THE GREAT PYRAMID

We arrived at the site of the Great Pyramid and got out of the van. There was a whole busload of Japanese tourists lined up to get into the pyramid. I didn't know it at the time but learned later that all the tickets had already been sold out for getting into the Great Pyramid for that day. I was told that our guide knew the person at the entrance of the pyramid and gave his a bribe to get us in. Thank God for bribes otherwise we would have never gotten in. The first thing the guide did

Interior Drawing of the Great Pyramid when we got to the foot of the pyramid was take our cameras away from us. They didn't want us to take pictures of the inside of the pyramid as if their haven't already been millions of pictures taken of it already. Up a short staircase made of cement and a short walk over I got to the opening of the pyramid where the two men were standing. This entrance was blown open by dynomite a couple hundred years ago by some people who wanted to get inside the collosal monument. It was just a gaping hole.
Thoth - The builder of the Pyramid At the entrance we waited while the Japanese tourists were still exiting. When the chance came I went in. The Canadian couple also went in. We exchanged a few words. They had never dreamed that they would ever have a chance to come inside this mammoth landmark. It had never even entered their minds but they were very excited at the prospect of going in. I could hear the three nigresses behind us at the entrance. "Eeeek"! I heard one of them squeal. "It's dark in there. I don't know if I want to go in" the leader said. "I might get my dress dirty" one of them said. Their voices faded and I continued forward through the descending corridor. I don't know about them but I specifically came to Egypt to get in this particular pyramid. I was told back in the States that they weren't letting people go in the Great Pyramid anymore. The public was trashing the monument and the authorities were seriously thinking of closing it altogether to preserve it for future generations before it got totally ruined. The pathway was a wooden ramp. The tunnel was narrow and only one person could go through at a time in places. Sometimes you had to bend over so you didn't bump your head on the low ceiling.
The Great Pyramid In some places it is less then four feet high and three feet by five inches wide. It slopes down at an angel of twenty six degrees. In some places I had to squat down and walk in duck fashion. In still other places I had to bend my knees while walking bent over. That was a real killer.
The entrance to the pyramid Finally we came to the main corridor. You had a choice at this point. You could either stay on this trail that leades to the Queen's Chamber or climb onto another path that went upward to the King's Chamber. Somehow I knew that going up the steel ladder would lead to the King's Chamber. Even though part of the way was generally straight like in the picture below, there was still some ducking down and bending of the knees in narrow passage ways. Some places you had to bend very low, but we finally made it.
Corridor inside the Great Pyramid The chamber was just the way I thought it would be. Now I knew the feel of the place. I was seeing it with my own eyes and not through the lense of a camera. The sarcophagus was there with the chip in it. I got inside of it. That was always my dream. I didn't see any markings on the walls or anywhere in it. The three of us walked around the room just getting a feel of the place.
King's Chamber On the way down we thought we would try to get into the Queen's Chamber but there was a pad lock on the gate. Getting out of there was the same; bending low squatting, walking like a duck in some places. I knew I was going to pay for this in the upcoming days in pain. And I did.

THREE LITTLE PYRAMIDS
Outside we met up with the rest of the group again and went to the other side of the pyramid to view the three smaller pyramids built for some of the queens of Kufu. They weren't as impressive as the Great Pyramid or as perfectly built as it is. After this we went to see a tomb of the alledged architect of the pyramid.

SOLAR BOAT
This boat was found in a pit next to the Great Pyramid. It was discovered in the 1950's and it took several years to extract it from the gound and re-assemble it. It now sits in an air conditioned building near the pyramid

Solar Boat

Camel Ride

We wandered around the sand in the blazing sun for a little bit, meanwhile the hawkers were out in force trying to sell their wares. I bought some things when I was offered a good price. Some of us wanted to take a camel ride so we went behind the pyramids where our guide said we could get a good price. One guy said that he would let us ride his camel for 50$US. This turned everyone off and we went away from him. Finally we found one camel handler that would let us ride for 20$US. I got on the camel named Alex and we were led a little distance out in the desert. When I first got on the camel the animal tender told me to lean back when I first got on. And then you had to shift your weight to the left and right to get balanced. Also you have to relax your body and roll with the motion of the beast. You can't stiffen up or you might fall off. I looked down to the desert floor. It was covered with large rocks that were not very inviting looking if you fell. After a few minutes I got the hang of it. We were taken quite a distance into the desert. Then after awhile we turned around and came back. There in front of us were the three pyramids sitting there on our right. What a back drop. No camera could do it justice. You had to see it in person. It was a spetacular sight that I will never forget.