Cairo: February 17

We are leaving Egypt tomorrow morning (early!) for Morocco. Our time in Egypt has exceeded all our expectations. We have seen so many sights here, and our trip has been unforgettable.

The last time I wrote, I mentioned our visit to the most incredible sight Egypt boasts: the pyramids of Giza. I wanted to elaborate a bit more on the information we have learned about the pyramids. At around 4500 years old, the pyramids are the only Ancient Wonder of the World standing, and they are quite incredible. The tallest pyramid, belonging to Khiops, measures at 455 feet; the second one, belonging to Khephron, stands at 445 feet; and Mekernos’ pyramid is significantly smaller. The three ancient kings built the pyramids as their burial places, and they each took workers around four years to build. The reason the ancient Egyptians began building tombs for their kings instead of pyramids was because the tombs were so conspicuous and subject to robbery. As we now know, burying the tombs in the ground didn’t deter robbers either.

We got the opportunity to visit the inside of Khephron’s tomb. After stooping down to climb about forty meters (120 feet), we got to the burial site. The only thing left in the burial site is the sarcophagus, which cannot be removed because it was placed in the pyramid before it was finished. It wouldn’t fit through the narrow entrance.

The day after we visited the pyramids, we got the amazing opportunity to visit a mosque and two churches in Cairo. The reason we found this so fascinating was because Jesus, Mary, and Joseph actually lived for some time under one of the churches we visited. Our guide, Romany, is a Christian, but Egypt primarily has a Muslim population (80% Muslim /20% Christian). We were fascinated learning about Islam, especially since we hear so many different messages about it in the United States right now. Muslim does not believe Jesus was the Son of God. They believe he was a prophet. Moses is the other important prophet for the Muslims, along with, of course, Mohamed. Mohamed is the most important prophet because he is the one to whom God revealed the Qu’ran.

Visiting the mosque was interesting, and the mosque was stunning, but the life found in the Coptic Christian churches was incomparable. Because of the freedom found in Christ rather than the rules of adhering to a religion, people seemed happier. The women especially seemed much freer. Christianity, of course, preaches equality for men and women, whereas Islam teaches that women are worth half of men. The Christian women were not wearing headscarves.

One of the churches we visited is called the Hanging Church. It has been given this name because it is built on top of a Roman fortress instead of on the ground. It’s actually pretty high up.

After visiting the mosques and the church, we went to the Cairo Museum. Romany joked how it looks like a storage room now because they have discovered so many artifacts. If you spent one minute looking at each item in the museum, it would take you 114 days to see everything. Indeed there was a lot to see, but the most fascinating exhibits were King Tut’s treasures and the Mummy Exhibit.

Everything found in King Tut’s tomb (except his mummy and one burial case which are in his tomb) is now in the Cairo Museum. He had so much jewelry and the sarcophagus that was the outer layer was enormous. It’s so hard to imagine how so much was found in the small tomb of Tut, and it really makes you wonder how many treasures would have been in the larger tombs of rulers who ruled longer than Tut.

The mummy exhibit was also very interesting. It’s so incredible that these mummies who are thousands of years old still have hair and teeth and fingernails. To this day, they still cannot create the mummification process.

Our last sightseeing day was spent in Alexandria, the Egyptian summer resort town on the Mediterranean. We first visited the incredible Alexandria Library. The library has so much to see. It’s the biggest library I’ve ever visited and the biggest open space library in the world. The architecture of the library is also quite fascinating.

After visiting the library, we went to the site of the Alexandria lighthouse, which was one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It was destroyed by an earthquake. A fortress now stands there. We also visited catacombs where pagan rituals were performed and people were buried. It was a great underground maze carved out of one big stone. Last, we visited a pillar and some sphinx, which are the only pieces of a temple that they have discovered (although they are still doing excavating).

Today, we went to play nine holes of golf near the pyramids. We had a great time playing at the foot of these incredible monuments. Tomorrow: Morocco!