02 Mar 2023
Maria was a great tour guide for the day. We began with the Cairo museum, on the way there - (we had a separate driver) she explained the history of the Egyptian kingdoms, and went into some detail on specific sites and structures at both th Giza plateau and Saqqara/Memphis/Dashur.
Once at the museum, she managed to usher us through the organized chaos at the entry gates, and quickly secure our tickets and get us in the DOOR. Once inside she took us around the museum, pointed out various specific artifacts, and presented both the history and significance of said artifacts. In particular she excelled at highlighting the small details of specific statues and figures, small inscriptions, eye structure, etc.
After the museum we stopped for a quick lunch of typical Egyptian food, which was very good and then proceeded to the Giza plateau. Maria has a very good tour system worked out on the plateau: we pulled up to the great pyramid, and she explained the overall history of its construction and other points of historical significance while we still sat in the air conditioning, so we did not have to roast in the Egyptian heat. This process continues through out the plateau.
On the plateau, we visited the pyramids up close, the Sphinx, the temple adjacent to the Sphinx whose name I unfortunately forgot at the moment. At each site Maria explained additional information.
In addition to all of the above, she knows good photography spots and how to deal with the local security staff and the various tipping culture complications on the Giza plateau.
All in all an excellent experience.