Egypt (Part II) - A "Somewhere Sunday" Post

Note:  This is the last post in our "Somewhere Sunday" series for now as we'll begin a four month adventure in Europe next week and there will be lots of posts and pics along the way.  We want to thank everyone who sent us such positive comments and e-mails regarding the "Somewhere Sunday" series.  We're so happy that you've enjoyed them!

Alexandria 

Last week's "Somewhere Sunday" post featured ancient Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza and the Necropolis of Saqqara.  Today, we're taking a walk around modern day Alexandria.

The modern day city of Alexandria is frequently described by comparison to its past.  One comes across such phrases as "once among the greatest of cities" and descriptions of Alexandria's " faded charms" of days gone by.  It must be difficult being modern day Alexandria, constantly viewed through the prism of history.  True, Alexandria was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Times change, the city has changed, but people are the same.  Doing the best they can to live the life that they have. 

Egypt (Part I) - A "Somewhere Sunday" Post

Pyramids at Giza

This week we begin a two part series visiting Egypt.  In week one we'll look back in time with a visit to the Pyramids at Giza and the ancient Necropolis of Saqqara.   Next Sunday we'll take a walk around Alexandria  for a more modern day glimpse of Egypt.

The ancient Egyptians devoted tremendous energy, time and resources to making elaborate preparations for the afterlife.  For 3,000 years massive mastabas and pyramids were constructed for the 31 dynasties that ruled ancient Egypt.  While the common people probably sought the afterlife, only rulers and the most revered and wealthy Egyptians had the ability to construct these grand funeral chambers and plan for a life after death of such extravagance.   The Great Pyramid, constructed for Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BC, took an estimated 20 years to build and required 2.3 million limestone blocks.  Enormous even by today's standards, it stood as the tallest man made structure in the world for 3800 years.  

Examples of the smooth casing stones that once covered the pyramids can be seen at the top and base.

Surface detail of the underlying limestone blocks.

Pharaoh Menkaure's Pyramid is the smallest of the big three on the Giza Plateau.
The even smaller pyramid structure beside it is one of the three Queen's Pyramids.

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The structures to the right of the pyramid are examples of mastabas or "eternal houses"
Both a forerunner and a more modest alternative to a pyramid, they too house funeral chambers.
Mastabas are constructed from either stone or bricks made of mud.

Father and son entrepreneurs offer camel rides around the pyramids.

Modern day Giza, a city of over 7 million people, lies at the foot of the pyramids.

The Great Sphinx is one of the great enigmas of ancient Egypt.  Its original name is not known - Sphinx being the name bestowed upon it 2000 years after its construction (translating to "the terrifying one" in Arabic).  Nor is anything known about its creation or its purpose. Theories abound, but the half man/half lion whose gaze is forever fixed upon the desert horizon is a mystery waiting to be solved.  Dated to 2558-2532 BC, it is carved from a single stone making it the largest monolith statue in the world.  

The Necropolis of Saqqara was the funerary complex of the rulers and elite residents of nearby Memphis, Egypt's Old Kingdom capital.  Sixteen kings are known to have constructed funeral chambers here.  The most famous structure at Saqqara is the Stepped Pyramid constructed for Pharaoh Djoser, ruler of the 2nd or 3rd dynasty.  Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is the first known monumental structure made of stone and that its architect is believed to have been Imhotep - the man credited for being the first architect, engineer, and physician in early history.  A man of great intellect, he was so well respected and valued by Egypt's rulers that it is believed he has his own yet to be discovered tomb located somewhere at Saqqara.

Stepped Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara.

Dig underway at Saqqara funerary complex.
Entrance to the tomb of Idut, grand daughter of Pharaoh Unas.

Building details at Saqqara funerary complex.

Festival del Caballos - A "Somewhere Sunday" Post

This week we journey to Baja California Sur, Mexico for the Festival del Caballos de Todos Santos.

Nestled half way between tourista packed Cabo San Lucas and the more laid back La Paz lies Todos Santos.  An official "Pueblo Magico" it is known as an artist's colony, a surfing paradise and as a palm tree laden tropical oasis.  It is also the location of the annual Festival del Caballos de Todos Santos where dancing horses, trick roping caballeros, and beautifully costumed young women perform the perfectly timed Escaramuza - a synchronized horse ballet.  

The event begins with the Cabalgata - a parade of horsemen (and women and children) who ride into town from distant ranches.  Once assembled at the show grounds, a procession forms and riders and horses alike are blessed by the local padres.  This is a celebration of both horse and rider - a proud acknowledgement of a interdependent history and culture.  It is a celebration of life on the Rancheros.  

       

Ephesus - A "Somewhere Sunday" Post

The Library of Celsus once held an estimated 12,000 scrolls.  

Our "Somewhere Sunday" destination this week is Turkey.  To Ephesus, once a city second only to Rome in size and importance, now the largest collection of Roman ruins in the Mediterranean.

At first glance, you may find Ephesus chaotic.  Building elements the size of boulders seem randomly strewn upon the landscape.  But look closer and you will see that the beauty of Ephesus lies not only in its structures, but in each of the these thousands of elements that are the puzzle pieces of its history. 

With only an estimated 15% of the site excavated, it's difficult to grasp how large this city of half a million citizens really was.  Built upon the ruins of an ancient Bronze age city, Ephesus has had many reincarnations.  Destroyed by invading forces, earthquakes, fires and under the rule of Greeks, Romans, and Goths the city was rebuilt many times until finally succumbing to total abandonment in the 15th century.  But what truly brought an end to the ancient city occurred much more slowly and insidiously.  Ephesus, once a valuable seaport with its harbor the source of great wealth and power, gradually lost its access to the Aegean Sea due to the slow silting up of its harbor. The area around the city became a swamp and malarial epidemics killed many of its citizens. Today, the remains of the city are six miles from the coast.