AA15 - Day 1: Giza Necropolis' Pyramids

After a four hour flight from Brussels, I landed in Caïro around 8PM. Be sure to double check your clock, as mine adjusted itself while actually there is no time difference with Belgium during summer. 

Embrasing them, like they embrace history.

First thing you have to before getting out of the airport is getting your Visa. And you have to pay it in cash. Luckily you can withdraw cash from a cash machine near the visa point. What really grinded my gears was that I thought it was stupid to pay 25$US for a simple sticker in your passport. Worst part is, when you then pass through border control and say your belgian, they barely look at the stamp... But hey, I'm on holidays, couldn't care less.. After a 45mins drive I arrived at the Caroline Crillon Hotel in centre of Cairo, where I met up with tour guide Wahid. As I had missed the welcome drink, due to my flight schedule being later than all the others', he quickly walked me throught the main information and plan for the next few days before finding myself exhausted in bed around midnight. 

Sunday, Day 1 of the actual Intrepid-Trip!

After enjoying an early breakfast, and meeting up with the other members of our group, we headed for the Giza-plateau. The Giza Necropolis is the most famous sight of Cairo, and Egypt, and the Great Pyramid of Giza is the last of the Original Seven World Wonders. During the whole morning, we walked throught, next and on the 9 (!) different pyramids which are all located on this plateau, right next to Cairo City. 

I even had the chance to go inside the smallest pyramid! Walking through a small shaft for about 7mins, brings you to the heart of the pyramid, where the original sarcofage was located before it was found. A unique experience indeed!

After having a quick lunch on the tourbus, we headed for the Grand Egyptian Museum, also called the Egyptian Museum. This kind-of outdated museum -they are constructing a new one at the moment- is the Holy Grail of all Egypt, Pyramid and Mummyfication-lovers. The vast and massive building holds thousands of different treasures, sarcofages, mummies etc etc. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed in here. Go discover for yourself, it's well worth it... But maybe wait for the new building to be finished, as the current one -dating back to 1827, has no airconditioning...

Once we got back from the Museum, we had just the time for a quick shower before our driver brought us to the Cairo Ramses Train Station, where we caught the train to Aswan! 

_safe travels!