Day 10: Last Minute Looks

Despite being ready to go home, I am not ready to give up a whole day no matter how tired I am. Calling our buddy Tomm, we set up to hire a driver for the day to see Saqqara, Dhashur, and Memphis. Mr. Tickles drove us to Saqqara, home of the step pyramid, the first attempt at a pyramid. Saqqara is home to tombs and the burial ground of early dynasty royalties. Unfortunately, the step pyramid is under construction (repair work) preventing any up close and personal contact with the first pyramid.


After exploring Saqqara, we headed to Dhashur, the site of 3 (well now 2) pyramids: the red, black, and bent pyramids. The bent pyramid, the most famous of the 3, was planned to be a normal pyramid but the dimensions were off, forcing the builders to adjust the structure to prevent collapse. The adjustments left the structure curved and bent halfway up. The red pyramid, which is not red in fact, is said to be the world's first smooth sided pyramid. Tourists can climb halfway up the side of the structure and enter it. I have become increasingly scared of heights but I trudged up anyway, freaking out inside about the uneven marble steps and rickety wooden railing. Like the pyramids at Giza, you enter bent at the waist, walking down the slope....the difference is this one is a lot deeper since you enter from halfway up. Hot and already feeling sick, I made it in only a couple meters out of 150 before freaking out. The hot and thin air made me nauseous, I turned and climbed back out. Ashley and Rebecca, who are not pussies about it, carried on the 100-150 meter slope.

I didn't mind waiting for them to return, its not everyday that you can sit on the side of a pyramid staring off into the desert....

The black pyramid is badly damaged and can only be seen from a distance. The same goes for the Bent, it too is closed. Sick, I tried to sleep on the way to Memphis and shake it. The former capital of Egypt, houses only a museum, one we declined to pay to enter. Mr Tickles had a stop to make before returning to Cairo. He drove down narrow streets, chickens and children reluctantly moved out of his path. Children gathered and stared at us while we waited. Upon returning, Mr. Tickles made impressive manuevers out of the narrow, shabby neighborhood. Easing through the streets, children began following the car, banging loudly on windows, waving. We giggled and waved back, which only encouraged the little boys. Mr. Tickles stopped short and opened the door, sending the kids scattering. It only took the car inching forward to send them lunging back to wave and yell. This continued until, Mr. Tickles had enough, this time opening the door and chasing them back. As we drove away, the kids followed in our wake....

Mr. Tickles dropped us off at our hostel for our last night. We found good takeaway and spent the night talking to fellow travelors and reading outside before going to bed early.

Our flight leaves at 7:30am, we left for the airport at 4:30 because there is nothing in the world that could make me miss my flight back to civilization!!!!