24th April. Cairo

24th April. Cairo.
It was to be a day of applying for our Sudanese visas in the morning then take in the Cairo Museum in the afternoon. As often happens, the NZ Consulate from whom we had to get a letter of introduction, wasn’t where it was meant to be. But there we met one of the guides of Intrepid travel, the Australian overland crowd that deal in Africa and the Middle East. He said there wasn’t a NZ representative here now and thought we had to deal through the Australian Embassy. We learnt from them that a NZ Embassy had opened in the last 6 months close by. A new building, nice and clean. The ambassador came out and introduced himself while we were waiting.
Then off to the Sudan Embassy our helper still with us. He proved invaluable there as the Sudanese visa can take from 2 days up to a month. We had it in 90 minutes. A bit of Baksheesh changed hands but I think worth it.
We also needed new tyres for the van for the hard roads in Africa. We spent the afternoon getting quotes from a half a dozen places, purchasing them then having them fitted. This involved three different shops at different sides of the city. I wouldn’t say I’m getting better at driving in this mad city but I did find our way back to the hotel afterwards without hitting anybody and only one fierce hand shaking at me.
25th Anzac Day. Cairo.
We wondered why there were no replies to a couple of phone calls I had to make to AU during business hours Australian time. Then it dawned on us late in the afternoon what day it was.
Decided on doing the tourist thing today then we can head out of this metropolis. A cool day, perfect for a morning at the pyramids. Such a wonderful sight, so big and knowing they have been there for thousands of years. We also took time out to visit the Solar Boat Museum that houses the boat built for the Pharaoh to pass over into the underworld. The museum is built over the pit where it was found and the boat is suspended above it visible to the public on 4 different levels. It would be about 35 metres long and so sleek. Even the ropes binding it all together were still there as was some of the matting. Amazing when you consider it’s over 4,600 years old.
The afternoon was time for the Cairo Museum. The LP says it’s a shambles with many of the relics having no explanatory notes and display cabinets appearing not to have been cleaned for months. Perhaps they are right but it still is a must with the exhibits so interesting.
Of course Tutankhamen is the highlight with his gold mask, sarcophagi and jewellery as well as all the other objects Carter found in the tomb, but also so many of the other displays show a personal side to the lives of the pharaohs and the higher officers. We both loved a painted statue of the dwarf Seneb with his wife and children. The children were carved below his stunted folded legs where his legs would have been, his wife had an arm around him and the loving smile on his wife’s face shows her feelings to him. It was great.
We leave tomorrow to visit some more pyramids south of here then head north to Alexandria before doing a loop back to Suez and on down the western side of the Gulf of Suez.