| Summary: | The perfect way to start a program on Egypt: riding on the back of a camel like Lawrence of Arabia. Our guide, Jake DeBoer, takes us to the site of the Great Pyramids. Originally, we learn, there were nine Pyramids in this area, all built for Pharaohs and their wives by over 100,000 slaves. Today only three pyramids survive, all located in Giza within greater Cairo. The Great Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu, commonly known as Cheops, is the tallest pyramid and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Close to the Pyramid of Khafre, who was a son of Khufu, the iconic Great Sphinx stands guard, a national symbol of ancient and modern Egypt. Merchants can be found here daily as millions of tourists visit these unique structures each year, and most popular is the evening sound and light show. Next, we visit Cairo, the largest city in the Middle East, and the capital of Egypt, which is a cosmopolitan and ancient city. Here we view Cairo University, the Cairo Opera House, the unique Pharaonic Museum, where we find a series of dioramas, as well as actors who portray everyday life at the time of the pharaohs. Taking a bus, we discover, is a great way to tour the city; also one of the most popular things to do in Cairo is to take a dinner cruise up the Nile River. Finally, the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, famous for its unusual souvenirs and handmade crafts, is a "must see."
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