Pyramids in Gisa.

[fettoken]

After a week in Egypt i can say that the thing which made the trip worth it was the three pyramids in Gisa, also going inside them to do some exploring.

And the sheer size of the biggest one, when it towers up in front of you right in the middle of the city, wow just wow, could never have imagined it was THAT big. Was really surreal. Guys 'n gals should really see it.

 

[Ezteq]

come on Fett, pics!!

I can't say that Egypt appeals to me since finding out that there aren't mummys roaming about waiting to be thwarted by myself and Brandon Fraiser but am glad you had a good time

 

[fettoken]

There will be pictures soon, dont worry

Also yes, i always wanted to be the first one exploring inside a newly found pyramid.

 

[cHodAX]

Would love to go but hear the sheer number of flies and thier agressiveness insane, I fucking hate insects so I couldn't cope.

 

[fettoken]

Would love to go but hear the sheer number of flies and thier agressiveness insane, I fucking hate insects so I couldn't cope.

Don't worry Cho. You just need to buy some mosquito spray and spray it on your unprotected parts (in your case, genitals) and you will be fine. The bigger insects doesn't pay you any attention. Havent seen any creepy looking spiders *phew*. Didnt see any cobras >:

Oh, and the Sphinx was pretty awesome too.

 

[Sparx]

i more impressed by the massive statues than the pyramids, they are amazing

 

[Chronictank]

Would love to go but hear the sheer number of flies and thier agressiveness insane, I fucking hate insects so I couldn't cope.

I can't say i was bothered by flies or mosquito's to be honest (we went in November)

I want to go see the valley of the kings next (near Luxor) that is supposed to be amazing too

I would strongly suggest to anyone going NOT to go on the tours, they rush you through everything rather than letting you take your time and enjoy it.
When i went we did:
1 day: Khan Ali-Kalili Egyptian market (although you can easily waste most the day here) in Islamic Cairo (ignore any suggestions by taxi drivers, go to the market it has everything) and Egyptian Museum
1 day: Camel ride around the pyramids and up to the sphynx,
i would recommend it but wear jeans or full length trousers or something. I made the mistake of wandering around in 3/4's and my legs were raw afterwards,
1 day: Cairo's Citadel, amazing sight. And explore Islamic Cairo

Then off to Sharm el sheik for scuba diving :d

 

[bainteor]

Egypt is indeed thrilling, make sure you know a bit about the antiquity period, religion and politics from those times as well - having an appreciation for that makes the experience better in my opinion.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Am i the only one who would find it rather fun to take a piss on the 7 wonders of the world?

 

[Tuthmes]

Am i the only one who would find it rather fun to take a piss on the 7 wonders of the world?

Yes.

 

[bainteor]

Am i the only one who would find it rather fun to take a piss on the 7 wonders of the world?

No. Not in the slightest.

 

[Access Denied]

I wouldn't mind going to see the Monuments and such in Egypt. Especially Khufu's Pyramid, the only Ancient Wonder we've found that's still standing, of course it's 9ft shorter than it should be due the golden capstone going missing centuries ago.

In fact the only Ancient Wonder that we haven't found is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Either it's been so well hiddent hat it'll never be found, it was completely destroyed or the popular theory is correct, that is never existed in the first place.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Yes.

No. Not in the slightest.

You prunes

 

[djpringle]

To be honest I was seriously underwhelmed by the Giza pyramids, they just don't seem that big once you are actually there and the fact that the Cairo shithole is right next door is a serious disappointment. The Saqqara pyramid and the Sphinx were the highlights when I last went sightseeing many years ago. I would like to do Luxor but again I am worried that it might just be a disappointment too.

 

[russell]

I am really keen to go -but now worried about being disappointed.

I already know that Cairo (and most of Egypt) is a shit hole and that the Nile is rank and you get hassled all the time-but I have always wanted to travel along the Nile and see the sights since reading the Elizabeth Peters books-Ed is less keen now he knows about the potential stink factor.

 

[russell]

come on Fett, pics!!

I can't say that Egypt appeals to me since finding out that there aren't mummys roaming about waiting to be thwarted by myself and Brandon Fraiser but am glad you had a good time

Read Elizabeth Peters, my book loving friend, you may like it x

 

[djpringle]

I am really keen to go -but now worried about being disappointed.

I already know that Cairo (and most of Egypt) is a shit hole and that the Nile is rank and you get hassled all the time-but I have always wanted to travel along the Nile and see the sights since reading the Elizabeth Peters books-Ed is less keen now he knows about the potential stink factor.

