Giza

  • DSC01074 The remains of the casing stones on the Great Pyramid of Giza
  • DSC01077 The Great Pyramid of Giza completed circa 2560 BCE by the Pharaoh Khufu son of Sneferu.
  • DSC01079 Mona climbing up a pile of rubble. We were later chastised for climbing. The guard wanted a "fee" to forgive our trespass.
  • DSC01081 Looking south over subsidiary pyramids near the Great Pyramid.
  • DSC01082 A picture from atop the "rubble" which turned out to be the Funerary Temple.
  • DSC01083 Mona and a little forced perspective. Either she looks big or the pyramid looks small, your choice.
  • DSC01086 Looking east toward Cairo. When the pyramids were built, a branch of the Nile ran near the base of the plataeu, in the foreground. (Panorama)
  • DSC01090 Chris and the Great Pyramid, more forced perspective. Using this picture, I calculate the pyramid to be ~30 feet tall.
  • DSC01094 Looking southwest - From near to far: the Great Pyramid (Khufu's Pyramid), Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure.
  • DSC01096 Looking southwest again, showing more of the surrounding plateau.
  • DSC01098 The north facing side of the Great Pyramid. Note the opening to the passage leading the burial chambers.
  • DSC01101 Chris and Mona and the Great Pyramid.
  • DSC01102 Looking back down the road to the Pyramid of Khafre (son of Khufu). Note the original polished limestone capstone at the apex.
  • DSC01104 The Pyramid of Menkaure - The large vertical opening in the north face was left during an attempt to destroy the pyramids during the twelfth century.
  • DSC01106 Khafre and Menkaure Pyramids. (Panorama)
  • DSC01110 Mona and Chris and the Pyramid of Khafre.
  • DSC01119 The Pyramid Complex - From left to right: The Great Pyramid, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, & Pyramids of the Queens.
  • DSC01121 The Pyramid Complex and tourists. (Panorama)
  • DSC01123 Mona and Chris with the Pyramid Complex in the background.
  • DSC01126 Bedouin making their living posing for pictures with the Pyramids. If you take a picture with them in it, they expect to be paid!
  • DSC01128 Mounting the camels.
  • DSC01131 Success!
  • DSC01133 Ready for the ride.
  • DSC01134 Heading to an overlook area of the Pyramid Complex.
  • DSC01143 Overlooking the Pyramids - In the foreground are the Queens Pyramids with the Pyramid of Menkaure behind.
  • DSC01144 Two camel jockeys.
  • DSC01149 Mona and her camel. I think his name was Joe.
  • DSC01155 I don't know why the guide didn't let me get off the camel. I thnk this is a weird picture.
  • DSC01160 The plateau and the Pyramids. (Panorama)
  • DSC01161 The plateau and the Pyramids. (Panorama)
  • DSC01162 Mona, master camel driver. Her camel actually bit mine at one point.
  • DSC01163 Another view of the Pyramids with Giza in the background.
  • DSC01167 Riding a camel isn't really comfortable. Lots of rocking forward and backward.
  • DSC01172 Ships of the desert.
  • DSC01174 I don't think these camels were pampered.
  • DSC01176 Looking back at the Pyramids.
  • DSC01179 Mona fighting the wind (blowing across the plateau, not from the speeding camel).
  • DSC01184 The Great Sphinx of Giza with the Great Pyramid in the background. Not everything was called "Great"...
  • DSC01188 The Great Sphinx from behind. Have you ever seen this view? I'm guessing "no".
  • DSC01193 The Sphinx and the Pyramids.
  • DSC01194 A demonstration on making papyrus.
  • DSC01196 Basically you slice the plant into thin slices, soak it in water, place it in a press, and let it dry.
  • DSC01198 The result is papyrus. It becomes far more expensive after someone paints something on it.