Cairo, Egypt

We left Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, rather than Friday morning as planned. We took a direct flight to Cairo. This was a special unmarked Egypt Air flight which only flies once per day. For political reasons, flights from Tel Aviv to Cairo, are almost non-existent. We arrived in Egypt two days later than our tour group due to Kurt's illness. Fortunately, we were able to rejoin our tour group. As we flew over the pyramids, we were able to take a couple of pictures. Due to our late arrival we thought this would be our only glimpse of these huge structures.

The Pyramids of Giza, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World remaining.

Our transfer picked us up from the Cairo Airport and took us directly to the Nile Ritz Carlton, per our tour arrangements.

 

CAIRO EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

We arrived at the hotel about 2 pm, meeting our tour guide, Ahmed, in the lobby of the Ritz. After providing us with our room key, he gave us our tickets to the Museum, which was  adjacent and a short walk from the hotel.

Built in 1897 and opened in 1902, the museum's 107 exhibit halls hold over 120,000 items. This museum is being replaced by the new Grand Egyptian Museum to be opened in 2021.

We found the most interesting part of the museum to be the King Tutankhamen Gallery.  The Tomb was discovered in 1925 by Howard Carter with over 5000 artifacts. What makes this Tomb unique is that when Howard Carter discovered it, it was intact and not pillaged by tomb robbers. King Tut's death mask, shown above, is made up of over 22 pounds of gold.

These breast plates are one of the many treasures found in King Tut's tomb.

The Anubis Shrine was part of the grave goods of Tutankhamun.

More of the gold statues from King Tut Tomb.

Ramses & Nefertari in the Great Hall.

Psusennes, the Silver Pharaoh's Death Mask

Countless Sarcophaguses were on display

Ramses II, the busy man

Ramses II as a child

 

NILE RITZ CARLTON - CAIRO

We had a lovely room.

Our 7th floor room overlooked Cairo and the Nile River.

The sun set at 5:00.

It had been a very busy day and ended with dinner ordered to our room. Kurt was feeling better ordering Egyptian Style Stuffed Pigeon, of which he consumed every last bite.