See the Pyramids Along The Nile
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An Unforgettable Adventure To The Land of the Pharaohs, The Pyramids and Sphinx
African Adventure AtlasCairo, the Jewel of the Orient, the City of a Thousand Minarets, and the melting pot of ancient and modern Egyptian civilizations, is still one of the most amazing and exciting destinations in the world.
A visit to the Sphinx and the Pyramids at Giza continues as the most compelling reason to travel to the land of the Pharaohs to witness the sheer grandeur of the monumental architectural accomplishments of a by-gone civilization.
Historians have recorded the great legacy of this great civilization that overshadows the remarkable feats of Ramesses the Second, Alexander the Great, and Napoleon; the passage of time serves to fortify the recognition of the builders of the Sphinx and the Pyramids as a truly great people, achieving what modern man considers to be a "miracle".
Visiting the "Cradle of Civilization" — a beacon of religion in that part of the world — is more appreciative in a group with tour guides familiar with the Egyptian people, their customs, culture, language, history, and the country; this is a journey through time, a journey through the history of an immortal civilization.
For thousands of years Egypt has been the playground of emperors and kings, a land bustling with life, visual beauty, excitement, and relaxation, especially on a cruise down the Nile on festive river boats and swift faluccas (small, traditional sailboats).
Cairo is the largest city in the Middle East and Africa and lies at the center of all routes leading to and from three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe; the city has an incredible selection of shopping, including spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass, copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics, musical instruments, craft work, and cotton jubbe or Gilbab (long gowns worn by men). Experience dining on a floating restaurant on the Nile or sample an apple-flavored shisha waterpipe at a coffee shop; see Oriental dancers at the cabarets.
Light and Sound Show at the Great Pyramid.
A must-see after dark on the first night in Cairo is the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids, a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story of antiquity, orchestrated with mystifying perfection. The show follows a typical Egyptian dinner at Rahoma Grill on Sphinx Street in Cairo a short distance from the Sphinx and Pyramids. The speciality grill serves homemade barbeque, a large selection of famous Chinese dishes, and other Oriental foods with selections of fish, chicken, meats, desserts, and fruits.
Cairo Destination MapRahoma is a unique restaurant offering a variety of cuisines, with the bonus of magnificent views of the Pyramids and all the charm of Egyptian hospitality. It seats some 700 guests and is divided into clean and comfortable specialized areas.
Traditional dishes include koshary, a savory blend of lentils, chick peas and rice in a spicy chili sauce, or dish shami, the local equivalent of pita bread, made before your very eyes, spread with baba ghanouj, a tasty dip made of purreed eggplant.
Whether it is during the day or night, one thing is consistent, the constant sounding of horns by drivers who are always in a hurry. It is safer and easier to take a taxi to go anywhere, do not ever consider driving or renting a vehicle on your own. Signals are almost never used, but you wonder sometimes whether the driver of these vehicles ever take their hands off the horns. What is truly amazing is the fact that accidents rarely occur.
The Egyptian Museum
The first activity on the eight day Pyramids and Nile Cruise package is at the Egyptian Musuem, housing the greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities that evoke considerable interest. The ground floor traces the history of ancient Egypt. Security is very strict and all cameras, camcorders, or digital cameras have to be handed over to the Security outpost. Upon entering the check-in area, a whole concourse opens up, revealing sarcophagi and boats in enormous sizes and descriptions.
Included are some of the most important items from the time of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt some 5,000 years ago, including the famous slate palette of King Narmer, one of the first documents of Egyptian history. Also on display are small masterpieces of sculpture, many over 50 centuries old.
Also depicted are a diversity of small statues from the Old Kingdom depicting individuals, families, and people at work.
On the second level there are thousands of smaller items from the span of Egyptian history. The treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb occupies a an area filled with chariots, gloves, jewelry, and the famous mask.
King Tut
Tutankhamun’s tomb stored four gilded shrines nested one inside the other. All four of these shrines are on display and attract such curiosity that one can hardly get a good view for quite a while. The innermost of covers a stone sarcophagus which remains in the tomb.
Inside the stone sarcophagus are three coffins, the innermost being made of 110 kilograms of solid gold. Inside that lies the pharaoh himself, wearing the famous gold mask. Two of these three coffins are on display in the same room as the mask, along with jewelry that stuns the imagination.
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By Edwin Ali - Jetsetters Magazine Editor - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
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Edwin Ali - Jetsetters Magazine. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com