EGYPT

So I can hardly believe that I've been here for over a month. Time goes way too fast and as could be expected, I'm not doing a very good job of keeping up with everything. But after a week of catching up with classes and relaxing, I can now talk about EGYPT. Yes, Camille has now officially been on the African continent and in Egypt of all places. There are no words... So I had forgotten what it was like to be in a third world country again, but I was defnitely reminded within just a few hours of being there. As soon as we crossed the border at the Taba Border Crossing we were followed through the desert in our buses patrolled by trucks loaded with armed men; one of the guys on our bus had his weapon at all times. We were not allowed to make long eye contact with people or touch the water there (this included getting water in our faces while showering... I won't mention the two crazy students who jumped into the Nile) and fresh fruits and vegetables were out of the question. Basically if it wasn't cooked, and cooked well, we had to avoid it. We were responsible for providing our own toilet paper and cleaning materials in any restroom. Everyone got sick. I think it was because we breathed the air. You can imagine that by the end of the week, nothing was sacred anymore. We bonded with our sickliness. ;) But I digress.... I couldn't really complain though. If you were going to do Egypt, this was the way to do it. We were so spoiled and were able to stay in some beautiful hotels and our guides and instructors were very nice and accommodating.

The conditions set aside, Egypt was incredible. It wasn't too hot and we saw so much. We first headed for Cairo where I saw my first glimpses of the pyramids. THE PYRAMIDS! They came out of nowhere and I was shocked at how close they were to the city. I was expecting a huge long camel ride in sand or something in order to get to them yet there they were. We got up close and personal with the pyramids that evening at a sound and light show. They still felt like a nice backdrop until the following day when we actually went inside. And wonder of all wonders we got to go inside the oldest and largest of the great three pyramids at Giza, that of Khufu (in the Greek Cheops)! The great pyramid measures 756 feet on the side and stood 481 feet high. It has about 2,300,000 limestone blocks each weighing an average of 5,000 pounds! The pyramids were tombs built for the Egyptian pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. The pyramid of Khufu is the largest, next is the pyramid of his son, Khafre (in whose likeness the Sphinx was made), then his son, Menkaure. Father, son, grandson. We were able to go up the small shaft and into the king's chamber where his sarcophagus would have laid. Those who are chlostrophobic would have had a seriously difficult time. There is no ventilation in the pyramids, so you are breathing in the exhale of everyone else who has come before you. I'm not sure exactly how many millions of gallons of water are circulated through the pyramids each year in this way which restricts tourism for them. While we were climbing up the narrow shaft I heard singing to what I thought was "Come, Come Ye Saints." I thought I was going crazy until I made it into the chamber where I found all the students gathered together and singing. The pyramids were standing 800 years before Abraham even came into Egypt. It's pretty amazing to be in these places and get an idea of what our forebearers have seen and experienced. Egypt had a big role to play in Old Testament history and it is so neat to follow it around and see it first hand.