Good-Bye Misr

"Egypt" is an anglo word given to this country. However, for centuries it has been & still is called Misr by its citizens. I have seen many "wonders" here - both literally & figuratively.
Today I discovered that the best place to get pics of all of Cheop's great pyramid (top pic) & his son's US $1 bill pyramid (bottom pic) was from the roof of my hotel - Mena House which has operated continually as a hotel for 120+ years (Google it for more info). It's an ex-palace & absolutely terrific albeit expensive!

It is difficult to comprehend that above pyramids were built over 6,500 years ago & they're still standing.

I return to the US tomorrow. I estimate that during this trip I have traveled more than 32,000 miles. I have visited 8 countries: Philippines, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Republic of Maldives, Qatar, Jordan & Misr. 7 of these countries I visited for the first time! Result being that I have now visited 74 countries during my lifetime. Most world atlas' identify about 200 countries. That means I have yet to visit 2/3 of the world. Stay tuned!

Step Pyramid

The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid in Egypt in 4700 BC. ALL pyramids were built/completed by pharohs during their lifetimes. Top pic is of men in the huge "courtyard" in front of the Step Pyramid. The pyramid & courtyard were surround by a 30 foot high sandstone wall!
Bottom pic is the Step Pyramid in foreground & "Bent Pyramid" in background.

Bent & Red Pyramids

Top pic is of the Bent Pyramid built in about 4600 BC by the son of the pharoh who built the Step Pyramid. It is "bent" because the architects realized after completing about 2/3s of the pyramid that the original angle was too steep and had to be changed. So the angle was changed & the Bent Pyramid was born.

The Bent Pyramid builder did not like the Bent Pyramid and demanded his architects to build another made of red granite which is now known as the Red Pyramid - bottom pic. This is the first true pyramid built in Misr (what Egyptians call their country) & the only one built of granite. In the end, this is the only Pharoh who had 2 pyramids built and, ironically they are not sure which if either he is entombed <-- no one has ever found his burial chamber! The pharaohs who built the Giza pyramids almost 200 years later copied the Red Pyramid's design.