Cairo from height

In the post, I'll tell you how you can relax in the box and Egypt as the two try to climb a pyramid, but only one to climb and so on. D. The text will be much, but I hope you enjoy it.

On top of the pyramid of Cheops.

In Cairo we went after Dubai. Our main goal is not difficult to guess, it was climbing the pyramid of Cheops.

Almost without any action plan, we arrived in the capital of Egypt. At the airport we were met by Ahmed - one of the locals, who agreed to show us Cairo. On the way to the city in the first place, he told us about the sand storm, which was the day before our arrival. He said that we were lucky. Then he began to talk about the local flavor of the unrest and protests in the city. On the question of what is to be feared today in Cairo, he said that we did not go to Tahrir Square, which was occupied by protesters. What was the total surprise when it turned out that our hostel, where we pre-bought the number is 50 meters away from this place. It was quite nice and inexpensive "The Canadian Hostel" with huge bathrooms.

Pl. Talaat Harb, which is adjacent to the square. Tahrir.

Ahmed amused our purpose of the trip. He shared our idea to climb to the top of the pyramid, but did not understand why our urban views from the heights? But despite this, it was suggested to visit the observation deck on the local television tower and "look".

View from the observation, which, by the way, visitors and tourists to the entrance is two times more expensive than local.

Neil.

The office of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union.

The burned during the riots building of the ruling National Democratic Party.

View down from the tower. The height of the tower - 187 meters.

In the picture - the tallest building in Cairo, on which we climbed after viewing.

Going down from the observation, we decided to have a bite, had to go on foot, because there were terrible traffic jams and, said Ahmed, find a parking space near the building necessary to you is usually impossible and so sometimes you have to park in a couple of kilometers. Passing the tallest building in Cairo, we have proposed to climb secretly Ahmed, besides it is still under construction. Our Egyptian friend laughed and made an unexpected thing for us. We started the inside, found the security guard about something animatedly spoke to him in Arabic, and then told us to go upstairs. So we have seen with our own eyes the magical power of the word "baksheesh".

Baksheesh - is to make it clear, a bribe. I am opposed to all this, and do not call anyone, well, you understand, but in Egypt, everything is so corrupt that the baksheesh acts almost always and everywhere. If you have money, then you can do what you want.

View from above

top was visible infinitely dense city. Above him was able, which can not be compared, even in Moscow, so the sun at sunset with a barely visible, bright colors of the setting sun photograph we have failed.

Here is a smoke everywhere in the evening. Keep in mind that I still pulled a good contrast.

In the picture Cairo Tower, which were the first photos. The history of the tower is amazing. We built it for the money, which US intelligence agencies were trying to bribe the then Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

In the mid-50's CIA station chief in Cairo Copeland to bribe Nasser, gave $ 3 million US a member of the Board of revolutionary leadership Hassan Tuhami, but he was afraid to give the money directly to Nasser and gave them to General Naguib, prompting Nasser anger, known for its intransigence in relation to corruption. By its decision, the money has been withdrawn from the General Naguib and transferred to the disposal of the Council of revolutionary leadership. At a meeting of the Board considered various suggestions on how to spend the money, for example, to erect a monument in the form of a sphinx with a huge nose (an allusion to the fact that Americans are left holding the bag), enclosing the thumb and the other four fingers, staring at the sky. As a result, at the suggestion of Nasser, it was decided to build a television tower of such height as to be visible from all parts of Cairo. Later Nasser liked to joke that "the CIA has got a finger to the sky." Americans have mined the tower to blow it at the time of her visit to Nasser, but special services uncovered the plot.

Cairo's rooftops. Dirty and all satellite dishes.

The density of Cairo's sprawl.

Local architectural masterpieces

All the time we were on the roof, with us, there were two guard-watchman, who at all times tried to beat more baksheesh to Ahmed. They forbade us to approach the edge of the north side of the roof, explaining that if he saw the police, then we can take over the demonstrators, who are preparing the next campaign, and then everyone will be a problem. I do not know whether it was true, but the guys were persistent.

A little short of the modal time, we had to go down as security began to ask already some large sum, for such a long stay on the roof.

