October 5
Saqqara, Step Pyramid, Memphis & Cars
The most famous name is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt.
It is the first Pyramid to be built. It is six tiers and is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. It was built in the 27th century BC for the Pharaoh Djoser.
Lots of adventures today. We visited Saqqara to see the step pyramid, and Memphis. Today’s highlights were not only historical sites, but observations, adventures and fun. It’s a long read.
Cairo: The City never sleeps
Cairo is about a as lively a place as one can imagine. It’s a feast for all our senses. I dare say it’s even an overstimulation, I’m writing this tonight at the end of day, I headed to bed three times and each time something happened to keep me in conversations. I didn’t want to leave. Finally went to bed at 11:00 but jays got me hooked. As of this writing they’re up on the hated Yankees 11-0. Ok now it’s 12-0.
Sounds of the day and now night.
I’m awake because of the city sounds, blue jays game and I feel the need to report on today. Right now it’s 12:45. Dogs are barking, motorcycles are speeding by, tuktuks are honking their horn and someone is hammering on concrete floor somewhere in our building.
The smell tests.
Monique’s description of Egypt,” imagine sitting down somewhere and a wind gust comes up to you and that sweet aroma of meat being grilled over a hot bed of coal, then within mere seconds a second gust brings a new smell, it’s rotting garbage, then another, it’s bread being baked and you still haven’t moved from your seat. Then perfume then sewage. It’s like the weather in Scotland. If you stay in one place long enough, it will change four times in fifteen minutes.
The traffic
It’s a dance, complete with horn accompaniment. There literally are no lane markings on the major thoroughfare we’re staying at. Nothing restricting people and cars to meaningless lines suggesting they stay within those confining painted lines. In the two days so far we have not seen one traffic light. Watching the cars from our balcony and seeing traffic patterns and movement, it’s as if there is an orchestrated dance. People cross in traffic that would scare any Canadian into staying at home and in bed. I always thought that the French in Paris were the world champion street crossing. Until this week, the French don’t compete with traffic of horses and tuktuks going the wrong way against traffic.
There is a beehive of activity and constant movement. Stopping is not an option unless passengers are being let off one of the mini buses.
Tuktuks, are a different breed on their own and even more independent of staying in the same direction as the traffic. When you’re walking with and against traffic you should be aware of the little taps on the horns as well.
The honking is not random at all, this is a form of communication. When I asked our driver Mina about it, he tapped a few of them. Today, we recorded that communication language and posted it on you tube. Fair warning, there is a second conversation that infringed on the soundtrack, what can be said about that? It’s Egypt!
We were parked beside a dessert place making the recording. There is a second story below, that has to be shared. There is a youtube video which is a must watch, it’s too long for this platform. The link
Chris and the Camel
When we went to the Step Pyramids. There were all sorts of merchants on the grounds. They are unrelenting in their approaches. The more accomplished ones of us don’t engage.
They are extremely accomplished at these approaches and Chris fell for one particularly creative Camel driver. He engaged with him and before long was talking about Chris and his tattooed arms. Then all of a sudden he grabbed the phone out of a Chris’s hand and told him he would take a picture with the camel, insisting all along that it was free. Much like the Christmas song Chris pulls on Brodie, before long Chris and Donna had wraps and head gear on. Pictures below.
Then the camel handler demanded money and then it started with an funny altercation, our guide had words with the handler, but Chris decided to pay for the lesson and pictures.
The funny thing, a mere hour later, another guy literally gave Chris a free gift as his lure, Chris pocketed it said thanks and when questioned about it, he told that merchant thank you for the gift.
It’s 2:04 AM I’m just going to do a photo dump now of the day‘s shooting. I’m still having problems converting the good camera shots, but will on it. All images so far are phone shots. Also the Jay’s relievers are making me nervous, it’s now 13-7 Jays two out in the top of the ninth.
Tomorrow (later today) the rest of the stories. Monique and the dessert guy, the Baker and dinner. Jays just won 13-7, so I can now go to sleep. Tomorrow, well, later today, the Pyramids ot Giza, up close and personal plus old Cairo.
Good bye for now.
