According to a BBC travel programme I watched today, this is the top ten list of sites for a visitor on a tight time schedule in Egypt.
1. Cairo Museum - this has artifacts from all the sites listed below, and more. Reputed to be one of the best museums in the world.
2. The Great Sphinx, 240ft long, 65 ft high. - when napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, it was buried upto its shoulders. His men excavated it, so we are indebted to him for it in modern times.
3. Giza Pyramids - within sight of 20 million strong Cairo. The Great Pyramid is 481 feet tall...Pharoahs Kufu, son Kafra , and grandson (?) built these pyramids.
4. Darshur (this has the world's first TRUE pyramid - aka Red Pyramid, built by Snafaru. )
5. Saqqara (step pyramids built by Imhotep &.... early trials at pyramid building)
6. Amarna - birth place of Tut Ankh Amon
7. Abydas - very well maintained relief work in an ancient temple
8. Valley of The Kings
9. Luxor
10. Mt. Sinai
Going from 10 to 1, this is a travel northward up the Nile.
Let us have a minute of silence in observance of the superhuman feats of imagination, architecture and engineering these people achieved. Even viewed on my moderate 32" television screen - Karnak, the Sphinx and the Pyramids are awe inspiring. It is all very humbling, so let us be humbled.
