Ali. We have an advantage today because it is a religious day of rest. People sleep late, so traffic is light. Today is hotter, in the 90's. Very interesting tour of the mosque and discussion of religious customs/culture of Muslims. Our guide is happy to answer any questions and explains his faith in an accessible way.
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| View of part of Cairo from terrace by mosque |
Next stop is Khan Khalili, the ancient and huge market in the old city. Unfortunately, we cannot explore as we have strict instructions to meet the group at a precise time. One can see that it is a maze of streets, like all old souks. The repetition of the same goods, over and over, decreases the temptation to wander. Our lunch is at the Cairo tower, overlooking gardens and the city, close to the Nile and all the big expensive hotels. Tourist food, but not bad, just not middle eastern. I am assured by our guide that when we get to Luxor and our ship, ME is the only food we get. I'm hoping for Harissa or something similar too.  |
| Belly dance costumes |
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| Frankencense & myrrh? |
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| Khan Kalili Market Next, Egyptian museum, where they have the Antiquities Police, with machine guns. The best thing this museum could do is provide audio tours in many languages, forbid loud tour guides, and provide a brochure and map. I'm not sure what the entrance fee was, but our tour paid 100 LE extra for us to see the mummy room. The antiquities of the pharaonic eras are extraordinary, especially the collection from Tutankhamen's tomb, the only intact royal tomb found. It's mind boggling to think of all the Nobel tombs that were robbed and the incredible wealth that was once contained in those tombs. The mummies were interesting. I had assumed that they would be wrapped mummies, but not so. These were royal mummies, unwrapped enough to see the desiccated faces, hands, and feet. OK, not really so thrilling. I'd rather see the inscriptions and artwork on the sarcophagi and funerary vessels and artifacts. |
We had too little time to see the museum on our own. Although our guide is quite knowledgeable, he gets carried away with stories and pretty soon, there's not much time for us to go back and see stuff on our own. The ornaments and jewelry from King Tut's tomb is beautiful, intricately wrought, inlaid and inscribed with figures, hieroglyphics, gods and goddesses. The inlay of turquoise and carnelian stones is reminiscent of the American indian. I would love to go back & spend more time there. 2 or 3 days would not be too much, though I know I'm fortunate to be here at all.
No photos inside the museum, of course, but here is our ticket. All the antiquities and temples, museums, etc. require tickets, but they are beautiful and really worth keeping.
Lastly we went to a papyrus house, where they demonstrate how the papyri were made and sell replications of tomb and temple drawings. We bought a small one showing the goddess of the sky eating the sun in the evening and giving birth to it in the morning. It's a very elegant design. She is always shown in a curved position over the earth, much like the downward dog yoga pose, which I guess is why it appealed to me. We leave at 8 am from here for a 10:45 flight to Luxor and our Nile cruise.
Deanna
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