Friends of ours regularly do Nile cruises and they highly recommend it. Though I guess it depends on which bit of the Nile you are cruising on and how good your boat is. I still would like to do a cruise down the bottom end of the Nile but that'll have to wait until the little un is no longer little

 

[Helme]

Am i the only one who would find it rather fun to take a piss on the 7 wonders of the world?

I'd like to be able to do that, because that would mean something other than the pyramids of Giza survived

 

[Job]

yup they were amazing, the statues as well out front, at night with the palm trees and the lights, it really was magical....hang on that was Vegas.

 

[Wij]

So jealous

I love Egypt. I read about it all the time. It's not a place for little kids though and my wife is too scared to go to countries with lots of men with guns.

Will have to wait for retirement

 

[throdgrain]

I went to Gisa to see the pyramids when I was a teenager. ( They were still building them then )

I still remember it as one of the most interesting things I've ever seen, topped only by Jerusalem.

 

[Turamber]

I am really keen to go -but now worried about being disappointed.

You won't be disappointed, it is, frankly, awesome. If you do a Nile cruise you can stay on the boat for the best part of a week and not have to interact with people hawking goods.

Not that I minded that myself, when in Rome and all that. The 'heavy sell' is part of their culture.

 

[Huntingtons]

i scrolled down to bottom. No pics.


I smell a hoax.

 

[Ezteq]

Read Elizabeth Peters, my book loving friend, you may like it x

hehe beat you to it on that one


p.s. if Ed won't go with you I will, I don't mind bugs and smells and would dearly love to see nile crocs...and possibly murder on it too!!

 

[Huntingtons]

why on earth would you want to murder on a crocodile? It will eat you while youre trying !

 

[kiliarien]

Boring holiday pics inc!!

Myself and the good wife went to Egypt for our Honeymoon. Most definitely the most memorable holiday I've had, even if you factor out it being our Homeymoon. We did 3 days Cairo, 5 day cruise from Cairo to Aswan, then back to Luxor for a 2 day chillout. It was amazing. We went in high summer (3rd August) and so it was relatively empty - our cruise ship had space for 55, and there were 18 of us. Our guide said there were three members of staff on board for every one of us and I can well believe it.

We were exceptionally lucky in that our guide was a Doctor in Womens' Studies from the University of Cairo who did trips during the summer break. She was, as you would expect, exceptionally knowledgeable and also made sure we were never harassed by beggars or traders (unless of course we wanted to be haggling etc. which I can't stick) so she was a godsend. It was the right mix for us of seeing the ancient and modern cultures without being overawed by modern Egyptian pushy life. It cost us £3000 back in 2004 but we figured we would only go once and I must say the luxury made it worth every penny.

Some pics:

View from the Cairo hotel:



The big pyramid itself:



....and me on it. It's bonkers you're allowed to climb them:



Abu Simbel, an optional trip we decided to do, amazing:



The Valley of the Kings, from a hot air balloon:



And to put your mind at ease russell, the Nile is far from a shithole the moment you're out of cities. See:



And:



Sorry to bore, but it was well worth the extra cash on a luxury trip, saved all hassle and we had the times of our lives.

 

[russell]

Not boring... totally BRILLIANT.
Thanks Kiliarien x

 

[Turamber]

I thought the Valley of the Nobles was awesome, and much quieter than the Valley of the Kings. Didn't do the hot air balloon thing, missed out there. We did have the option of a camel ride but it was left between me and an American woman on her honeymoon for the last camel -- I was a gentleman and she screeched loudly about how she'd never see a camel again but I'd have lots of opportunities.

Evidently I am Lawrence of Arabia, I just didn't know it.

 

[Job]

Pretty damn cool pics, I didn't know you could climb them, if you get a chance to see the Imax Egypt film, you'll see the pyramids in unfuckinbelievable HD (The one with Omar Shariff).

 

[kiliarien]

I thought the Valley of the Nobles was awesome, and much quieter than the Valley of the Kings. Didn't do the hot air balloon thing, missed out there. We did have the option of a camel ride but it was left between me and an American woman on her honeymoon for the last camel -- I was a gentleman and she screeched loudly about how she'd never see a camel again but I'd have lots of opportunities.

Evidently I am Lawrence of Arabia, I just didn't know it.

Hehe, you are a true gent Oh Lawrence

You didn't miss too much with the camels - it was quite minging to see the number of flies that just sit around the camels' mouth/slobber. Kind of like a cartoon sketch with a moving insect beard.

I agree, the Valley of the Nobles was impressive, as you say for the solitary feeling you get it being off the main tourist route a little bit more. Seeing the lives of non-nobles and how they were depicted was interested; similar to the tombs at Saqqara as you get some insight into normal peoples' lives rather than the high and mighty. That said, it was odd going into King Tut's tomb to see what a bloody hovel it was compared to some of the other kings' tombs.