Let me tell ya…I had serious reservations about going to the Giza zoo because of mixed reviews. This zoo was built during the heyday of Victorian zooilogical parks and has the typical ornate cages and small enclosures of the time.
The good news…………………the only animals left in the zoo are under the watchful eye of international zoo associations because of serious violations by the employees. This is a very large zoo with only about a dozen species left from the hundreds it used to harbor at the turn of the century. As you can see the cats and gar bage have taken over this beautiful facility. I just made us sick!! Again, the few animals left are in very good health surprisingly.
CLICK HERE to read about the issues that temporarily closed down the Giza Zoo not long ago.
It wasn’t all bad though…I was just so disappointed to see the deterioration of such an artistic facility with elaboratly decorated buildings and enclosures and the hand laid stone mosaic walkways falling to pieces!!
I have a feeling this breeding center has not been in use for some time
Bling was pretty depressed!!! Steve bought her a present (below) to help her forget how her friends were treated at the zoo.
A remnant of the Victorian Grandeur which once graced the animal park
Another stunning pergola just falling to pieces
We tried out best to see the “up” side…….the architecture and details were amazing reminders of a zoo with a glorious past. Maybe not the kind of park we prefer to see today with huge spaces for the animals, but int it’s day, the Giza Zoo was a premier showcase of thousands of species
More handlaid mosaic sidewalks. This one was at the front of the zoo and restored somewhat
Garbage was EVERYWHERE….this photo was nothing compared to most of the areas
Ok…enuf of that depressing place!! After the zoo we hailed a taxi to take us to the Gayer Anderson Museum which was a real treat . Click Museum name to find out much more. We were escorted through the 22 rooms of the first house privately and told about all the antiques in the private collections in each room.
Everything from Mummies to pressed flower/butterfly paintings from the Victorian Era. What a place!!!! The rooftop where you see Steve and I standing is the backdrop for a scene in James Bond’s “The Spy Who Loved Me”
A view off that rooftop
Bling was getting antsy to go shopping so first stop was at the Bazaar Oasis to buy Bling a friend…A little stuffed camel with crooked eyes and legs who Bling named “Humphrey” Here they are sitting in the executive lounge just chillin and getting to know one another. This promises to be a fantastic friendship and Mini B loves Humphrey too!!
We bought spices galore
We have been seeing tons of bikes on teh roads like this transporting all sorts of things from bread to newspapers
Shoes shoes shoes!!!
I found tons of bead vendors today…most of them are bellydance costumers
This shop specializes in Belly Dance costumes and unusual beads. We were so darned hot by 11;00 we had to leave unfortunately. I was getting dehydrated and not a drop of liquid to purchase for miles!! I don’t understand how the women all in black with slits for their eyes do it!!! I swear they are wearing portable air conditioners under their clothing. I am in awe of their heat tolerance!!
WE HEAD FOR TURKEY TOMORROW!! DONT’ FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE NEW AUDIOBOO TOO!!
Thank you all tons for the comments !! I read eac and every one and wish I had the computer time to answer each comment directly right now. We are heading out for supper so I’ll try to work on comments later tonite!!
Unfortunately cats can’t add or subtract……but they certainly know how to multiply. I would imagine the cats are rather like the stray dogs-survival of the fittest and unneutered/unspayed. The zoo was beautiful, but sad. I can only imagine how hot it was there.
Diana
Hey Sandy and Steve! Sad about the zoo 🙁 but the museum looked really cool! The spices are so beautiful, and I love Bling’s new camel friend. (and the BEADS)
Sad the zoo is in such chaos, the buildings are awesome and in it’s heyday was prob quite the place. All started with the Wilhelma in Stuttgart, W Germany, loved that place it also had some really cool structures. Glad the Museum was better and to get a private tour…WOW! Beads, Beads Beads, hope you bought plenty! Ummm. did you happen to pick up any belly dancing chains? Just thought I’d ask, I wold have, belly dancing is great excercise! Safe voyage to Turkey!
oh my……so sad. The zoo!!!! why do they not let their animals go to another zoo who can afford to take care of them. they could shut the zoo down and work gradually on repairs…….some philanthropist must come to their rescue!!!! why do they have to hang onto the animals they have…..certainly it must depress everyone. its a gorgeous work of art……the gates and fences and mosaics….its a sin to have it in that disrepair and no one coming forward to help! sorry…..i dont mean to go on and on but that is so sad. the horrors of the past are just pathetic. do they have no shame? no pride? they let people see this as it is? unreal! Wish it wasnt so hot so you could have really gone through that awesome bead shop!!! not worth it tho, to risk your health. i cant believe they dont have vendors selling bottled water or something to drink. it would certainly help them make more money to keep people shopping!!! sorry if i sound crabby and irritable……its upsetting, and i also came down with one of my recurrent fevers today when i wanted to work and get some good art done!!!!! arrrghhhhhhhh!!!!
