2025 Volendam, Alexandria, Egypt...

It was a very early morning and long day for our 3-hour drive to Cairo to visit the Pyramids. Today there were 6 of us traveling to Cairo: 3 crew friends; Faye, Pam & John along with Ann., Cathy and myself. We picked up our Egyptologist guide Sherine in Cairo to begin our day of touring. Our first stop was the Sakkara complex and the Step Pyramid to see beautiful tombs and burial chambers. The Sakkara Step Pyramid is considered to be the oldest and the most important construction project in the history of ancient Egypt was designed by the Imhotep the architect of Djoser's step pyramid. The pyramid contains six steps standing at a height of 62 m (203 feet) with its own unique complex. Covering a 7km stretch of the Western Desert, Sakkara, the huge cemetery of ancient Memphis, was an active burial ground for more than 3500 years and is Egypt’s largest archaeological site. The necropolis is situated high above the Nile Valley’s cultivation area, and is the final resting place for deceased pharaohs and their families, administrators, generals and sacred animals. We visited the underground tomb which was much more colorful than the nondescript Giza chambers. Our guide Sherine made an unplanned stop at Memphis. Memphis was the ancient capital of Egypt, founded around 3100 BCE by King Menes. It was located near the apex of the Nile River Delta, making it an important center for trade, politics, and religion. For centuries, Memphis served as one of the most powerful and prosperous cities in the ancient world. Today, its ruins, including the great temple of Ptah and colossal statues of Ramses II, are key archaeological and tourist sites. This was a great stop….a first for all of us. Next, we went to the Giza Plateau to visit the Great Pyramid. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. The last remaining wonders of the ancient world; for nearly 4500 years, the extraordinary shape, impeccable geometry and sheer bulk of the Giza. These structures were built as royal tombs for the pharaohs and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each pyramid was constructed with millions of limestone blocks, showcasing the incredible engineering skills of ancient Egyptians. Arriving at Giza we walked to see the famous Sphinx and visited the Valley Temple. The Great Sphinx is the guardian of the blessed city of Giza. It was constructed by Pharaoh Khafre to reflect his deep wisdom and infinite power. Each pyramid was constructed with millions of limestone blocks, showcasing the incredible engineering skills of ancient Egyptians. The holy Valley Temple is an ancient medical lab that was built to prepare the dead of the royal families of the 4th dynasty through the mummification process to stand against the power of time and enter the gates of heaven. Next, we took a shuttle bus to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with smaller queens' pyramids. We walked behind the second pyramid to view the area between the two largest pyramids and then drove to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of all pyramids in the area. It was a long enjoyable day packed with all the history Cairo has to offer…We had a great driver, a very knowledgeable guide Sherine and were very pleased to be able to share this day with special crew friends, John Mark, Faye and Pam.