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. |
The impressive hanging globes inside the Mosque...by Eric Todd
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 !!! |
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 ) |
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.
Rush hour just going onto the Nile bridge