Egypt- Day 1

We started off at the Great Pyramids of Giza! There are 3 pyramids and the Sphinx. We got to climb down into the smallest pyramid- still huge! It was really neat to see the different rooms and the angles of the tunnels. You weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but this is us after we came out-Aunt Rachel made it all the way down and up that tiny tunnel without freaking out! What a big girl.....

Then we got to ride the camels!! I thought it would just be one at a time around a circle path, but no! We caravanned it all over that area- about a 15 minute ride! Getting up and down is a little interesting- you lean all the way back then all the way forward just to stay perpendicular to the ground. SO glad we got to do this. I figured the camels would be just for the tourists, but we saw people riding them around the parking lots and even on the side of the road once.

This is a model of the giant boat they found in the pyramid that the pharoah would use to travel through the underworld- a little like the ancient Greeks and Romans believed. I just like the picture of my dad looking like a goober!

This is our security guard Wallid (like wally+d) taking a picture of a lady in our group. By the end of the day, we were calling each other family. He's so fun! First off, how cool that we get our own security guard?! He keeps the pickpockets away and keeps a look out for really bad guys. But mostly he helped us negotiate prices at the bazar! He helped us practice our Arabic and we helped with his English- one of the people I'm really going to miss!

And here's the Sphinx. So strange- you take an exit from downtown Cairo and it's right there- beside the 3 pyramids. We actually stopped at a gas station/ cafe that had a gorgeous view of this. Right downtown! Crazy. There are people everywhere trying to sell stuff- pens, scarves, mini pyramids, you name it- they are selling it! And they will really negotiate. We wanted these head coverings and the price started at $5 a piece. We said 3 for $10. Wallis stepped in and said it was worth 3 for $5. So we walked off- the girl chased us down and, after some more negotiating we got them for $6 (Rachel felt bad for the girl, so threw in the extra $1!) It can really be a lot of fun!!