It was getting dark and we decided to go to sleep off. On reaching the hostel, we stumbled on the closed door and sleeping on the floor of the two whips her. We knocked on the door and shout, to pests awoke gloomily asked who we are and what we need. A response that we live here, they smiled kindly let us into the hostel, located on the floor above, and then went to bed. I'm not sure, but maybe it was the security?

Thus ended the first day.

Transport chaos.

The next day we had to see the real Cairo in all its colors. Ahmed us was gone and the relationship he would not leave.

Since we had to climb a pyramid, it was decided to go to them during the day and explore the situation. We did not know to be useful, we secretly or use the magic word "Baksheesh" and find a companion.

Along the way, we went to the square. Tahrir, a bite to eat and get to the subway. The area was occupied by the car exploded, hedgehogs and some places was barbed wire. In the center of the square protest tent camp was set up. It is strongly advised us to go and especially to remove, due to the fact that the photo reporters out there do not like, and may break the camera. Yes, we ourselves have decided to pass, when they saw a mass brawl inside the camp. Pl. Tahrir.

The camp itself

Note the graffiti

Before you continue the story about our trip to the pyramids, I want to share my impressions of life in the Egyptian capital.

The population - about 10 million in the city and about 20 million - in the metropolitan area. This coincides approximately with Moscow indicators. But Cairo area almost 12 times less than in Moscow! You just think about these numbers. Cairo is a relatively small area is caused by a very dense buildings. The density of Cairo's population 36143 people / km². (For comparison, the population density in Moscow -. 4770 inhabitants / km², which is 7, 5 times less), this makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Just imagine cork 7 times stronger line at 7 times as long as the number of people around the 7 times. In Cairo, you can get into a traffic jam at night, check for yourself. And with all this chaos is really happening on the roads. Traffic signals are not present, and if there are (say, a total of 8 traffic lights of the city), all still go to red. Way to go is impossible, it can only be run across, with the machine at a pedestrian does not even slow down the progress. On the streets is worth the constant noise, motorists honking endlessly to each other. Probably, someone signaled stronger, he is right in the dispute, or I do not know how else to explain it.

So, we in this anthill, among the millions of people who mostly do not speak English, moved around the city. Everywhere, the sight of a man of European appearance, enlivened by the Arabs and try to push something. The shops are all trying to cheat, or do not give change in the desired size and you have to beat her, or say deliberately high price, but you can always bargain. Believe me, even if you are very sensitive and suspicious people, you will still be deceived, they do it skillfully, but more on that below. Well, imagine what kind of atmosphere prevails in Cairo?

Login Sadat metro station on the square. Tahrir. There is no light on the reasons unknown to me. But the most amazing thing is that traders took advantage of this for the glory and the transition in the dark glowing sell various toys.

In the Cairo subway trains have two cars, designed exclusively for women. When I began to take off at the station, they all looked at me with great curiosity, someone even with censure, and one man prikopalis and shouted something in Arabic. As it turned out, to shoot in the Cairo metro impossible.

From the right we metro station to the pyramids we had to go to another taxi or local transport. At the exit from the contact station guy spoke good English. Asked if we tourists and not to whether we go to the Pyramids. Our affirmative reply, he said that he was on his way, and he can show us the way. It was decided to go by public transport to more imbued with local color.

All the way he told us something was telling. He said that he lives near the Pyramids, and the city has now rides home from work, but with us, he met by chance and just decided to help. I told him then just do not believe it, but the guy was smiling, likable and no money we have not asked.

On reaching somewhere close to the pyramids, the guy said that the time is 4 pm, and the complex is open until 5. Now the tourists are not admitted, but it is possible to camels or horses to come as close as possible to the complex and it is just a friend, that has horses and camels. He led us to his friend, we talked for a long time to trade, trying to understand how close we have pyramids, but when they learned that will not be able to come to the foot, we immediately tried to cancel the trip. But it was not there. We walked from the office of the owner of the animals, but he still ran and ran after us, constantly calling out the price lower and lower. He must not understand why we suddenly abandoned camels and tried to interest us again, but frantic discounts. As a result, as it turned out, camels and horses foraged there all and sundry, and the guy who brought us to his friend, it is worth every day in the subway and catch tourists, telling them the story that goes with the job and unobtrusively vparivaet them a trip to the animal. We learned about this the next day, when again came to the pyramids and met again with this guy.

