Pyramids

Reflections of the Pyramids – A Recollection of Egypt
by beconrad

Seeing the pyramids of Egypt had always been a dream of mine, but a dream that I had always assumed was beyond my meager travel budget. Luckily for me, I found myself face to face with a copy of a leading Travel magazine at my local shop. That magazine featured a stunning picture of the pyramids and a headline about affordable dream trips.



Intrigued to see if their definition of “affordable” matched my own, I quickly found the article, and just as quickly found that trips to Egypt began at an amazing £300, including airfare, lodging and sightseeing. It took me all of five seconds to decide where my next holiday would be.

As I began telling my friends and family members about my upcoming trip, a theme began to develop. “You must be crazy” became the dominant theme, and everyone except me seemed to feel that Egypt was no place for a woman traveling alone.

Undeterred, I made my arrangements and found myself in Cairo. After a lengthy flight, I was amazed when our tour bus pulled into a hotel directly across from the pyramids. We arrived late in the afternoon, but I simply could not put off this moment any longer. While the rest of our group was taking a nap, I headed across the street to explore one of the seven wonders of the world.

There is absolutely nothing that can describe the pyramids. No matter how many pictures you’ve seen, or how much you’ve read, they simply must be seen to be experienced properly. From the sheer size of the stones, to the way they fit together so perfectly, it is mind boggling to think they have existed for so many thousands of years.

My trip to Egypt was more magnificent and more memorable than I even imagined, but not solely because of the wonderful sights. The warmth and welcoming spirit of the Egyptian people is what has stayed with me over time. I was concerned about an anti-American and anti-British sentiment, especially after all the concerns voiced by family members and friends and being

Those concerns disappeared immediately once I actually got to Egypt, however, and I have never met people more willing to share their culture and their lives. One of my fondest memories of the trip was the day I and one of my fellow visitors rented horses to ride around the pyramids. After our ride, the stable owner invited us back to his home for tea. We sat for hours, sipping tea, looking and photos of his family, his horses, and his friends, and sharing stories of our two countries. My trip to Egypt was full of such moments, and for that reason it remains the most amazing experiences of my life so far.