Cairo, Egypt

By Wander with Jill

April 11^th, 2019

When the Red Hot Chili Peppers announced their worldwide tour dates with a performance being held in Giza in front of the Pyramids, it was a calling for me to finally cross Egypt off my bucket list. I usually incorporate music events or festivals in my travels so I knew I couldn't pass seeing one of my favorite bands up for a once in a lifetime event. It would also mean finally getting to visit the Pyramids of Giza which Ive wanted to do since I was a young teenager. I've always felt a deep connection to Egypt, and truly believe I was Egyptian in a Past life. From the moment I touched foot in Cairo It felt familiar in a weird sense, like I had been there before. Even the locals would automatically assume I spoke arabic when I went to speak to them, and on numerous occasions I was told I look Egyptian. Luckily, I had a friend who was born and raised in Cairo, and he was happy to translate for me when I needed it. I was truly lucky to have him by my side for most of my time spent in Cairo, and he took us to some amazing places. I highly recommend having a tour guide or local guide with you if you plan to visit Cairo. Heres some of the places I was able to visit....

Pyramids Of Giza

The Giza pyramid complex, also called the Giza Necropolis, is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Consisting of a necropolis or mortuary complex of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, it includes the three Great Pyramids (Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure), three smaller pyramids which are subsidiary structures associated with Menkaure's pyramid, the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex.

Although many theories persist as to the purpose of the pyramids, the most widely accepted understanding is that it was constructed as a tomb for the king. Exactly how it was built, however, still puzzles people in the modern day.

Great Pyramid of EGYPT

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a defining symbol of Egypt and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is located on the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo and was built over a twenty-year period during the reign of the king Khufu (2589-2566 BCE, also known as Cheops) of the 4th Dynasty.

The pyramid was first excavated using modern techniques and scientific analysis in 1880 CE by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942 CE), the British archaeologist who set the standard for archaeological operations in Egypt generally and at Giza specifically.

Inside the Great Pyramid

My friend and I decided to go inside the Great Pyramid. It costs 200 egyptian pounds extra on top of the entrance fee for the Pyramid Complex. When entering the pyramid, a narrow passageway leads to an ascending passageway, which takes you to the Grand Gallery, the Queen’s chamber (a misnomer) and then to the King’s Chamber where Khufu’s tomb rests. Since there is not much air circulation in there you must go in and out pretty quickly.

Photo of Me about to enter the Great Pyramid

Interior Passage tunnel Inside the Great Pyramid

At the end point - What is left of Khufus Tomb

THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

To be honest the Egyptian museum was kind of a let down. Despite having some amazing ancient artifacts, the actual museum itself was very poorly run. Labelling of the exhibits isn’t so great and there is a general lack of signposting and maps so without a proper guide you can easily miss something.

There is a new museum opening at the end of this year, which looks a lot more promising for my next visit to Egypt.

Sts. Sergius and Bacchus Church

Originally called The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, the church later became known as the Church of Abu Serga after the Arab conquest of Egypt because of the influence of the nicknames Arabs used. Located in Coptic Cairo, it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, dating back to the 4th century. It is traditionally believed to have been built above the cave where Joseph, Mary and Jesus rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. The well is located near the cave were they stayed.

CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE

This Greek Orthodox church is within the Babylon Fortress in Coptic Cairo. It is part of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St George under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa. The church dates back to the 10th century (or earlier). The current structure was rebuilt following a 1904 fire, construction was finished in 1909. The interior artwork and design of this church was absolutely beautiful.

Church of Saint Barbara

This is one of the many famous Coptic Orthodox parishes that can be found in the district of Coptic Cairo. The building is located on the eastern part of the Babylon Fortress and is one of the oldest buildings in Cairo, dating back to the 5th or 6th century AD. However, like many other buildings of Coptic architecture, it was rebuilt several times, most notably by the end of the 11th century.

REd Hot Chili Peppers Concert

Being able to attend this concert was a special experience for me. Never did I imagine that I would be able to see one of my favorite bands perform in front of the Pyramids at night. The concert itself was great. Production and sound was good, and we got lucky to find a good spot to watch the show. Also, after the concert we snuck off as close as we could get to the actual Pyramids. Just being there, somewhat close to them at night was one of my favorite moments from the trip. I truly felt the energy and felt extremely happy to be there.

Overall my trip to Cairo was pretty magical. 5 days there was not enough time for me. But I plan on returning next year and hopefully getting to visit Luxor.