I met her today

I met her today!

Well 2 “hers” really.

We were off early, moving towards Giza in the early haze.

Before long they were rising out of the sand.

No photo had done them justice, and mine below are the same.

The sheer majesty.

4600 years old.

Solid.

Unwavering.

Towering.

Dalia, our guide let us know the Great Pyramid was open.

So I paid the crazy fee and circumnavigated the structure to the entrance.

In I stepped, and the climb began.

Not a space for the faint-hearted or claustrophobic.

Part way up I had a moment.

My chest tightened.

My mind raced.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Finally the chamber opened.

The sarcophagus inside.

The sheer engineering in the structure overwhelming.

As if each stone block had been meticulously carved to fit together so seamlessly.

We walked the complex.

And then we met Her.

The Sphinx.

Regal.

The guard of the complex.

Nearby a marble valley temple complex, with columns of solid stone.

I was surprised at the lack of people.

A blessing of the public holiday Saturday and the fact that there was a grand opening happening for the new museum I think.

Then we headed onward.

Lunch.

At a little takeaway shop.

Egyptian falafel (made with fava beans), in Egyptian bread (reminds me of a pita pocket but with a thin Lebanese style bread).

Delicious.

And cost me 39c AUD.

I think my chat with our guide Dalia about trying local food had inspired this idea.

Then we went on to the Coptic area of Cairo and saw the hanging church. Amazing architecture from around 400AD and the place believed to have been the stoppver for Mary, Joseph and Jesus on their journey through Egypt when Jesus was a young child. 

Then to an abandoned but preserved Synogogue, but no photos here.

An interesting conversation for another time, now that Egypt isnt home to Jewish people much.

Finally we headed to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.

And that’s where I found her.

Hatshepsut.

Her intact mummy.

Deep in the basement, along with 21 other New Kingdom mummies.

During ancient times when grave robbing began, these 22 mummies were taken by the priests and hidden in Dier el-Bahri (we will be there in a few days).

Now they lay in the museum.

There’s more of her to come, but what a day, what a way to begin exploring.

We finished with a rooftop drink and the pyramids lit up!