The Pyramids and the Sphinx!

The Pyramids at Giza.
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Hi guys!

So far my time in Cairo is really going well.  I've met some really great people here and we're having lots of fun!  It's kind of neat because I think that everyone is bonding while doing all the touristy things like... seeing the Pyramids and the Sphinx!  That's what we did today. 

Originally there were 9 of us who were going to split a couple of taxis and drive out to the Pyramids.  However, it (and as I'm finding out, many things here in Cairo) didn't turn out as planned.  I was in the last taxi cab to leave the dorms.  It was decided that we were going to meet at the village that's close to the Pyramids and then rent horses and ride to the Pyramids.  After enduring a somewhat frightening cab ride, we finally got close the the Pyramids.  (Just as a funny cab story, one of my friends was in a cab yesterday that was extremely old and the front passenger door kept swinging open whenever the driver went around the corner.  This is especially frightening given that there are no seatbelts in the cabs...)   One thing that I was so shocked about was how close the Pyramids are to the city of Cairo.  I knew that they were close, but not that close.  It was neat.  We were driving along the freeway and one of the guys said, "hey, look over there!" and sure enough, there were the Pyramids right beside the freeway. 

Me in front of the Pyramids.
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Anyways, there was some confusion with our driver and he ended up taken us directly to the Pyramids rather than to the village to rent the horses.  Despite every attempt by both Greg and Zack, he didn't understand what we wanted.  And trust me, they tried everything.  Greg even imitated riding a horse and making horse sounds.  All attempts were lost though.  After more money being exchanged and us being taken to yet another incorrect place, we finally gave up and decided to walk to the Pyramids instead.  At the time I was disappointed that it didn't work out as planned, but our luck was to change.

Me with the Sphinx and a Pyramid in the background.
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After "trekking across the Sahara," (which by the way is rocky and not a powdery sand) we finally made it to the Pyramids.  We spent about an hour just wandering around them and taking lots of photos.  It's neat because of how close you can get to them.  I was sitting on one at one point.  After walking around both the Pyramids and the Sphinx, we decided to check out one of the tombs.  There was no cost to go into the tombs, but once inside the guide does his typical "I'll be nice and let you take pictures."  Naturally they expect a tip for their generosity.  While we were at the tombs a guide came along and tried to offer us a camel and horse guided tour.  We ended up agreeing on a price, so today was my first time on a camel.  They really are disgusting creatures, especially with the spitting.  We spent about an hour or so walking around the Pyramids and the Sphinx again, but this time on camel or horseback.  Our guide was nice and gave each of us a turn to gallop on both the horse and the camel.  FYI-- the camel was more comfy to sit on than the horse.  I got some really neat pictures.  At the end we went and saw some more tombs (and again paid for pictures).  Afterwards we grabbed a cab back to the dorms where we walked in at about the same time as the others.  It's weird that we didn't come across one another there, but it still was a great time.  We didn't go into the Pyramids this time, but I figure that I'll probably go a couple of more times while I'm here (especially at night for the light show).  Anyways, that sums up my daytrip to the Pyramids.  This weekend all of the international students are off to Alexandria for a 3 day orientation.  I'm not sure if I'll post before then, but I definitely will after!

Me with a Pyramid in the background
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Until next time!

Katie