Do All Ids Have Hologrmas

Latest Purchases - Egyptian Museum of Cairo

Objective of the day: visit the famous Egyptian Museum "and start buying souvenirs. We thought

to the opening to prevent a revival groups, but has decided not adjusted otherwise! So wake around 10 am with breakfast. rooftop. Meeting with a U.S. sister who wants to go to Palestine and to sign a peace treaty.

With a Hispanic American who travels alone in the region, we discuss the U.S., the state of the world ... interesting analysis. Anne, a French high-Savoie joins us the morning and goes to talk with dozens of cats and a bitter coffee. Nice to find an atmosphere of travelers who like to take time for discussion and do not think "visit-visit".

So in the end about noon we put our feet in the Egyptian Museum . ( Website ) finally we try! For the most visited place in Egypt is surrounded by a 2 x 6 channel, self-bridges and gates, all without access to underground well signposted! Perilous crossing of the highway and pass three tests before finally entering the walls.

And here it must be said, our first impression is not the joy of being there ... but a disappointment to see the sad spectacle of the museum. Everything is laid on the ground, without order or labels or explanations. The statues that have survived in 4000 or 5000 years are dusty and poorly lit. What about the mummies and paintings presented in old wooden windows and glass, without lighting or control of heat or humidity? The plaster crumbling and nobody seems to find it embarrassing. Here a window pushed against a wall with explanations ... to the wall ... is a very beautiful funerary mask ... anonymous ... aimless gait which can not retain anything. Fortunately Tutankhamen's treasure is there for (almost) forget the rest. Incredible refinement and extreme wealth are these parts! Thousands of jewelry, sculpture. Timber, gold, silver, rocks ... everything has been used! It's great to see the size of the boxes which contained the sarcophagus!
And of course, the death mask ... Indescribable finesse and sensuality.
A new museum scheduled to open in 2009 . Hopefully it worthy of the beautiful pieces that close ... because right now it is an affront to what we do history!

Afternoon "souvenir hunting" in Islamic Cairo. Strangely, many shops are closed ...

... but we manage to find our happiness: a shisha, glass blown "hand" and a huge star-shine of Ramadan we hope to pack!

The street decorations for Ramadan approaching!

Homecoming with Ali (a French teacher met Egyptian Siwa) at the foot of the mosque El-Azhar. Nice to see him over tea in the middle of all Egyptians who converse.

At almost the eve of our departure, we begin to appreciate this country in its diversity and this is its charm. Despite many shortcomings, Egypt can really dream and transport us to another time and another rhythm of life. Time of the Pharaohs Palace of 1001 nights ... a little of all this is the soul of Egypt today ...

Main expenses of the day (for 2):

Hotel : 35 THE
Dej : 5 THE
Meals: + 66 12 ON THE
Taxi: 10 / trip (center -> Khan el Khalili )
Museum: 20 LE / person. Sometimes much tail.
Memories .... too! To give you an idea, here are the prices of our major purchases (I can not guarantee to have had the best business!)
handmade glass: the glass 3 THE
Chicha: 70 LE (the Price depends on three things: 1 / quality glass for the water container + paintings 2 / quality tube scrap, the more loud, the better! and 3 / the pipe. Uun good tip is to have its end has a wooden part that can be removed (see the pipes Fichawi)
Etoile chandelier Ramadan : 40 THE

>> To J28 - Latest Purchases