Giza and National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Our morning begins at the pyramids! This is the first event on our two-week expedition with Lindblad National Geographic. Is it all downhill from here?

It is not long before CJ is standing at the base of the Great Pyramid.

Next, we drive down the hill to get a closeup view of Great Spinx of Giza. Our group has privileged up close and personal access to the monument. We are allowed to walk down this boardwalk and stand at the base of the Spinx, while the crowds must observe it from above.

It's hard to believe Carol is all alone in this picture. That's the Great Pyramid in the background.

We are standing between the paws of the Great Spinx of Giza.

The people at the base of the Spinx are our group. The people at the top of the wall surrounding the grounds are the general public.

We have an excellent buffet lunch at the historic Marriott Mena House Hotel. This is a place where celebrities have stayed, where the first rounds of the Camp David Accords were ironed out between Anwar Sadat and Menachim Began. 

Our final stop of the day is at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This is the home of the Royal Mummies' Hall. It is home to the mummies of 17 kings and 3 queens from the 17th to 20th dynasties.

Our Egyptologists host a welcome cocktail party this evening. Drinks and heavy canapes pass as dinner.