Cairo in a Day: Exploring the Giza Pyramids by Ahmed Nashaat
For any first-time traveler to Egypt, Cairo is often their preferred destination because of the pyramids. Ahmed Nashaat thinks that anyone who has ever traveled to Egypt without seeing the pyramids has wasted the trip completely. Ahmed Nashaat first visited Egypt for business, but even then, he made sure to extend his stay to visit the District of Giza and see the pyramids for himself.
For Ahmed, it would just seem pointless to go to Egypt without seeing the Pyramids of Giza. It’s like going to Africa and skipping the safari. It’s unthinkable, insists Ahmed Nashaat. So, when the time came for him to go on a business trip to Egypt, he made sure to reserve a day for visiting the pyramids.
A Brief Guide to the Pyramids of Giza
If you’re visiting the pyramids on your own (and not part of a tour group), you can take a taxi from Cairo to get to the Pyramids of Giza. You can find metered and unmetered taxis right in the city, and both charge relatively reasonable rates; although Ahmed Nashaat recommends that you either opt for the metered taxi or rent a car before your arrival in Cairo. If you rent a car at the last minute, there might be none available to take you to Giza at a moment’s notice, or you could be charged double (or more than the standard rate) for a last-minute booking.
When traveling abroad for the first time, it’s important to take care of your transportation details before your arrival, Ahmed Nashaat reminds the reader.
If you’re comfortable with ride-sharing services, the Middle East has its own version of Uber called Careem. Download the app on your phone and use it to book a private car to Giza.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is the only surviving representative. It is the largest of the three Pyramids of Giza and was built for the Pharaoh Khufu. History notes that the Great Pyramid was constructed over a period of 20 years or so, using more than two million stone blocks! When Ahmed Nashaat saw the Great Pyramid for the first time, he couldn’t help but picture in his mind slaves carrying blocks of stones under the scorching sun, setting these down one by one to build a burial chamber for the Pharaoh.
Standing in the middle of the necropolis, with the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the other two pyramids surrounding him was one of the most surreal experiences of his life, says Ahmed Nashaat. No words could aptly describe what he felt when he saw the pyramids for the first time.
The other two smaller pyramids you can visit are the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Apart from these, you can also visit the Solar Barque Museum, which houses the reconstructed solar boat that was buried with the Pharaoh.
Visitors can enter the pyramids, which is great for history buffs, but isn’t recommended for people who have a fear of confined spaces as the passages can be steep and narrow.