EGYPT, day two continued…
October 21, 2008
After visiting the pyramids of Giza we were then able to see the Sphynx, which I had no idea was so closely situated to the pyramids, themselves. It’s also much smaller than I had imagined…
The Sphynx
I find it also important to note that throughout the entirety of the trip, the men of Egypt were not shy in telling us how they really felt about us Western women, and I first noticed their honesty during my visit to the Sphynx and pyramids. I can’t say that they were necessarily mean, uncouth or callous towards me or any of my female counterparts, but the fact that on numerous occassions they would call out “SHAKIRA, SHAKIRA” in hopes that, I don’t know, we would wiggle for them or something, made me laugh. I just don’t understand where they’re getting Shakira from? I mean…
Me...
Tourism at the Sphynx.
Despite all of the Shakira remarks, most of the men there were very simply trying to sell us their stuff.
There are dozens of Egyptians circling the tourist sites like hungry vultures waiting to make their moves. They bombard you with their cheaply made trinkets and hassle you until either you give in and purchase one of the commodities, or they feel satisfied in making a fool of you. I must say, that I hesitate in describing their actions in this way, because it sounds as if I am simply neglecting the blaring fact that these people, of whom are all suffering poverty-stricken circumstances, rely heavily on the tourism in their country. These people are just trying to make a living the best way they know how, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was helping to create a situation in which they’re sacred, religious history was undergoing a certain amount of exploitation just so that they could create a simple means of living for themselves.
After seeing all that we could see for the day, we were all looking forward to taking some time to relax on the overnight train that would take us to Aswan…or so we had hoped…
