The Pyramids... and an order of extra-crispy, please.
Written: Aug 25 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Marvels of the Ancient World
Cons: Camel Dung and Hustles Everywhere you go.
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| RMetzner's Full Review: Cairo |
As the Sphinx gazes enigmatically into eternity, what he/she is staring at is... a Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut.
It's true.
So if you're planning a trip to the Great Pyramids at Giza, be prepared. The experience might not be exactly what you expect.
If you've grown accustomed to seeing the Great Pyramids the way most of us have, by watching PBS or the Discovery Channel, you've grown up on the illusion that the pyramids exist out in the middle of a dusty desert. Not exactly. Giza is a suburb of Cairo, sitting across the Nile from Cairo just like Oakland sits across the bay from San Francisco. "Suburb," in this case, does not imply well-manicured lawns, tennis bracelets, and Lexuses. (Lexi?) The Giza Plateau, the park where The Pyramids and the Sphinx reside is inside a city, with all that implies. And that implication includes fast food. In front of the Sphinx, across the forecourt and ancient temple, is a parking lot. Attached to the parking lot, as you might expect, is a road, and directly across the road you can munch on an order of Honey Barbecue Wings or Pepperoni Lover's Pizza while you contemplate wonders of the ancient world.
One thing you're likely to conclude about Cairo is that people there don't have much money, and they regard tourist's wallets as an excellent place to look for some. At the Giza Plateau you will be hard-pressed to walk ten feet in any direction without somebody trying to hustle you for some cash. These hustles include camel rides (the aroma of camel dung hangs heavy in the air), trinkets of all sorts (bargain if you can, the prices are better than those at the airport gift shop), and friendly offers of assistance from young men wearing uniforms bearing the insignia of "Tourist Police." I don't know what exactly the jurisdiction of the Tourist Police might be, but the one I was lucky enough to meet actually insisted that I tip him with one of the newer, unwrinkled dollar bills in my wallet. Be careful.
But there are the Pyramids themselves. Nothing can prepare you for their size and scale. When you stand close to them they dwarf the sky above you. You'll find it hard to believe that any number of human beings could have built them without so much as a wheelbarrow.
When you see the pyramids in photographs or on television, they appear to be rather isolated. But the pyramids are surrounded by ruins which are enormously interesting by themselves. The Queen's Pyramids are also remarkable, and you would find them amazing if they stood anyplace else besides next to the Great Pyramids, where they come off as second-rate.
So, travel to the Giza Plateau and you will find a visual feast. As for the sensation of mystical transport you might hope for by visiting these wonders, my advice is to hang on tightly to your wallet, look out for the camels, and watch where you step.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
RMetzner
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Member: Ralph Metzner
Location: Milwaukee WI
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 8 members
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