I had a great time taking a few days to explore Cairo. I wasn’t sure what to expect except spectacular pyramids. They did not disappoint. The Giza pyramids sitting on the edge of the desert were indeed awe-inspiring trying to figure out and imagine what it looked like when they were being built.  The desert was beautiful and the requisite camel ride was thrilling if not a little nerve-wracking.  Those are tall animals. I felt small.

Cairo itself is a chaotic mish-mash of traffic, sounds, sites, smells, and endless people angling for a dollar or two. It’s understandable. They’ve been through a lot and ever one of the twenty-two million citizens of Cairo are competing for a limited economic pie.

Security remains tight and there was no place tighter than in Coptic Cairo – the old section with a myriad of beautiful Coptic churches.

We pre-booked our itinerary through WEKNOWEGYPT.com which I highly recommend if you are ever going. No haggle, fair prices. Dependable drivers and a terrific guide to the Egypt Antiquities Museum. We learned a lot without be overwhelmed and man-handled by an over-zealous guide.  Here are a few of my favorite shots from my trip.