The Pyramids!

So! The PYRAMIDS! It is a challenge to write this post, because I feel like there was so much going on that day. But I will try my very best! Let me just say first, it was fabulous to see the pyramids. In most of the pictures the biggest Pyramid, looks like the Great pyramid, but its actually the second one built in the area. The Pharaoh built the Pyramid on a higher plane to make his seem bigger than his fathers. So thanks dad, for all you've taught me, but I'm making my pyramid cooler than yours. The Pyramid on the far right is the newest, and smallest, but was also the closest so the difference isn't as drastic as it was in real life. Giza is about an hour outside Cairo. We took the AUC buses to it, and about 300 people went, so it was quite a large adventure. That was good and bad, at the same time. Good, because we had a guide on each bus that toured us around, but bad because we just got shuttled from site to site. We didn't really get to go close to the pyramids at all because they drove us past them to a place to take panoramic pictures. Either way it was amazing. Driving in on a highway, I could see them out the bus window, which is pretty bizarre considering Giza is a lot poorer than Cairo - and that's saying something. Anyway, the looming pyramids over a run down city is a pretty unusual view. After we saw the pyramids, we got in the buses again and drove over to the see the Sphinx. It is also by the oldest "block" building in the world. The Sphinx was a lot smaller than I thought it was. It looks big in the pictures, but they're very deceiving. After the Sphinx, we ate lunch and went to Saqqara, where the oldest step pyramid is. We got to spend more time at this one, and actually get close to it, so I was pretty pleased. Saqqara is much more secluded, so it really felt like we were hardcore out in the desert. Also, there are several small pyramids in the area. One is called the Titi Pyramid, and we got to go inside! It looks pretty shady on the outside, and the passageway in is pretty narrow and difficult to walk down in. Once inside, it's pretty great though. It is by far some of the most impressive stuff I've seen so far. I mean, imagining ancient Egyptians honouring the Pharoh there is pretty interesting. We didn't actually get to go down to the tomb, but the hieroglyphics on the wall were very impressive. So I've seen the Pyramids! The last standing of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World!

The Red Sea

me at the red sea!
the pool by the resort (how fancy)

So AUC took us to the Red Sea this weekend, as a little off-campus orientation. We met at campus around 8, but didn't leave until 10 because that's just how we do things in Egypt. About 400 of us went, so it was quite a large caravan of tour buses, but we had security escort us (which caused a lot of delay). We got to the resort, called Ein El Sukhna, in the early afternoon and had some meetings to go to and such. After lunch, we were able to check into our rooms and then hit the beach! It was so great to get away from the dirty Cairo air and all the city noise. The beach was mainly populated by tourists, from all over the world really. A lot of Europeans vacation around the area I think. It really was very beautiful. And some Egyptian women really do wear the whole burka swimsuit thing. Didn't look that comfortable to me, but who am I to judge? So we mainly just relaxed the rest of the weekend. I'll say I wasn't looking forward to coming back to Cairo at all. The traffic and pollution were really starting to get to me. But I got off the bus around 9 on Saturday night and started making my way through the cars back to the apartment. I had to buy bottled water to drink, which means I have to cross the road in an exceptionally busy/dangerous place. It's usually pretty difficult, but this time a younger guy came up to me and asked me if I was crossing. When I said yes, he escorted me across the street, just holding his hand out to stop the cars. The best part is, once we were safely across he just turned around and left. And when I yelled thank you, he didn't even follow me! I don't know, after that I guess I just felt better about living in this city for the next 3 1/2 months. I knew I could do it, I just think I might enjoy it more now, pollution and all.

Coptic Museum

I ventured to Old Cairo the other day to see the Coptic Museum. Old Cairo is an interesting section of the city. Getting off the metro station, you are right at the museum, which is situated between the Hanging Church and the Roman towers of Babylon. A narrow, stone street twists down away from the station, where you can find tourist shops, vendors, and many other churches and monasteries. Cairo has a very small population of Coptic Christians, today it's about 6% according to Egyptian Government. However, this section of town is the most beautiful area I have been to. This partially results from the general lack of dirt, crowds, and honking cars that are everywhere else in Cairo, however, the gorgeous architecture is also important. The Museum has an amazing collection of Coptic artifacts, some as early as 3rd c. The building has a beautifully carved ceiling and encloses a very nice garden. It was particularly interesting to see Christian artifacts in a middle eastern setting. I guess that sounds obvious, but its bizarre to see the four gospels in Arabic, from the 1500s or before. I mean, I realize Jesus was hanging out not to far from here, but it's funny to see him, and other saints, actually look middle eastern. It amazes me how the excavation of many of these sites occurred in the early 1800s, before most American cities were built. Although many of these sites were discovered ages ago, it's also fun to think about what else is out there. For example, in the Monastery of Saint Shenouda secret treasure was discovered in 1987 that dates back to the 7th century. Ok, but the most bizarre thing I saw was a representation of Adam and Eve before and after their fall. I swear - in the upper left corner of this picture there is a ..... DINOSAUR?!?! It can be nothing else but a brontosaurus. It's from the 11th century, and was found in Tebtunis. I have tried to find a picture of this on the Internet, so I can show people so they don't think I'm crazy. But now really, tell me how in the 11th century the artist was familiar with dinosaurs? I'm pretty confident I'm on the brink of discovering a cover-up that spans several centuries. I'll let you know when I've got more information. Or I'll mail you my diary, just in case someone is on to me.

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

So yesterday I went to the ultimate Museum in Egypt.... of Antiquities! Brief history: It was opened in the mid 1850s and has over 136,000 items on display. There are 40,000 more items in crates in the basement, but since the flooring is so soft many of them have sunk into the ground making further excavation necessary! How crazy is that?! So essentially, it is a massive museum. It is located off Tahir square, which is right down the street from the University, so I will probably be a frequent visitor. It was quite a challenge making it to the Museum because it involves crossing several busy streets. However, I latched on to a group of Egyptian women who slowly made their way across. They have confidence that the cars will stop, and are never in a rush to cross the street. I can't have the same confidence, mainly because cars do not actually stop for foreigners. Walking up, you are greeted by a stream of guides offering tours and several armed guards, who usher you through two security points. Inside the museum is like no other I've been too. There is no air conditioning, which makes it stifling hot and the sheer number of items makes an easy display impossible. In most of the side rooms, there are essentially stacks of artifacts, because there isn't enough room on the shelves. It is completely bizarre to see statues from 2000 BC just collected together in the middle of the floor. However, the main areas are pretty well labeled, in English, Arabic, and French, with descriptions often as detailed as "granite stone, IX dynasty." So not so helpful. The more prominent items were better explained. The Tutankhamen section was, in fact, very nice. One of the only air conditioned rooms in the building, it has a special entry way, and was easily the most crowded room. It was totally worth the crowds though to see the mask of Tutankhamen's mummy! I'm pretty sure that there was a picture of the mask on my 7th grade world history book. Now I've seen it! The actual corpse is still at the Valley of the Kings, but I hope to get there sometime to see it too!! You know, I love a good corpse? So my first Egyptian museum experience was pretty good. I plan on returning once I've started classes and learned a little more about the history. You aren't allowed to take cameras inside, so I only have pictures from outside the museum. And I couldn't figure out how to get them to the bottom of the post. So they're up top!

EGYPT! TOMORROW!