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September 3, 2009
Egypt’s Pyramids: Alive with the Spirit of the Ancients
“From atop these pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you,” Napoleon Bonaparte rallied his troops as they prepared for battle in the Giza Plateau in 1798. However, when Alan and I visited Egypt, we weren’t so much interested in the view from the top as in what lies beneath—and touring the "belly" of the Great Pyramid of Khufu remains one of my most unique travel memories.
I’d been dreaming about Egypt and its pyramids ever since I was little, so when I first caught sight of these iconic monuments, I was moved to tears. It was a surreal feeling, to be standing in this desert plain on the outskirts of Cairo gazing upon the marvelous structures I'd yearned for so long to see.
As impressive as Khufu’s pyramid was from the outside, though, its interior was far more compelling. Not because of what it looked like, but because of how it felt to be inside. Since guides in Egypt aren’t allowed to enter, we bid goodbye to our friend Farid before stepping inside. We also waited a bit to allow the other visitors time to pass through. As a result, we found ourselves largely shrouded in silence as we climbed the steep, narrow, and dimly lit passageways. The 4,500-year-old walls seemed to emanate a raw, insistent energy—as if the pyramid itself stood as a living embodiment of the wisdom and power of one of the world’s most intriguing civilizations. The experience was, in the truest sense of the word, breathtaking.
Equally inspiring is the spirit of modern Egypt, evident in the warm smiles and friendly waves that greeted us everywhere we went. From Farid and his wonderful family to the laughing merchants we met in Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili bazaar, the people we met went out of their way to make us feel welcome. I’ll always remember their kindness and generosity.
Harriet Lewis