The pyramids themselves are not entirely what you would expect if you haven’t much of an idea in the first place. What is most surprising is that the area immediately surrounding them is rather built up, quite unlike the desert vistas you were expecting. Despite the somewhat unwelcome modern additions however, there’s no denying that these structures still make an affecting impression. You expect them to be big, but their sheer size still manages to astound. It is possible to climb onto the massive blocks that make up the pyramid without getting arrested and I seriously recommend that you do so… if you’ve ever been to the Empire state building and felt dwarfed by architecture, this will have a very similar effect, but in a far more tangible way.

There is so much going on around the pyramids that it can be a little overwhelming. Listen to your guide. They will advise you on ticket fees if you wish to enter a pyramid and tell you what to expect. Depending on the pyramid, there are different sized passageways, but all are generally quite steep and aren’t suitable for the less mobile. Because the pyramids are so impressive on the outside, it’s hard not to be disappointed by the inside. Most are devoid of any significant artifacts and to be honest, you’re better off visiting one of the smaller pyramids. These are cheaper and more importantly, far less crowded, giving you room to explore at your leisure.

Our guide did push us to take a camel ride in order to see all the pyramids in view together, a view that from a camel is out across the desert allowing for some stunning photograph opportunities. We were adamant in our Egyptian travels that we would never partake of a camel ride. Many camels appear to be quite badly treated and even if they appear to be well treated, it’s quite difficult to be absolutely sure.

The problem is that if you want to see what is without a doubt, the best view of the pyramids, away from the din of traffic, you have to do so by camel. Be warned though… this can be expensive although if you’re prepared to haggle, you can whittle the price down somewhat. After a lot of bartering and walking a way (yes this really does work!), we struck a deal and I will admit it was a highlight of my holiday. My husband seemed to have trouble with a rather wayward camel (men, eh?) but still managed to take some pictures that weren’t a complete blur and the views from our vantage point were breathtaking. One of the most enjoyable parts was the fast gallop back, although my husband seemed to enjoy it less than I did!

A small walk from the pyramids, you will find another great sight… the Sphinx. The view of the Sphinx if currently restricted however, a result of the millions of visitors before us. A lot of damage has been caused over the years, and the Sphinx is essentially falling apart, creating a hazard of falling debris. The Egyptian Government has started work on patching it up and has in the meantime secured the surrounding area. As you can see though from our photograph, it is still an incredible sight to behold. They don’t make statues like they used to.

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