Bring on the Ancient History HSC Exam

Egyptian Museum - Saladin’s Citadel and Mohammed Ali’s Mosque - Coptic Cairo   

Another day, another 4am wake up call. Heading down to breakfast we were wondering if there was going to be a sheikh playing a didgeridoo but were “disappointed” when no entertainment was provided.  

Egyptian Museum

We got the same driver again today (and tomorrow who has to be at hotel at 5:30am – he wasn’t too excited about that one) and same guide. Heading straight to the Egyptian Museum we found nearly all the foreign tourists in Egypt lining up to get in. Again was spoilt with our personal guide and didn’t have to listen to little headphones with a pack of 30 people trying to see the artefacts. But boy, were there artefacts. It was incredible – so much history surviving for so many years. But then you think of how much is missing or lost or stolen! I would so much rather be an Egyptian History teacher than an Australian history teacher.

Best parts were definitely Tutankhamun’s galleries. The death mask just highlighted the craftsmanship that was present so long ago. Also saw mummies (hopefully no nightmares tonight) and some mummified animals. It was just information overload and so much detail and hieroglyphics etched into stone. We weren’t allowed to take cameras in so to see some of the beauty just do a Wikipedia search.  

Saladin’s Citadel and Mohammed Ali’s Mosque

We then headed to one of the high points of Cairo to the citadel built by Saladin. Very imposing walls and it’s amazing to see the juxtaposition of ancient buildings and modern technology present everywhere in Cairo. Inside the citadel is a massive mosque. Beautiful decorations on the domes and a Turkish slant on the architecture.

Heading inside we were again told the benefits of Islam by our guide who then gave us a lecture on the ways a man can marry a 2^nd wife. He sidestepped the question if a wife could marry a 2^nd husband...

After our sermon, we went outside where there is a great view of Cairo. All the photos I’ve been taking show a reasonably blue sky. We were a bit shocked since it’s very smoggy.  

Coptic Cairo

Our final destination for the day is part of very old Cairo where some Christian Churches and Jewish Synagogues live nestled in the heart of this now Muslim country. Again there is a terrible amount of history and claims related to these sites. We visited the Church where it was said that Joseph and Mary fled to avoid Herod’s persecution. We also stopped into what is known as the ‘hanging church’ since it floats on top of a Roman fort. Finally a refurbished synagogue which we again weren’t allowed to take photographs in.

So tomorrow we leave Cairo for Luxor for our cruise.  

Any Suggestions:

-          Things to try, Places to visit, Food to Eat from people who have been here before! (after Mick’s suggestion on facebook) Doesn’t have to be Egypt, anywhere in Israel or Jordan – and we’ll see what happens – Also if there’s things not to do! That can be just as valuable.

-          New Blog title

If you have a great suggestion – leave it in the comments section, on facebook or email.

Week Ahead

Wed, 7^th of April               Cairo to Luxor (begin Cruise)

Thurs, 8^th of April              Cruise cont. (Valley of Kings)

Fri, 9^th of April                    Cruise cont. (Edfu/Kom Ombo) 

Sat, 10^th of April                Cruise arrive in Aswan

Sun, 11^th of April               Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh via Cairo

Mon, 12^th of April             Free day in Sharm el-Sheikh (Red Sea) 

Tues, 13^th of April             Travel to Jerusalem via Taba Border