Giza — home of the pyramidsMonumental. Cryptic. Iconic. Otherworldly. Mind-boggling. What else can a mere mortal possibly say about them? As the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, I had to make an effort to go see them. Done and dusted. I can finally move on with the rest of my life. Fun fact #1: the mammoths were still alive when the Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 2580-2560 BC. Fun fact #2: the Pyramids of Giza were more ancient to the ancient Romans than the ancient Romans are to us. Fun fact #3: these piles of stone attract some, how shall I put it, very interesting perspectives. I’ve had all kinds of chats at my hostels about ‘world chakras’, ‘energy healing’, and ‘Atlanteans’. If you don’t bump into these modern pilgrims while exploring Egypt, you’re missing out. Regrettably, my visit didn’t begin as intended. In my effort to (a) get there before the calvary of tourist buses, and (b) save money, I took a local minibus, promptly got lost, and was scammed into taking an overpriced horse buggy ride to the ticket office. I didn’t lose a painful amount of money, all things considered, but I was so angry with myself I was almost ready to punch out the next Egyptian tout that approached me! That’s the reality of travel for me — sometimes I’m a savvy globetrotter, sometimes I’m too anxious to make good decisions in the heat of the moment. My stock rises and my stock falls. I constantly need to remind myself how to move on and take the rough with the smooth... Postscript: Despite being one of the most popular destinations on this planet, the Giza pyramid complex is shockingly ill-equipped for modern tourism. The ticket office is effectively a tin shack where you toss a guy some money. No credit card machines. No handy maps or information booths. Nothing. It’s a bit funny, but it’s also a reminder of the struggles that modern Egypt still faces. Alexandria — the largest city on the MediterraneanBrief remarks on a day trip out of Cairo to Alexandria, a chill (if somewhat grungy) coastal metropolis... The people seem very friendly and have a penchant for taking selfies with the lone foreigner walking around. Checked out the waterfront promenade and gorged on the cheapest Mediterranean seafood I will likely ever find in my life. Also browsed the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an ultra-modern Starfleet Academy-esque library built near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria — may it rest in peace. Julius Caesar, you arsonist pig! Some notes from the aspiring growth economists within myself: Consider the melancholic and rundown European-style building facades. Consider the battered and boxy black-and-yellow taxicabs that still roam Alexandria’s roads. Take away the smartphones and what you have are street scenes that look like they’re from the '80s or '70s. What does this tell us about urban technological progress, particularly in lower-middle-income economies like Egypt or elsewhere?
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AuthorMing is an economist, traveller, and creative writer from Melbourne, Australia. He’s a nebulous collection of particles on the lookout for a good corner to sit with a book and a cup of coffee. Archives
September 2023
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