Great Pyramids at Giza

Julia
After a day of travel and rest, we finally got out to explore Egypt today. Cairo couldn't be more dissimilar from Istanbul; While the areas we spent most of our time in Istanbul consisted of twisting cobblestone streets surrounded by outcropping historical marvels, perfectly preserved but not detached from daily life, Cairo is rushing cars on four lane highways, hurrying pedestrians, and smog. From my room in Turkey I could see quaint shops and the Hagia Sofia, but here, on the sixteenth floor of our skyscraper hotel, I see a never-ending expanse of sandy colored structures cleaved by the muddy Nile. I'm not trying to suggest that this isn't a stunning, magnificent city, it merely functions at a different speed and in a different manner than we have become accustomed to.

Rejuvenated by the day before, we began with a breakfast dappled with traditional Egyptian foods, and then attended a morning lecture by Dr Ali Radwan, a professor of Egyptology at Cairo University. He instructed us on the power of women in ancient Egyptian society, both in religion and in royalty.





Afterwards, we set out to see the epitome of Egyptian sightseeing, the pyramids. The first set we saw contained the first pyramid ever built, and put the antiquity of our previous city to shame. The Necropolis of Sakkara contained one remaining step pyramid built for the Pharaoh Djoser, and the remains of other buildings for the containment of his artifacts after his death, the worship of the gods, and changing his royal clothing during ceremonies.
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Our guide then directed us to a carpet school, where students learn the trade of handmade carpet making in the morning and have regular school in the afternoon. The tour seemed more geared at getting us to purchase their tapestries ("No pressure! No pressure!") than showing us the school, but it was nonetheless thought provoking to see this portion of the Egyptian school system.

To conclude our adventures, we moved to the Great Pyramids at Giza. They did not disappoint in the slightest: they were innumerably more massive, dense, and heavy looking than could have ever expected. Three pyramids, built by the Pharaohs Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus, were situated alongside the Sphinx, unexpectedly close to downtown Cairo. These monuments were around 4500 years old and the only remaining components of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. When we were in Istanbul, I was surprised with the cavalier attitude towards their nation's ancient sites. Standing atop the Walls of Theodosius, I could see cars on the highway, houses leaning against the wall, and businesses set up only a hundred yards away, but here the familiarity extends almost to disrespect. The wonderful, majestic pyramids were clouded with the stench of garbage and camel waste from the locals trying to make a profit off the gawking tourist. It would be a great misfortune if the Ministry of Antiquities did not sort out how to treat these famous locations before they are ruined beyond repair.

We ended our day with some academy time and a sumptuous late dinner. Ms. McCall gave us an overview of Egyptian mythology, explaining the stories of the gods and the role those beliefs played in Egyptian culture, which helped give us more background in preparation for this morning's lecture.


Nathaniel
When you picture Egypt, one geometric shape pops into mind. Pyramids. Nothing can really prepare you for the awe-inspiring feeling the pyramids have. They are unimaginably huge. Seeing them and being able to walk around them was an awesome and unforgettable experience. Something that was a little bit disappointing was how close modern civilization has encroached upon the Pyramids we visited. There was a Pizza Hut less than a few kilometers from the pyramid. Tourism also seemed to defile this place that was intended to be very sacred.