by Egypt Holidays on June 9, 2010
Following from our earlier blog, our trip continues…
The tickets prices differ for locals and foreign visitors. Keep in mind that there is a separate entrance fee for visiting the Giza compound and entering the Pyramids. The ticket collection offices are brick enclosures which can get very crowded and are easy to miss. Don’t look for signs. There are none. As for the taxi drivers, it is customary for them to stop before the main entrance, for a camel or horse trip. If you don’t want a ride, politely ask the driver not to stop before the main entrance. Also make sure that you do not take any sharp items with you as the security checks are rigorous. Once inside the compound, you will encounter numerous vendors who insist on initiating a conversation so that the visitor may buy. Do not start haggling if you don’t want to.
by Egypt Holidays on May 27, 2010
The most famous of the monuments remains the great Pyramids at Giza. The compound is located just a few kilometers south of Cairo. Due to the massive intrusion of the nearby real estate, the last house is just a few hundred meters, from the Giza site. Yet, the entire site feels a world apart. What attracts visitors most is the location of the three larger pyramids and sphinx. The complex also contains many temples, outer buildings and other places of worship.
It is not only the great pyramid that demands attention but the two sister pyramids also offer a glimpse into an intriguing art of ancient engineering. On arrival, the pyramid of Khafre greets the visitors which to an on-looker looks larger than the Great Pyramid. Experts believe that it was purposely built on a high mound with steep angles to create an illusion of its greater size. Just for this reason, it is mistaken as the great Pyramid, itself. The smallest of the three is that of the Menkaure. It too has its fair share of legends and myths that far outweigh its larger neighbors. The pyramid is half limestone, half brick and the mechanical engineering and design doesn’t match its cousins. Stories abound and the pyramid reveals its secrets every year. Talk about the giant and fully functional boats discovered beneath the Great Pyramid.
