the pyramids
• 22 comments •
After our action-packed taxi ride, we were relieved when we finally made it to the gate of the pyramid complex. Online, we had read that you shouldn't give your tickets to anyone before the gate. The gist of the scam is that shady tour guides will take your tickets, under the auspices of "checking them", and then force you on their overpriced, and laughably inaccurate, tour.
When we approached the gate a man asked for our tickets. We gave him our tickets and then immediately remembered what we read. We asked for our tickets back, but he withheld them. We grabbed the cheap tickets and moved ahead to the security guards. The security guards didn't seem concerned that we were ignoring him, so it confirmed to us that he was a tour guide, and not legit. After some heated discussion back and forth it seemed he was allegedly authorized to ask for our tickets. It would have been nice if there were some signs to prevent misunderstandings, especially considering there are so many people who are happy to add a premium to tourists. When we finally went through the metal detectors and were leaving the security area the guard said, with a smirk, "Welcome to Egypt".
We entered at the Sphinx gate, which meant that once we went through "security", we were right at the feet of the famous statue (or as close as you can get). We worked our way through a steady line of tourists having their photo taken with the mythical lion-man in the background. These were followed by the people using perspective, and their fingers, to take cheesy photos that look as if they're touching the top of the pyramids (same thing happens in Piza, we're told).
With each step we took up the hill towards the pyramid, we were offered camel rides or the opportunity to buy "quality" souvenirs at a "fair" price.
Eventually we made our way up the hill to the base of the largest of the 3 pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Giza. It seems like an odd thing to say, but it actually seemed a little smaller in person. It stands, a not insignificant, 450ft high, but for some reason it seem a lot larger in our imaginations.
The downside of not availing ourselves of either the camel rides or a bus tour, was that we had to walk around in the stifling heat. Couple that with the lack of beverage facilities (we only saw two vendors near the Great Pyramid) and it made for some less than comfortable walking. At least the unrelenting heat of the sun was as we imagined it.
We made our way from the Great Pyramid up to an observation plateau. From this vantage point we could see the 3 pyramids against the backdrop of the city of Giza. Since it was hardly the traditional photo we were looking for, we began hiking to the south where the camel rides were heading.
This led us on a wide arc that eventually returned us to the side of the Great Pyramid. By this point the sun was setting and the security guards were chasing people out. We exited through the main gate and made our way to the venerable Mena House Oberoi Hotel for a relaxing early dinner.
We had heard in advance of touring the site that many other tourists found visiting the pyramids to be an empty experience. Despite this, we both went in with open minds. The Pyramids, like Easter Island or Stonehenge, are things you read about growing up that not only pique your historical curiosity, but also offer limitless possibilities for a child's imagination. In reality, we found the site to be poorly managed/organized/staffed, and there is no appearance of wanting to have visitors be educated or engaged in the history or culture. Sadly, we would not recommend visiting them. The historical sites in Luxor are moderately better organized and make for a much more enjoyable visit, but we felt the pyramid complex was designed in a manner that reduced the experience of visiting the pyramids to a feeling that we were merely crossing them off a list of places to see (and not understand or appreciate).
22 comments
great pictures again!! sad to hear that the pyramids are not really taken care of. also to see all the trash in an earlier post from you. such a shame. you cannot enter the pyramids right?
ReplyDeleteviele grüsse, kristina
Interesting looking but sad there was not a more informative tour. I just crossed it off my list.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a let down when something so historically and visually phenomenal isn't presented to its fullest... Even if you'd been warned in advance, it still is such a shame. I've always wanted to see the pyramids, but this almost makes me want to keep them in my imagination.
ReplyDeleteWow. That is so beautiful! I am sorry that happened to you with the tour guide! What a creep!
ReplyDeleteEgypt is magnificent.
when i went i hired a personal tour guide and driver. so it was just me, not a group, one-on-one with my guide...a very well-educated egyptian woman. (i'm not a fan of big organized tours) i found having someone there who could talk to me about what i was seeing (as well as at several of the other sites) and tell me some of the stories etc. and history made it a great experience. less empty. (i'm sure that is why i also had less hassle and 'scammers' approach me.)
ReplyDeletei'm sorry you didn't have a better experience there.
That's super disappointing to hear, but I can totally see that being true. At least you gave it a chance. And the photos turned out nice regardless :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience with us!
It was so interesting to read your insight. I had a feeling that's how it really was, and I think it's so sad... but you know, you got gorgeous shots, and thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteps- a place in Montreal??! details, details!!!!!!! any neighbourhoods in mind?
As u mentioned, I always had the feeling that pyramids are very gigantic. Dont think I can change that thought unless I see it in real!!! Anyways, it does look shabby and dirty, and whole lot of plastic. Hope the authorites realize it before its too late..
ReplyDeletefunny that this is today's post cuz my bf just talked about visiting egypt one day. love it.
ReplyDeleteyour photos are amaaaaazing!
ReplyDeleteeven with the disappointments, the fact that you DID see the pyramids and got those enviable photo opts is amazing. the heat and lack of liquids sounds miserable. and the garbage thrown on the desert where the camels were is sad too!
ReplyDeletei enjoyed seeing it thru honest eyes!
that's really incredible...one day...
ReplyDeleteSo disappointing, hopefully the rest of Egypt will make up for it, I've seen some amazing photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to Easter Island. in October and it's an expensive journey so I hope it will live up to it
how did you manage to take photos looking as if you were the only ones there??? Great photos at least, even if your experiencing wasn't up to par.
ReplyDeleteVisiting the pyramids is on my wanderlist! But I can't believe the drama to make it inside the complex! Such a shame. That would ruin the experience a bit for me. And also bummer on it not being a more culturally and historically rich experience :( Too bad since they are one of the treasures of the world.
ReplyDeleteI was just tossing up between a trip to the Taj Mahal or to Egypt to see the pyramids and your post has confirmed us going to see the Taj Mahal! Sad to hear they pyramid complex being run like that and that your experience wasn't so great. I just hope they look after them for the next generations. :)
ReplyDeletewelcome to Egypt indeed. As someone who's been here for the past 6 months, it doesn't get better, the locals dont get more hospitable, the corruption and harrasment dont improve. thanks for shedding light on the situation. it breaks my heart to see tourists come here and have their dreams crushed but its better to know what to expect.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who follows your travels from the beginning, eagrly anticipating the pyramids almost as much as you guys did, (ha, as much as I can anticipate pictures and write ups!)I am highly appreciative of how honest and real you have been. No need to sugar coat something to make you sound more appreciative! (You guys know how lucky you are) I'd rather hear what really went down in Cairo!
ReplyDeleteHow disappointing! Well, at least you can say you've been there. I had no idea you'd have to go through so much to see them, and then to have them be so much less than you expected, what a bummer!
ReplyDeleteI visited the pyramids several years ago when I was on leave from Iraq it was less than a month after the Sharm El Sheik bombing and it was desserted. It was myself and my travel companion and not a single other person around. Almost eerie but amazing to have the place to ourselves. We had a taxi driver that took us on horse rides there and back. Sure it was a scam but had an amazing time.I do agree that they are not well kept as expected.
ReplyDeleteI, too, really appreciate your honesty. The taxi ride sounded crazy, and I know that traveling when you're constantly fearing the worst of people is frustrating and exhausting--it's great to see how you continued to try to make the best of a trying, yet incredible, experience. I'm really looking forward to reading more about your travels and seeing more of your wonderful images!
ReplyDeletedude your outfits in egypt are awesome. oh right pyramids are cool too. ;)
ReplyDelete