Cairo

 

Here are some photos of my flying visit to Cairo From
Feb 20th to 24th 2003.

I'd always wanted to see the pyramids and the sphinx.  Fortunately I have some great friends and one sent me an email offer I couldn't refuse, a very inexpensive return flight on British Airways to Cairo.  I stayed at the El Gezirah Sheraton - the round building seen in the night shot of Cairo.

Cairo was not at all expensive, there wasn't as much hassle
from the people desperate to
get your money as I had expected and the 'attractions' were sensational.  It's easy to suffer from what the guidebooks call AEO (Ancient Egyptian Overload) - too many pyramids, too many museums - but a well paced trip can leave you wanting to come back for more!

Take a look at the photos and you'll see what I mean.

Cairo at night - showing the Le Meridien Hotel lit up on the bank of the Nile,
and the El Gezirah Sheraton on the right.

The sphinx stares out over the massed hordes of tourists at Giza

The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser was built during the Third Dynasty
(ca. 2800 B.C.) in what is now Saqqara.  The Step Pyramid is generally considered the first tomb in Egypt to be built entirely of stone.

The bear has his photo taken near the Red Pyramid in Dahshur, south of Saqqara.  No tourists here!

The Bent Pyramid is unique because of the angle change part way up the side.

The Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza

The bear poses by the Great Pyramid.

Good Heavens! A bear on a Camel!

As I couldn't be bothered to take my boots off I wasn't allowed in the
mosques (there are more than enough in London anyway) - so while I
hung around outside I was befriended by this little feline. 
Maybe it was a temple cat and now I'm blessed!