Cairo and the Pyramids
Cairo and the Pyramids
Our driver Assem and our guide arrived a little after 9am and we started our tour at the nearby Egyptian Museum aka The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.
After an hour at the museum, we headed out for the 13 mile drive to Giza and the Pyramids. Although I've been in a lot of cities with congested and bad traffic, Cairo wins my vote for the most chaotic traffic anywhere. Way too many cars, bumper to bumper traffic, frequent lane changes, horn honking. Add to this virtually no lane markers and thousands of pedestrians that cross the streets and even highways, weave their way around and between cars and its a surreal experience.
We didn't see car or van in Cairo that wasn't dented, scratched or mutilated. Yeah, I wouldn't drive a nice car here either.
And finally...
OMG, spectacular... even with the sun on the wrong side for good picture taking at the beginning.
Next, the short drive to the massive Sphinx.
After 90 minutes or so, it was time to head back to Cairo.
This is pretty much typical of daytime traffic in Cairo.
By this time, we'd seen enough of old Cairo that we opted for an afternoon at the Ritz-Carlton.
Nice pool and excellent poolside service with the honking of horns from over the wall the only reminder of the chaos just a few feet away.
Yeah, that doesn't quite look like the Stella I know.
After a few hours at the pool, we headed up to our rooms to wait for our 5pm Covid test appointments. Great views as sunset approaches.
After our tests, time for a drink in the lobby bar.
Excellent Arabic cuisine.
And live music... unfortunately. LOL.
Please, we'll pay you to go away.
Very nice Egyptian Merlot.
Then back up to our rooms for an early evening, as Assem will be back at 4:45am for the drive to the airport.
