Adventures on the Nile: a Plethora of Pyramids


Right about the time we thought we'd seen extremely ancient tombs and temples, we visited Saqqara, the necropolis of Memphis, and we gained a whole new perspective of time. Memphis was the first capital after Egypt was united around 3000 BC and remained an important religious center for thousands of years. It lost importance around 300 BC when the Ptolemaic Pharaohs moved the capital to Alexandria. Then when Egypt was conquered by Arabs in 800 AD, Memphis was used as a quarry for the expansion of Cairo.


Thankfully Saqqara and its pyramids and tombs survived the ravages of time, neglect, and war. The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest stone building in the world, dating to around 2630 BC. And there are other pyramids at Saqqara, as well as just south in Dahshur, which we could see in the distance.

We truly enjoyed touring a tomb of the princess Idut (photos were not allowed), where we got to see beautifully preserved depictions of daily life from 4,300 years ago. Simply mind blowing and a rather emotional experience.


Travel Tip
It's understandable if you aren't the type of person who enjoys doing a lot of research before going to a destination, or maybe you're one who would rather learn as you go. But Egypt is simply unlike any other place on Earth and we would recommend doing a small bit of research on the landmarks you will be seeing. This will help you to absorb even more as you won't be hearing lots of names and various events for the first time from your guides. We went with minimal historical knowledge and while we loved every minute, it would have made for an even more complete journey along the Nile. Now we just need to go back to see and learn even more about this amazing destination!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saint Lucia Secrets: A Beautiful Island

Image
Saint Lucia truly has something for everyone. This lush, volcanic Caribbean island has beautiful, unspoiled splendor just waiting to be explored. With help from the volcanic soil, the lush tropical forests cover the entire island, including the iconic Piton Mountians. These twin peaks are right next to Sulphur Springs, the world’s only drive thru volcano. You can drive right up to the edge of the springs and even take a sulphur mud bath! Whether you are seeking adventure, nature, culture, spectacular diving, or romance, you will not be disappointed! During our seven day trip to Saint Lucia, we experienced the island’s natural beauty, met its welcoming people, and saw many of its beautiful resorts. From eco-friendly boutique hotels tucked in the hillsides providing amazing views of the coves below to the elegant all-inslusives located on splendid beaches, every resort was unique and worth exploring. We only had time to do one excursion during this visit, but this Island ...
Read more

Unico Riviera Maya

Image
Anniversary All Inclusive Celebration of a Lifetime! June 15, 2022   Patrick and I were celebrating our 14 year anniversary. We had been through an extremely tough year of 2020 which was full of quarantine, mental illness, depression, marriage issues, our kids were struggling mentally, I had just been hired as a music teacher part-time as well as working at Personal Travel, changing churches, and the list goes on from there. Needless to say my husband and I were ready for a few days away to relax and reconnect.   So we booked the flights to Mexico and headed to an adults only all inclusive called Unico Riviera Maya. We were able to get to the Cancun airport by 10:00am and then we got our transfer and took us about 45 minutes to get to the resort from the airport. When we arrived we were greeted in the lobby and they whisked our luggage away and gave us a refreshing cocktail to sip while we checked-in. We were shortly after greeted by our "Local Host" which is very similar to ...
Read more

Adventures on the Nile: Enduring Marvels

Image
Our tour at the Pyramids of Giza was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Our guide set up camel rides for us to start, so we could sit in comfort while the pyramids came into view. You may be thinking, as I did, "isn't this a bit touristy and predictable?" But I can guarantee you there is nothing like riding on a camel through the sands around the pyramids, just as people have been doing for millennia! As the only survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, there is so much more to the Pyramids of Giza than the typical image that comes to mind when thinking of Egypt. The official "wonder" is the Great Pyramid of Giza, built by Khufu, but the entire pyramid complex is a wonder. Built between 2550 and 2490 BC, in the 4th Dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom, the pyramids were just a part of a larger necropolis, with temples, tombs of family and high-ranking officials, and even a gigantic sphinx built to protect the complex. Words cannot ca...
Read more