October 6
Khan El Khalili Market, Cairo
Private Tabla Dinner
I’m not going to go say anything other than. It’s the same pile of stones that were there 61 years ago when I visited them last. 🤓😎🥸
Not much change with that pile, except everything around them has changed. Roads, access points, crowd management improvements with buses. New pavilions, concessions and controlled access points.
Seeing them with adult eyes is way more impactful. Seeing them without my parents was sad. Sharing that experience with Chris, fullfing. Having Donna go inside with Chris was my highlight - we can go home now. Did I go in? No, this isn’t my cup of tea, never has and will never be. That’s ok,
I never wanted nor needed to go inside, but to Donnna, it was a reward for
The morning visit to the Pyramids
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt. It was the tomb of the Pharaoh Khufu in the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.
It is considered the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Would you happen to know what the other six are? (If you can’t come up with the answers, I will be listing them at the bottom of today’s blog.
KEY STATISTICS OF THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA;
Original height: 481 feet
Current height: 454 feet, erosion and removal of casing stones.
Base length: 756 feet per side and aligned along cardinal points of the compass.
Number of blocks: Estimated at 2,300,000. Average block weight 2.5 tons (5,000 lbs.). Some blocks in the King’s chamber weigh up to 80 tons.
It is estimated at between ten and twenty years to build.
The pyramid contains three interior chambers.
Old Cairo and Khan el Khalili
Khan el-Khalili is the most famous market in Islamic Cairo. It was built by Emir Djaharks el-Khalili and established in the 14th century. I have no idea how many booths there are, or how winding the aisles are.
This is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site checked off on our list.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, (The other six):
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The Mausoleum Of Helicarnassus
I took nearly 2,000 photos today of the pyramid and at the camel resting area, the market and street scenes, it’s 12:40AM. I’m going on three hours slkkkmmm-Ll …ok, I left this last bit to show what sleeping on my keyboard looks like. I’m signing off for the night and I will send this out in the morning, in five short hours I have the full moon setting between the pyramids.
Did it! Got some sleep and got the moonset, I arranged for four months ago. Still no time for more text, but keep coming back as I re-visit each day and add more pictures. I’m overwhelmed with the hub of activity.
In a few short hours, I will be reporting about the old museum and. Saint George Church and visiting the family crypt.
Look what came out of the bag today?