Today is our last day in Egypt, and my brain is in information overload mode! It has been amazing everything we have gotten to see and do. Originally we had planned a day trip out to Faiyum Oasis, but due to time, Ramy decided to curate a special last day for us based on everything he has learned about us while guiding us for the last week. We woke up around 6:30 and went to breakfast at 7, enjoying the beautiful sunrise on the pyramids. Ahmed picked us up around 8 and we headed to pick up Ramy, passing some sheep being herded through the streets. When Ramy joined us, he surprised me with a big box of sesame snacks I liked so much the other day. That was an extremely kind gesture!
Sunrise
The reflection in the water is amazing! We are going to miss this view, and the delicious food.
Last day picture!
Sheeps!
Ramy's home
Seasme snacks!
Ahmed started driving and Ramy then told us what today's activities held. First we were going to go to the Bent Pyramid, where we would travel inside it! We would then head to the Red Pyramid and back into Saqqara to visit inside the Serapeum and Pyramid of Teti. Then we would have lunch and pack to the hotel for packing and driving to the airport later in the evening since the flights are all weirdly at 2am.
As we got closer to where the Bent Pyramid is, I of course had to take crappy car photos because it's just so crazy to me that there are these massive structures around and the locals are just used to them without much care. We finally parked and started walking over to the pyramids while Ramy told us all about the history and various facts. He pointed out the hole in the side of the pyramid which he explained was for venting and to allow the king's spirit (Sneferu, although his body has never been found) freedom to enter and exit as needed. He also told us that the bottom is built at a steep 54 degree angle, but then it was changed to 43 degrees probably because it was too steep initially or maybe due to engineering errors. The Bent Pyramid also showcases the most intact casing of any pyramid in Egypt and is the best idea of the sparkling brilliance that the pyramids of Egypt had before their casings were stripped away.
When we finally got to the entrance, we had to climb up 3 flights of stairs to the entrance on the North face. Ramy did some talking to one of the tomb guards and we entered into the tiny shaft. Ramy told us it was about 100 meters to the base, then we would climb up another 100-200 meters into the upper burial chamber. I found a super cool online model of the Pyramid. Feel free to check it out at https://www.thinglink.com/scene/389767994475020289?buttonSource=viewLimits .
Tight passage down ~100 meters... this took a while and was intense!
Nearing the end of the passage into the antechamber
Climbing up into the lower burial chamber
Top of the lower burial chamber
Into the tunnel to the upper burial chamber
it was pretty dark in the tunnel!
This is the western entrance where the hole Ramy pointed out was located. There was quite the draft coming in from it.
We continued climbing to the upper burial chamber
Looking down from nearly the top of the chamber. Can you spot some friends?
Bats! These are native Egyptian tomb bats!
Looking up at the top of the upper burial chamber
Looking down
These were the stairs from the lower chamber up to the tunnel that leads to the upper chamber
Heading back out!
Looking down from the north entrance
After our crazy hike into the Bent Pyramid, we then headed over to the Red Pyramid. Ramy took us here to show us the Pyramidion, which is the uppermost piece or capstone of the red pyramid. All pyramids have one, however many have been damaged/destroyed/ or placed in museums. This location actually had an armed guard because this capstone contained pieces of the real one.
Next, we headed back to Saqqara to check out the Serapeum and the tomb of Teti. Ramy was so awesome and managed to get us into a super secret location inside the Serapeum too. Inside the Serapeum are 24 massive sarcophagi. The primary theory is that they are for various leaders Apis bulls, however, there is no confirmation on that. Another mystery is how and why the 24 giant sarcophagi were moved inside this chamber and precisely installed in their notches as they are huge and weigh over 60 tons!
Heading into the Seraprum
Walking beside a large sarcophagi
They installed framing to help stabilize the area.
They did not find anything inside any of the sarcophagi
Ramy pointed out along the walls where they would have had candles or lamps noted by the smoke markings
Ramy getting creative photographs!
It still blows my mind we are allowed and encouraged to touch things, although I was constantly afraid to incase I hurt anything.
They put a floating floor over the original to preserve it, adding some windows for people to look into
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