My Journey to the Pyramids with Celestyal Cruises
Nothing could have ever prepared me for the moment I saw the Great Pyramids in Egypt.
This was the moment I had been waiting for.
I stood, transfixed, hot tears involuntarily escaping my eyes – eyes that couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. And yet, here I was, at the Pyramids.
There was a surrealness standing there. I felt as if I had been transported back in time. Millions of people before me had stood in this exact same spot and millions will be here after me. It’s as if was just one grain of sand in this passage of eternity.
I marvelled at these mammoth structures, aching to run my fingers over the stones that were crafted by workers whose names have been forgotten in history.
I stood, transfixed, hot tears involuntarily escaping my eyes – eyes that couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. And yet, here I was, at the Pyramids.
There was a surrealness standing there. I felt as if I had been transported back in time. Millions of people before me had stood in this exact same spot and millions will be here after me. It’s as if was just one grain of sand in this passage of eternity.
I marvelled at these mammoth structures, aching to run my fingers over the stones that were crafted by workers whose names have been forgotten in history.
Instead, I reached down and picked up a handful of sand, rough pebbles filling my palm, the gritty mix connecting and grounding me, cementing a visceral and indelible core memory.
But, despite my yearning for time to stand still, it continued to move forward. A camel ride and then back on the coach to another location within the Giza complex to get even closer to the pyramids.
Some of my fellow travellers ventured inside the giant tomb, but I was too enthralled walking around, feeling so very small but utterly grateful.
It was time to see the sphinx and gaze upon this mythical being guarding over his kingdom and the afterlife.
The desert backdrop created a magical scene, the Sphinx’ pharaonic head regal, the immovable and magnificent pyramids in the background, the sun, slowly setting creating an ombre sky resplendent in hues of golds.
I turned for one more look, one more moment to register this incredible scene. A camel walked by, his syncopated rolling gait reminding of the ship that brought me to this adventure. A ship aptly named Journey, that was waiting to transport me to the next port and continue my exploration.
It was a bittersweet goodbye, but for now, in this lifetime, it was enough.
A few extra details
- Egypt was the second stop on my 7-day cruise aboard Celestyal Journey. The shore excursion I was treated to included a visit to the Muhammad Ali Mosque, a delicious lunch cruise on the Nile, pyramids and sphinx stops and visiting a papyrus museum.
- Coach transfers from Alexandria port to Cairo took about three hours. The coaches travelled in a convoy with a police escort. Each coach had a dedicated security officer and an incredible tour guide.
- The coaches were very comfortable, modern, clean and air conditioned.
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