Memphis and Cairo

Today we had a very early flight out of Hurghada into Cairo. After boarding our coach bus we headed for Saqqara. This area is an ancient necropolis with many half buried tombs, many of which are still under excavation! Upon arriving we viewed the oldest pyramid in Egypt, a "step" pyramid, built by "Zhoser". He is viewed as one of the great architect's of ancient times. We also viewed some awesome tombs, where the hieroglyphs depicted life in ancient Egypt. Stunning artwork and sculpting!

We re-boarded the bus where our next destination is one of the old capitals of Egypt, Memphis. Among other monuments, we saw an Alabaster Sphinx, a magnificent sarcophagus, and a massive fallen statue of Ramses II! We had to drive(maneuver) throughout the streets of this very old city. It was quite the experience!

On our way out of the city, we stopped at a "carpet store". This is no ordinary store! They were started by one man who wanted to be able to teach youth a trade. He trained the youth how to weave these very elaborate carpets. We learned how they do the weaving on silk, cotton and wool. Very cool!

After enjoying a very good ethnic lunch at a local restaurant, we headed into "Old Cairo".  Here we viewed a Coptic Christian church (Coptic means Egyptian) which is one of the oldest churches in the world, the church of St. Sergius. There is a crypt there and an old well where evidence has shown the Holy Family's presence at the time when they escaped Herod and lived in Egypt for three years and eleven months. Right down the small narrow corridor was the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest remaining synagogue in Egypt!.  It too, was beautiful! Due to the 1979 Israeli conflict, presently there are only 30 practicing Egyptian Jews in Egypt.  We visited another church which is built on top of three huge piers or pillars of the semi flooded Roman Water Gate and is called the " Hanging Church" for that reason.  We also saw the Church of St. George and the remains of the Roman Tower of Babylon. Within this small area of Old Cairo are numerous churches and monuments. Most buildings were thousands of years old with some being rebuilt or restored..

Last night we enjoyed two local favorites at a local diner. The main dish is called Koshary. It consists of macaroni, rice, lentils, chick peas and tomato sauce all combined into one. Very good and extremely filling! For desert we had homemade rice pudding with nuts and dates- Excellent!

Walking through "Old Cairo"

Fallen Ramses statue - huge!

Alabaster Sphinx statue - it weighs 80 tons!

"Step" pyramid

One method of travel!

A more traditional method of travel!

Fruit stands all over the city!

Traditional scene

Anyone for an orange - delicious!

Depiction in one of the tombs

A visit to the carpet school

Saw lots of these, carrying produce and crops to market

Making bread, which we had warm for lunch Yum!

Everyone loves a nice cold cola!

Streets of "Old Cairo"

Sign directing us to the old church

Ahhhh, a bit of shopping!