Pyramids and the Sphinx

We drove this morning to Giza to visit the “only survivor of the seven wonders of the ancient world”. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is 4,500 years old and was the world’s tallest building for more than 4,000 years. We spent our time at the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, driving by the other pyramids. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be looking at something so old, so massive with no idea how the ancient Egyptians constructed it.

For lunch we drove north into the desert toward Alexandria to a restaurant famous for chicken. We started with bread, hummus, meatballs and sausage, then to chicken and fries. It would be really nice to have some vegetables but Waleen carefully does not order. We did have slices of fresh melon for desserts. Meals take a long time here which takes getting used to.

Back at the hotel there were a couple hours of free time. I sat on my 9th floor balcony listening to automobile horns and the call to prayer and working on this.

Dinner tonight was on the Blue Nile, a large boat permanently anchored on the river. We were served family style ten plates of Egyptian and Lebonese foods. Very good - lots of thyme, rosemary, many other spices; meats; very sweet desserts.