I Never Liked Geometry Class

I guess I should've paid a bit more attention in geometry class.  Pythagorean theorem, anyone?  My brain would hurt each week when I had to learn a new geometric formula.  I was always pretty good at math, until they started using letters instead of numbers to figure things out.  This also caused me to sit in class every day wondering when I would ever need this information in real life!  So far.....NEVER!

I'm an American, not an Egyptian!  I ain't planning to build a pyramid!  

Luckily, those ancient Egyptians paid close attention in geometry class!  Jenesa and I have been anxiously waiting for this big day at the Great Pyramids.  If there was ever a formula for high expectations (a + b + c = AWESOME), we were hoping to solve that equation today.

Camels + Pyramids = Egypt!  They go hand-in-hand, don’t they?  Like peas and carrots, like peanut butter and jelly, like…I don’t know, I’m out of cliches.  Our Trafalgar tour guide once again reminded us that the tour company does not promote or "officially" offer the opportunity for camel rides during our trip.  But.....just like the hot air balloon ride in Luxor.....she was willing to help book a camel ride for anyone interested upon arrival at the pyramids this morning.  

It turns out the reason she wanted to "help" was due to some of the common tricks used by the camel handlers once they have a tourist on a camel.  Specifically, the one where you pay for a camel ride but when the ride finally ends they want to charge you even more money before you get off the camel.  It's no secret that riding a camel isn’t like riding a horse......you’re a hell of a lot higher up!  But, some tourists who don't know any better get trapped in these little tricks of the trade....so our tour guide wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen!  Thank you.

Hey!  That's not a desert mirage behind us......those are the Great Pyramids!

 

Egyptian camels, also known as dromedaries, have one hump.  The two-humped camel in central Asia is called a Bactrian camel. The humps on both types of camels store fat, not water, which can be converted into energy and water when needed.  The hump changes size depending on the amount of food that the animal eats.  Do you want to hear something ironic?  Today is Wednesday, June 18, 2025.  Do you know what that means?  It literally means we're riding a camel in Egypt on Hump Day!

The last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the great pyramids of Giza, are perhaps the most famous and discussed structures in history.  The pyramids were inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, and since 1990, the organization has sponsored over a dozen missions to evaluate their status. It has supported the restoration of the Sphinx, as well as measures to curb the impact of tourism and manage the growth of the neighboring village (which continues to creep up closer and closer to the pyramid complex).

A pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric shape. It is a polyhedron, meaning it's a solid with flat faces, and it has a polygonal base connected to an apex (a single point) by triangular faces.  Make sure you are taking notes for the upcoming quiz at the end of this blog!  Of course, the big million dollar question is.....How in the world did the ancient Egyptians ever build these massive monuments?  Take a few minutes to watch this short video to better understand the history of these structures.

Believe it or not, Jenesa can also answer another million-dollar question that many of you probably have......What's inside the pyramids?  Our Trafalgar group had the opportunity to purchase special $30 tickets to go inside the Great Pyramid, but after hearing our tour guide describe the hot, dark, claustrophobic tunnels and the fact you had to literally hunch and crawl through some of the spaces.....we only had two volunteers.

Do you see the arrow pointing to the "entrance" of the pyramid?  Jenesa and Eileen had 30 minutes to try to get to the King's Chamber inside the pyramid and back out before our tour bus was scheduled to leave.  When you're on a group tour, the bus leaves with or without you!  So, Jenesa was instructed to get as far as she could and take lots of pictures for those of us who stayed on the "outside."

Our tour guide also said there really wasn't anything to "see" inside the Great Pyramid.  Unlike the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings, this was built at a time when kings didn’t have any decoration in their final resting places. 

Unfortunately, the girls came up a bit short and had to turn around before reaching the King's Chamber.  They actually were very close, and reached the “Grand Gallery" (bottom-right photo) which is located right before you get to the actual burial chamber.  If anyone is interested in completing the journey to the King's Chamber check out this awesome start-to-finish Virtual Inside Tour Of The Great Pyramid.  

As a good husband should...I patiently waited outside the pyramid for my wife's return.  And, while I was waiting, I began to honestly contemplate what any normal guy would when standing at the base of a giant Pyramid.....how long would it take me to climb 455 feet to the top?  If it wasn't 109 degrees (and illegal!) I may have tried it.

Was it really worth going inside the pyramid?  Jenesa certainly seemed very proud of herself when she finally came out.  And, she had one thing the rest of our tour group didn't.....bragging rights!  Good job, babe!

Here’s a quick riddle for you....What was carved from one piece of stone, has the body of a lion, the head of a man, and a name we don’t know?  You guessed it—the Great Sphinx!

Back in 2003, on our first trip to Las Vegas, we stood face-to-face with the Luxor Sphinx.  The Vegas version isn’t just big.....it’s the “I ate the Sphinx of Giza for breakfast” kind of big.  Standing at a whopping 110 feet tall in front of the casino, it easily towers over its Egyptian counterpart by a good 40 feet.

Even though the "real" Sphinx was a bit smaller than expected, once you put it in front of the Egyptian Grand Pyramids you immediately forget exactly how much money you lost at the Luxor in Las Vegas!  

In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphinx—and figures of the creatures were often included in tomb and temple complexes.

The statue was originally painted in vibrant colors and faces east, aligning it with the rising sun, which may symbolize King Khafre's connection to the sun god. Historical accounts note that the Sphinx was largely forgotten and buried under sand until rediscovered and excavated in the 19th century. While recent restoration efforts have aimed to preserve this ancient relic, challenges such as environmental erosion and pollution from nearby urban development continue to threaten its condition.

We are finally able to check off one more thing on our bucket list!  This was an incredible experience and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to visit these sites before who knows what may happen in the future!  

Again, I never really liked geometry class, but I will always remember something my history teacher used to say, "There's an old saying about those who forget history.  I don't remember it, but it's good.”