There I am, standing in front of the largest of the three Great Pyramids at Giza. This one is the pyramid of Khafre. It's really hard to get a sense of scale of this thing. For instance, look at the people on the far left edge of the photo, just at the base. Maybe that will give you an idea.

This pyramid is the middle-sized one. The king who built this one was named Khufu. All three of the pyramids were built between 2589 and 2504 BCE. That's nearly 5000 years ago. That makes the size of these guys all the more impressive.

Another size comparison of Khafre.

Me at the base of Khafre.

Pyramid fun!

We rode a bus over to the "panoramic view" of the three Great Pyramids. From left to right (make note Dad) is Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The guy in the middle is one of many people just waiting to pose for pictures and take pictures of you at the pyramids... for a price. He also took the picture of me with his camel below.

The sphinx is practically next door to the pyramids.

Before I even left the U.S. I read on my site coordinator's online journal about the contrasts of Cairo. The desert next to the Nile River, the guy with a donkey cart in front of a modern skyscraper, and the Pizza Hut that is directly behind you as you look at the Sphinx. She wasn't lying.

Fun with the Sphinx! He has a better tan than I do.

First glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea at the beaches of Alexandria

The streets of Alexandria. So very much more clean and quiet than Cairo.

Anne and Emily speaking at the prayer conference at a Presbyterian church in Alexandria. Emily spoke in English, Anne translated into Arabic.

The church was packed for the worship service

The doors of the Presbyterian church in Alexandria

A view of the skyline from the Fairhaven Residential Commons where I slept during the Alexandria trip. It was so nice to see clouds again.

Harry spoke to the congregation on the second day of the conference. Anne translated for him as well.

After the conference let out for the day, everyone crowded into the courtyard for refreshments.

The doors to the Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria.

When we walked through the doors of the outer wall we saw the fortress in all its glory. The pictures show the citadel as a brownish hue, but in the bright sunlight it appeared gleaming white... so white I could barely see.

Jonathan, the son of Anne and Najy (sp?) ran across the detailed floor of the mosque inside the citadel.

Standing in the mosque, we looked up and saw the tall shaft that opened to the sky.

A model of the citadel shows the scale of the fortress.

Looking down from the second floor, we looked through the opening in the floor where hot oil could be dumped on invading enemies.

Emily is using her muscles to keep the archway from collapsing on her (just kidding) as Najy takes a photo over her shoulder.

A view of the Mediterranean Sea from the citadel.

Harry, Sebastian (held by Harry), Thelma, little Johnathan, Najy, Anne, and Emily stroll down the giant hallway of the citadel.

Johnathan got to be king for a day in the throne room of the citadel. This is where the sultan sat to take care of his daily affairs.

One of the Tourist Policemen poses with me for a photo. It actually says "Tourist and Antiquities Police" on his shoulder pauldron.

Harry chats with one of the Tourist Policemen.

A view of the Library of Alexandria from the citadel. It's just right of center.

We drove over to the Library of Alexandria. The back wall of the library has inscriptions of languages from all over the world from every time and place.

A bust of Alexander the Great, the namesake of Alexandria, and the large ball of the planetarium at the Library of Alexandria.

The library of Alexandria in all its Star Trek-like glory.

The reflecting pool in front of the library.

The Presbyterian retreat on the Mediterranean Sea called Bate el-Salam (lit. House of Peace)

White doves at Bate el-Salam

The retreat center at Bate el-Salam

Harry standing next to the gigantic mosaic cross at Bate el-Salam

Sunset at the Mediterranean Sea.