46 centuries and counting...

This is the view that the great pyrimids and sphinx of Giza have had for the past 46 centuries, standing on the plateau boundary between the habitable bit of the Nile valley that now makes up the mega-city of Cairo (22 million+) and a mega-empty span of inhospitable desert. 250 to 300 generations have come and gone since the pyramids were built. It's hard not to be impressed.





This last pyramid, the step pyramid at Saqqara, was the first one to be built - about 100 years before the great pyramids - making it the oldest "building" in the world (or at least the "oldest free standing stone structure", since the definition of building can vary).



It was really good to see it now because a team of French archaelogists is completely re-building the original outside casing. Yes, they'll use some of the original stone that was found around the site, but most of the small bit that has been completed looks pretty new and thus doesn't convey the awe one gets when looking at the imperfections of a 4600 year old pyramid.

We're now off to Ethiopia, which doesn't have very good internet services. Expect the next few updates (if any) to be text only, followed by a picture post once I reach South Africa on April 14th.