Pyramids of Giza

July 1996 -- What can I say about the pyramids? They are one of the most spectacular things I have seen in all of my travels. When I was riding a camel among the pyramids, it was one of those "pinch-me" moments in life. I felt like Danny DeVito in the movie, Jewel of the Nile. After a few minutes, I lost track of Earl, my work partner. His camel group rode off in a different direction. I was quickly separated from the only person I knew in Egypt (and for only a brief time). It was a little unnerving, but who cared, I was on a camel in Giza.

Yep, that's me!

I don't recall there being an entrance fee to see the pyramids. I'm sure there is now. After we got there, we were followed by a couple of camel "jockeys." The tagged us for being rich Americans. No offense taken. We each got on a camel and went for an unforgettable ride. We ended up at a "vista,"  a perfect place to take pictures with the giant pyramids in the background. They had a getup for us to wear, so we'd look the part of an Arab roaming the desert. As I recall they also had film and Pepsi for sale.

Earl's camel group

Oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Pyramids of Giza were built between approximately 2600 and 2500 BC. Mysteries still surround their construction. Since 1996, I have since visited sites that actually older than the pyramids. In 204, I visited Stonehenge. Its construction began around 3100 BC. The year before Lara and I visited passage tombs Newgrange and Knowth  in Ireland. They date to 3200 BC. Carrowmore's megalithic monuments, also in Ireland, are even older. The Great Wall of China is way younger, no more than 500 years old. I have visited the Great Wall twice, at two different locations.

A donkey to spoil the view

Riding through the desert on a camel

I visited the pyramids almost 30 years ago. They haven't changed, but I'm sure the area around them has. It wasn't very touristy when I went. You probably have to take guided tours now. I felt like I/we got to see the pyramids "unspoiled."

My pictures aren't the best. They were scanned from pictures taken almost 30 years ago. Not to mention the film was probably Seattle Filmworks, a less expensive option than Kodak.