Day At The Museum

Well it was really a half day but trying to do a full day would have been very, very tiring. The museum was outstanding, everything I thought it would be and more. You can't really compare it to Auckland Museum or Smithsonian or the British Museum because this museum is only about Egyptian history dating back from 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. There was so much to see and learn! We are so pleased to have Memo as our guide, he also showed us the pyramids, as he is so knowledgeable and answers all our questions even when they relate to something he has already told us (can't remember everything!) He showed us the main pieces from the different dynasties which helped us understand the story of Egypt and its pharaohs even more. The idea of placing the pharaoh's mummy inside a gold painted wooden sarcophagus, inside another and then a third gold painted sarcophagus is incredible but when you see the enormity of the 3 or 4 large wooden shrines that the sarcophaguses then fit into like Babushka dolls you have to be in awe of the craftsmen of the time and the engineering genius of these people. We saw Tutankhamun's bed he used when camping in the desert. It had 4 metal hinges, yes hinges, so it could fold into thirds and be transported. 5,000 years ago they used glass in the eyes of their statues and there are painted limestone figures that have maintained their colour - just incredible.
Cameras were not allowed inside the museum so unfortunately all my photos are of the outside. The Ritz was burnt down during the revolution to oust Mubarak and is now being rebuilt across the road. I wonder if they will eventually knock down the old one. There are still burnt out cars parked in the car park.
As I've mentioned before there are tanks everywhere in Cairo. It was quite funny to see more than 20 on the roadside outside the museum though. Hate to see them try and leave in a hurry as the road could only fit 2 across.
I will try and upload photos of the inside of the museum if I can find some on a CD we bought in the meantime you will have to make do with mine.... and no there are no photos of Iti. I forgot to take him so he's sitting sulking on the shelf. Next time when we do Islamic Cairo and the Citadel.