Visting the you know whats

Just got back from a tour done by our program to the Pyramids of Giza. Probably one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. And shocking. And confusingly paradoxical. You know how when you think of the pyramids, you envision in your head these three ancient monuments, rising out of the sand dunes of the isolated Sahara desert? Well, in actuality, the city of Giza (satellite town of Cairo) ends around 1 km from the edge of the Pyramids complex. As you're driving in this thick urban area with falling apart concrete buildings and roads covered in garbage, suddenly over the rooftops emerges the Pyramids. It's actually ridiculous, and definitely unexpected. Also, right before you get to the Pyramids, and even when you're walking around the plateau, you get hassled by perhaps the most intense souvenir/postcard peddlers in the history of man. What these guys would do is they'd say hi to you, then say "you're my friend, take this gift" and try to shove something in your hands. If they were successful, they'd demand payment! I saw this one dude actually throw a t-shirt at this girl in our program and then ask for her to pay, it was hilarious and frightening at the same time.

Anyways, there's not much I can say about the Pyramids...they really need to be seen to be understood and appreciated (like always, you can check out my picture site here . We got to see all three pyramids as well as the Sphinx without paying any cash, which made it doubly awesome. I went with a couple of my friends into the underground passage in the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren), a memorable but thoroughly bad idea! It was ridiculously hot and humid, and had a nauseous smell that we called "pharaoh's musk". You also could only get through the passage (which took like 10 minutes) bending over because we were in a claustrophobic tunnel that was about three-four feet high. The Sphinx was really awesome, but was sorta like an NFL game--it's a lot smaller when you're there in person. Our tour guide said that because of pollution and rising groundwater, the Sphinx will completely erode within 300 years if something is not done.

Definitely want to go back to the Pyramids (during sunset!) and also try my hand at horse riding in the desert. My pictures from today are mega sick, so look at them.

Rock on,
Neil