A trip to Cairo to see the Pyramids and
visit the National Museum

If there was one thing I was grateful to the Royal Air Force for it was being given the opportunity to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids at Gizah. It was a well organised bus trip which took us into Cairo and the day commenced with a visit to the Cairo National Museum to see all the old treasures of the past including the Tutankhamun collection. The museum proved to be very popular with tourists even in those days and years later we took our children to the British Museum in London to see the King Tut display on tour.

As soon as we got off the bus we were surrounded by the usual street traders plying their wares but by now we were well accomplished at refusing. That is me on the left all suited up and expertly appraising another piece of trivia. Smudger Smith has his back to the camera while Dave Lock is far right.

Keep your hands in your pockets is the best policy, because how often would I feel the need to wear a fez ?













Smudger Smith has a tree growing out of his head

















Ces Rhodes, me and Ron
















Roy Whistance

Some of the large numbers debarking their buses to make the visit to the National Musem.

And the very imposing entrance to the Museum. Smudger Smith is the guy spoiling the shot again.

A fetching picture of a party of schoolchildren walking in crocodile fashion into the museum.

Inside the Museum - poor picture

Another poor interior picture inside the museum. Display case of gold figures from the Tutankhamun room I think

Our next port of call on the trip was to the famous Mohamed Ali (Citadel of Saladin) Mosque, a fabulous structure and well worth a visit.

This magnificent feature lays in the centre of the large courtyard. Inside the mosque, there is a fabulous design of hanging lighting globes.

Another view of the central feature of the courtyard

By Eric Todd

An imposing photo of the Mosque


by Eric Todd

The impressive hanging globes inside the Mosque...by Eric Todd

There are many mosques in Cairo and this one could be seen from the walls of the Mohamed Ali Mosque surrounded by some suburbs of old Cairo.

Before proceeding the Gizah, we had an R and R stop at the Hotel Victoria for a wash and brush up. Most appreciated was the excellent bar of which we availed ourselves after our return from the Pyramids and prior to setting off back to Kasfareet. We are still being plagued by street vendors here.

Left to right, Jerry Hancock, myself, Jock Marr and Bill Curtis. Brandy Sours I think were the order of the day for most.

And central is Roy Whistance with Rhodes on the right of picture.

A shot taken out in the street.

Seems strange but it is an Arab custom for men to walk arm in arm as seen further down the pavement. A cinema advert further down the street on the right tells you that Gone with the Wind is the film of the day.









Another street scene in company with a policeman

Jock Maclean far right

Middle of the afternoon we arrive at the site of the Pyramids which is just on the outskirts of Cairo, not far at all. I just wish I`d had a digital camera with me but they still had not yet been invented and even some of the 35mm cameras around were almost prototypes so I am afraid picture quality is not great.

As can be seen here, the blocks comprising the great pyramid are at least 3 to 4 feet high. We were pestered by a local who said he could run to the top and back in so many minutes, I forget exactly.
Get away ,we said, no way. So off he charged and the crafty devil knew the easy route up where the blocks were worn or broken. He got to the summit in no time at all and started back down even faster  !!
Our gang felt cheated and scarpered quick without paying up !!!

Looks like an outing from a convent because tucked in the group is a nun so we could`nt get nun either.

Near the base of the Great Pyramid is the entrance which climbs up inside to the room in the centre where the Pharoah had been buried. I did not venture in, Our Prov 3 Officer, F/Lt Don Blew had warned me that it was a difficult and claustrophobic climb and smelled to high heaven  !!!

Mate Roy Whistance succumbs to the pleas of the camel owner and mounts up for the obligatory short ride ( just like a seaside donkey ride ) You can see that others from our party had also fallen to the charms of the fez seller there, Taff Grindle with hand in pockets looking left , a tall  Ginge Berrisford with Fez is behind the local having a scratch And laurie Carr stands next to Ginge. ( info per Laurie )

On the other hand, these two look like experts at riding camels  !!

The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the biggest there. It has two smaller companions nearby.

The sexual urge of a camel is much greater than you think,

For one starry night in the desert, one tried to seduce the Sphinx,

But the Sphinx`s vaginal passage was blocked by the sands of the Nile,

Which accounts for the hump on the camel and the Sphinx`s inscrutable smile.


anon

Just me and the Sphinx

I wonder where that chunk of stone was supposed to fit ?

Engine won`t start  !!

Photocall with the Sphinx...me top row left, third is Smudger Smith, then Roy Whistance and Dave Lock second from right. Just below me is Ginge Berrisford complete with fez, on his left is Taff Grindle then Laurie Carr...info provided by Laurie.

Crossing a bridge over the Nile

Rush hour just going onto the Nile bridge