EGYPT, Cairo (Great Pyramid and Sphinx)

 October 17, 2012

Up 2 am, shuttle to Istanbul airport at 2:45 am and then flight to Cairo at 6:45 am. Need sleep, but stuff to see. Hired a taxi to take me directly from airport to Great Pyramids at Giza. The taxi driver headed towards Cairo and after 30 minutes traffic was almost at a dead stop. After about 15 minutes of this I asked why we didn't take the Ring Road. He said that is a great idea and off we went. Knew this by some research. It is a little longer but usually not much traffic. Arrived at the Pyramids and my guide immediately took me to his boss who tried to sell me a camel or horse tour of the pyramids. My original plan was 45 minutes of pictures and off to the train station at Giza. I held to that plan and it was really easy to walk around and take the pictures I wanted.

Then off to the train station for what was supposed to be catching the 12:20 pm day which is forbiden to tourists. But was going to try and get on and pay the conductor. Unfortunately, the upcoming Feast was approaching and everyone was trying to get on the trains to see family. Was told there could be a lot of danger trying to take a local's seat on the train. The night train, for tourists, was $80 and I would have to wait 10 more hrs at the station. Went to airport and bought a $100 plane ticket to Luxor. What a day.   

EGYPT, Luxor (West Bank)

 October 18, 2012

Day tour of the West Bank starting at 8:30 am. We first went to the Valley of the Kings. The guide bought our tickets so we did not have to wait in line but there was no line. He said it was 150 Egyptian pounds for everything we were to visit but I checked the prices at each ticket office and it totaled 130. Decided not to say anything but that extra 20 would be his guide tip. Could not take in our cameras  and got in little trouble for trying take pictures with my ancient cell phone. Only took one picture and it was not good but cost me 10 pounds to pay off the guard who seized my cell phone. Tombs were really nice and very colorful. Then we went to the Funerary Temple of Hatshpsut who is the only woman buried in the Valley of the Kings. During her reign she portrayed herself as a man and even wore a fake beard. The funerary took 8 years to build and was only used for her embalming. Very impressive structure though. Also few other places whose names elude me.

EGYPT, Luxor (East Bank), Luxor Temple

 October 19, 2012

Waited until 1 pm, hottest part of the day, to walk the 35 minutes to the Luxor Temple. Very few taxi drivers, horse carriage drivers or salesman at that time of day compared to rest of day. I was only Tourist  in the Luxor Temple for the 1st 45 minutes I was there. A few more tourists arrived as I was beginning to leave.

Of the more than 700 human-headed, lion-bodied statues that once lined the Avenue of Sphinxes between the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, around 60 still remain. The Avenue of the Sphinxes is where my photos begin.