The only thing that was true, at 4:00 no one is allowed into the complex and, as we were not able to look around the area, and the Pyramids want, we decided to take advantage of the great word "Baksheesh". After baksheesh experience we had, besides good. We thought, why not get into paying money? After all, there was no purpose to do it secretly, we just want the top in any way. I've already said that at 4 pm no one is admitted officially, but still at the entrance to the complex crowded many touts who offered for a small fee to take place in the complex for half an hour. One such we caught, gave him money on the paw, and said conduct.

Sphinx

He really we started the in the complex, we went around the Sphinx and went to the pyramids. Along the way, we asked them if he could make us to the top of the pyramid of Cheops. Barker thought, said that he could, but at night, and it will cost us dearly. Under expensive it meant a hundred bucks. Well, we agree, and he, in the words evidence suggested that we climb on top of the smallest of the pyramids ... Although, I suspect that they are, and so you can climb up.

The conditional time and in a conditional place we met this guy, he was very attentive to your surroundings, asked for money in advance, and immediately got them has withdrawn us somewhere in the depths of the slums. Then it began what might be called the most beautiful fraud for our trip. We began to walk along the narrow streets, where some were just standing and waiting for something. Then he went out onto the highway, where a little traveled by bus, then went up to some guy, which he presented as a security guard of the complex, who know what is happening and to share. The men looked at us, they told us that to them always someone climbs to the top and supposedly the last pepper, which they caught a lot like me. Our guide said that at night the guards came to check the general himself and he is dissatisfied with something. The guy was very upset to look at and say that there was only one chance to get inside - is to take the horses and go to the complex with a long entry. We were given horses and we went. This part of the way I like it - go at night through the desert on horseback, under the bright stars. By sometimes with loud cries swept Arab riders, who organized the night race on horseback in the desert. Sometimes we take them for raiders who want to rob us, because the situation is possessed - the night, the desert, the people around there. But nothing happened, we got to the input you want us, our guide went about something to talk at a checkpoint.

After some time, it was announced that the general was furious and is not going to go home to sleep, and patrols the complex in his car in person. We'll have to go home - the pyramids there will not work. We went back to the very beginning of our journey, the place where we met tonight with the conductor. It became clear that there is no general, that all of this - the beautiful game, designed for something to push back these horses, because the money is returned to the guy, but asked to pay for a trip to the desert ..

Thus ended our second day.

The next day we decided to go ahead, on their own, no one to trust, because everything would try to cheat. Take the metro to the desired station, we boarded a taxi, drove to the complex. But here, our adventure did not end there. The closer the range, the more our car was stopped by dubious people, greeted with a taxi driver and vparivali us horses. It really infuriated, asked the taxi driver did not stop more.

Miraculously, but only on the third day of our stay in Cairo we were all still at the foot of the pyramid of Cheops. We began to look around, the path of fighting off the shopkeepers and riders. Someone suggested that we take a picture on the background of the pyramids, and then suddenly asked for it. Someone again (and again!) Offered horses and camels, but they were, we said that we need an elephant, and we basically do not go to the other animals.

Going round the area, we found a secluded tomb, where it was decided to wait until nightfall. We sat for several hours watching movies.

When darkness fell, we got out to see the light show at the Pyramids. Honestly, I am not impressed.

Above the city hundreds of mosques spread evening prayer. Reigned indescribable atmosphere. The whole town came to life, interwoven sounds, obtained hum and howl ... very creepy.

We had to climb. Dashes, slowly but surely we are getting to the pyramid and began his ascent.

Filmed on the rise with it

units are about a meter high, climbing on them is not very difficult, but for a long time, so the rise lasted about 20 minutes. It was impossible to stumble.

at the top.

You have not noticed, we strongly do not protrude.

At the top we met a playground of a few square meters in size. On blocks have been very many inscriptions in different languages. We take pictures of about half an hour and began to descend.

At the bottom it was nevertheless a sprint race with a guard, the conversation and all that, but in the end everything turned out well, and we got out. Upon arrival to the room, we immediately bought a plane ticket and flew to Russia in the morning. Thus ended one of the coolest trips of my life at the moment.