What a tragic loss, that no one came to the rescue of the zoo facility. Thankfully , most of the animals are gone and no longer subject to the run down zoo conditions. You must be in bead heaven! I can’t imagine so many to pick from. I’m sure Terry would be dragging me away, but the heat must be really opressive. Amazing pics as usual! NM
Hi Girlies!!! It’s a new day here and we are just getting ready to leave for the airport to fly to Istanbul. I’m sorry that zoo report was so depressing but thats unfortunately the kind of stuff we run into a lot when we travel abroad and I’m just glad the animal left in the zoo looked well cared for and healthy now. Really the zoo has no choice..they are being watched like hawks.
I think Nan, that no one came to rescue the zoo because no one was watching and no one asked. They just slipped through the cracks. I think the International zoo organizations who oversee all the facilities should get their act together as well. All it took was a little research via Google when we returned from the zoo to see why the lack of animals ………….and up came dozens of reports from visitors past about the conditions there. Just too bizarre
Kathe I hope you are feeling better now!! Dang I’m so sorry you have to deal with those headaches!!
Vonnie BTW I tried to write you via email and it bounced back..I got your order and will ship as soon as I get home. I’ll make up that shipping in beads or refund.. No problem!! You will love seeing the new beads I got yesterday!! I passed on the bellydance costume stuff because we have aboutg 6 square inches left in our carryons. We are hoping to not have checked luggage till we leave Turkey, but there will be a costume house I’m visiting in IstANBUL. yippie!!
Diana and Cathy…hows the weather right now in Iowa? We figured out how to use skype to call my mom for practically free from here using the computer. OMG what a wonderful thing that is. Does anyone else here use Skype???
Well gotta boot out of here but will catch up later in the day!!!! Luv yall
Since you have so many animal lovers who follow your travel blog it is no wonder that we are all up in arms about the zoo…very depressing 🙁 Thanks for having some colorful bead pictures on this post to end on a happy note. Looking forward to “seeing” Istanbul with you 🙂
Lots of Love, Lois 🙂
Hey Sandra!
Not sure I could have handled that zoo. Even at their best I have a love/hate relationship.
Love Bling’s new buddy.. Humphrey is a cutie
I would LOVE to have checked out those spices, esp since I love to cook
Can’t wait to hear about your next adventures!
I agree Elise and Lois, I’m not a big zoo goer either and debated whether to report back about the zoo but tried to take photos of the better parts. It is part of the learning experience in traveling and I don’t want anyone else traveling to Cairo to think that this zoo is a gem because it’s not.
This one was touted for it’s architecture which I was really anxious to see plus the largest collection of African Endangered species in the world. ………….well that was obviously old info…very old info we found out the hard way. We were in and out of there as fast as our feet could carry us. Again, lucky thing most of the animals were things like fat feral cats and the beautiful wild pelicans I photographed as we hoofed it through the 10 acres.
The saffron was SO CHEAP.Elise and I discovered colld hibiscus tea!!! I bought a pound of whole dried flowers to fix it the traditional way. All these things will be part of the drawing when I get back!!
The beads were plentful Lois and I have a ton to share!! I hear Turkey is even better for beads and as I sit looking out over the Bosphorous Strait out of our window in Istanbul I am getting VERY antsy to get out into the city. We just got here and our hotel is STUNNING with acres of gardens to stroll thorugh too.
Well you were right about the architecture in the pics you took of the zoo. the gates and ironwork were gorgeous. and i AM glad the few animals left are being taken care of and also that the zoo is being watched so carefully! that gives me peace of mind. i loved the pelicans. about fifteen years ago i was painting pelicans……all because of a pelican i got to know because he injured his wing and wasnt able to migrate with his flock. he was all alone on this lake near my house. we were involved in his rescue. hurraaaaaaaaay! i really love those birds. and the darling camel Humphrey is definitely a bright spot. he made me laugh! Bling and Humphrey…..hey could the little guy ride him? looking forward to more!!!!
uhhhhhhhhhhh!!left already ?? lucky Isanbul ,,, I am soooo sad for the bad experience at the zoo …
I have soo much to tell you …
I propess you a better tour in egypt next time ,,
ummmmmmmmmmmmm .. I amso upset ,,I wanted so much to meet you and steve. mybad luck I had no access to computer as I was in alexandria north coast for the feast after Ramadan month ,,,if I only knew !!!!!
salwa