Cairo - And Into The Great Pyramid Poem by Deanna Samuels

A travelogue journey memory from the 1990's -

Many moons ago, a memory that has never been forgotten.
It was in Eilat, Israel, in its earlier days,
before it became a very popular seaside resort.
The hotel hubby and I were staying at
had pinned up some notices and glancing over them,
one stood out as most appealing -
an overnight bus tour to Cairo, to include notable locations,
places of interest with excellent overnight hotel.
That was too good to pass over, even the price was right -
$100 dollars US, not a huge amount, even in those days.
How often does one have an opportunity to visit Cairo
without great expense and at such a reasonable price! ?
On inquiring, the travel agent advised they
would make all the arrangements to obtain our visas.
Skipping over all the preliminary formalities,
the morning of our departure arrived,
found ourselves with about twenty others
on a fairly old non air conditioned rickety bus at 6am.
Our tour guide advised it was going to be a long journey,
across the desert - and she warned -
not to expect too many modern facilities!

Off we go.
Soon our last sight of Eilat faded into the far distance
and gazes settled on a desolate country side.
Several hours later, after scene of only scrub and sand,
our first comfort stop, a grubby building,
faded, peeling blue paint, so dirty and crude
offering only smelly unhygienic holes in the ground,
-just had to pass on this opportunity!
Continued on way, desert scene as before.
Espied some interesting local nomadic life,
a few tent-like structures here and there -
and then - arrived at the Suez Canal -
What an amazing sight!
Water so blue, the man made banks so straight,
hardly a ripple to spoil the calmness,
everything around it so well maintained.
Alighted for a leg stretch and thank goodness,
cleaner bathroom facilities! A photo opportunity too.
I can still picture the blueness of the water
in my mind's eye to this day.
Returning to the bus, we crossed The Suez Canal
over a well-constructed wide bridge.
The journey continued through the desert towards Cairo,
still a considerable distance away.
Dusk came down as bus trudged on and evening set in.
Gradually, a few meager housing structures appeared,
then more and more, until became miles of built-up city.
Continued wending into the heart of Cairo -
a very busy bustling city of then, about ten million people.
At last, pulled in to The Pyramids Hotel,
at that time, new and of modern luxury style.
Entered the expansive, well-designed lobby.
Our tour guide handed out the room keys
and carefully advised what not to eat or drink at dinner.
Especially be careful with water as not safe at all -
brush teeth with bottled water, definitely no washed salad
and absolutely no ice cubes!
A carefully chosen meal partaken according to instructions
following which, made way to allocated room on upper floor.
Looked outside window, very dark, only nearby streets
with subdued lighting could be seen.
With that and such a long tiring day just passed,
unpacked, prepared to retire for the night.

Morning daylight came, time to rise, prepare for a busy day.
Pulled curtain back to now get a view of the City of Cairo -
what appeared before us was overwhelming, stunning,
a scene out of our time line,
a scene one could never have imagined!

The Great Pyramids of Giza,
the sun shining directly upon them, gleaming,
nearby, the city of Giza.
The pyramids appeared so near - I just stood there -
breathless, stunned at their magnificence,
their majesty, their timeless age,
could not utter a word -
a scene never forgotten after so many years gone by.
Gathering my thoughts together from this spectacular sight,
dressed, packed and prepared for a long sightseeing day.
Breakfasted with care taking previous advices. Boarded bus.

Tour guide advised that as we drive through the city,
look out at the streets, to the left, to the right,
see how busy, how crowded they are.
Our visits that day included a genuine papyrus factory,
where I purchased papyrus paintings of ancient Egyptian life
which to this day, hangs on my office wall.
Next, the Cairo Museum - an outstanding multi-storied edifice
housing exquisite unbelievable exhibits of ancient Egypt,
including the entire extensive King Tutankhamun exhibition.
A beautifully painted 8,000 years old, foot high miniature statue,
the colors unfaded, as vibrant as when first brushed.
There were ancient fabulous gossamer fabrics,
inventions from those old days including a clapper flush toilet!
Drove to the City of the Dead, an enormous very old city cemetery
where the poorest families and homeless people actually lived
in the large mausoleums and tomb enclosures.
Then there was the Souq market, a bustling market
where anything and everything could be bought.
After all those interesting places, drove to Giza and The Pyramids

To stand at The Great Pyramid's foot, an experience one cannot forget.
To understand the immensity of the hewn stones, oblong,
four to five feet long, two feet or so high each square side,
carefully stacked indented on eight sides though seemingly looking
as though it is four sided, coming together to gradually
form a point, was daunting, miraculous.
Being so close to the stones, one could see the roughness,
the crumbling, the weathering of years and years of wear.
To see also, so nearby, the Great Sphynx, a truly amazing sight.

Then - the piece de resistance - a tour to go inside The Great Pyramid!
The entrance was a narrow opening which sloped downwards,
of ancient man-made cave like structure.
Needed to walk down slowly, holding on to the side wall.
The long corridor opened to a medium sized empty hewn stone chamber,
supposedly, where the Pharaoh would have been laid to rest
amid his entourage, jewels, chariots and his many slaves
who would have gradually suffocated and died beside him
as once in, the entrances into the chamber would have been sealed.
This almost an anti-climax, as one would have to imagine such a scene
but being there in the actual place where the burial had taken place
was indescribably awesome, unreal and out of this world.
Exited through another inner corridor to the sunshine outside.

A truly amazing, unforgettable, once in a lifetime visit.
Following this long, truly wonderfully, informative day,
had a pre-arranged meal in local restaurant.
Returned to bus to make way back to Eilat during the night
arriving tired but elated in the early hours of morning.
One of the best, most memorable trips ever experienced.


Written at Courtice, Ontario - reminiscing memories during December 2022