Cairo - day 3

Today was pyramid day!

We hired a driver and started at the big famous pyramids at Giza. They are huge and impressive! The smooth limestone face was removed many years ago to be reused in other buildings, so the faces of the pyramids are rough. We also saw the Sphinx, except for the nose :-)

We then drove out into the desert about an hour away from Cairo to see some other pyramids. We saw the first pyramid made: the step pyramid. It is called this because it was built in six distinct steps, each one smaller than the one above, but all with steeply sloping sides. We then saw the second pyramid made: the bent pyramid. It is called this because the angle of the sides changes about halfway up. They started with the steep angle of the step pyramid, but discovered that it wasn't stable without the steps, so the upper half has a shallower angle, which was used for all subsequent pyramids.

Finally, we went to the Red Pyramid, so called because the smooth sides were covered with red granite. Actually, it looked pink. We were the only visitors at this pyramid! We went deep inside this pyramid and explored three two-dimensional pyramid-shaped chambers inside. The shaft into the chambers was very steep and short. We had to lean way over and lean way forward to clear the ceiling. After we emerged, the two Antiquities Police on duty took us around back to a special area and gave us a private tour.

We're now heading for the train station, where we take an overnight train to Luxor.