We had such a great time at the Cairo Museum this morning . Of course Bling and Mini B especially liked the “shake down” and “belly squeeze” at all 3 security checks and Bling swears the security scanner is a tanning booth. She has a pretty nice glow by now!! There is nothing cuter than to see the big tough security guards try not to crack a smile when they squeeze the panda bellies!!
The King Tut exhibit was incredible and I was especially taken with the hundreds of jewelry items found between the layers of his mummy wrapping.
I bought a book from the museum highlighting a number of Egyptian jewelry designs that are showcased in it. 2 of them are in a photo I took of the book ABOVE
We left the museum blown away by the sheer number of Egyptian Artifacts and history inside and regrouped our wits with a cold drink at the the Nile Hotel across the street. After that it was off on a scarab hunt and eyes wide open for a good Eye of Horus Amulet.
You can see above I scored BIGTIME on a sterling and glass Eye of Horus HUGE pendant with hand made filigree
Here I am in front of one of the Treasure Shops!! I wish I had gotten a photo taken with the proprieter but he had us married with many many children by the time I escaped. He was a swarthy Egyptian man who tried EVERYTHING to get me to leave Steve. OMG he was serious. He even asked me if I had a daughter…lol!
ABOVE ARE THE FRONT SIDES OF THE 3 LAPIS LAZULI AND STERLING PENDANTS I GOT FROM HIM TOO
Of course Steve didnt’ help at all by offering to let me go for 2 camels and a goat!!!!! The guy apparently thought Steve was serious because he didn’t laugh and his expression got worried..UNTIL I insisted I was worth more than 2 camels and a goat. He finally figured out we were joking but the poor fella thought he might get stuck with me!!
SIDE VIEW OF THESE INCREDIBLY DETAILED SCARABS
AND THATS NOT ALL..EVEN THE BACKS ARE AS SCRUMPTIOUS AS THE FRONTS!!
ABOVE ARE SOME OF THE FINELY DETAILED SCARABS PURCHASED FROM THE BEAD STORE YESTERDAY
AND AGAIN, THE BACKS AS BEAUTIFULLY CARVED AS THE FRONTS
2 VERY LARGE SCARABS. THE BLUE LAPIS LAZULI ONE IS NATURAL AND FLAWLESS
BACK DETAIL ON THE LAPIS SCARAB
By this time we were hot and tired so we decided to chill out by poolside on the rooftop! What a wonderful pool and garden they have.
Some traditional Egyptian Mezza (hummus, eggplant dip,tahini,tabbouleh, and minced meat spicy tidbits with yogurt) and a glass of Egyptian wine for me, a local beer for Steve (Sakkara) and we spent the afternoon in the shade with a great rooftop breeze wafting over us.
You know me…it’s hard to sit still so while I was up there I posted a new AUDIO BOO!!
And as far as photos from the Egyptian Museum…no go on that one! We were instructed to leave our cameras behind in a safe box. I can’t complain because I really hate seeing people not pay attention to the NO FLASH rule as it fades and deteriorates the exhibits. At the Louvre there were cameras everywhere and NO FLASH is no big deal, but it would be terrible to see a priceless painting destroyed over time because of those who don’t listen.
That Lapis scarab is breath taking!!! I LOVE the turquoise ones, too! I am so jealous of you guys!!! Keep the pix coming, though. Keep having a blast!!!
Sandy I bet that museum was amazing! I love the scarabs!! Those sterling ones are beautiful! Funny thinking about security squeezing the Pandas. Makes me think of when I had to send my stuffed Iowa corn through the scanner at the Federal building. LOL! Those security guys thought I was crazy.
Looks like you’re having a wonderful time!
Luv ya 😉
Hi Rebecca!! Isn’t that one a doozie?? I would have bought another if he had one. The big ones weren’t cheap but they were worthit!!
Kissies to Sophie Bean!
I love the different shades of blue – especially the blue lapis!
Hi Sandy,
Those clever Egyptians sure had a sense of design didn’t they? I can see a lot of inspiration for you here! Jan
What an experience to see those treasures in their own setting. We have the Tut exhibit here and it is wonderful. Enjoy all these treasures for those of us that yern to be there but cant
WOW those scarabs are exquisite. Love what you bought. Sounds like another amazing day
The scarabs are beautiful. I’d go nuts in that place. A lot of good ideas to bring home. The kiln is okay so I’m” firing up” today
I am going to sound like a broken record, but a big WOW for those scarabs!!! You certainly found a super cool Eye of Horus too 🙂
When I was in London, unfortunately, I had a very short time at the British Museum before it closed so I focused just on the Egyptian exhibit. I actually was shocked that in the larger sculpture area on the main floor the amazing pieces had no barriers and people were touching everything (kind of how it was for you to see everyone on the pyramids). At least some of the smaller pieces on an upper floor were in cases. We were able to take pictures (even flash!…which I just couldn’t bring myself to do so my shots are not super crisp). Thanks for sharing what you could with us…I love Bling in front of the museum with the Sphinx and those pieces of jewelry from that book (which must be incredible)…fabulous!
Lots of Love, Lois 🙂
Wow Kylee would be going crazy with all the beads. I’m sure she will want to come and see them all when you get home. Cairo keeps hearing me talk about you visiting Cairo and she can’t figure out why she can’t find you and Steve – LOL You guys look like you are having a great time. I love the pyramid pictures.
OOOOOOOO…..i am super amazed at those pictures in that book……how those jewels hold their color through all the years. i love the Eye of Horus and the beautiful scarabs with silver….you could wear them backwards too! gorgeous!!! i cant stop laughing about you and that proprietor….wow….maybe you will have to go back there and see if you can score more stuff. hilarious. I swear in that picture of little Bling sitting on the glass table……she is looking right at me! You captured that feeling that wherever you move, her eye follows. maybe that is the magiv of the Eye of Horus working! Is it hot hot hot there? that pool is so refreshing looking. you should try it…..its a great “pick me up”! cant wait to see more! have you bought more beads than what you are showing so far? how bout clothes?? I wanna know it all!!!
Hi everyone..It’s Friday morning here and we are getting ready to head to the Citadel and Old Cairo. Am very excited to get photos of the outside of the Citadel. No photos allowed inside though. Found a huge botanical garden and the Cairo Zoo is here too. Tomorrow is the only day we can visit either because it’s an early morning thing…gets far too hot after 11:00 AM to be outside so we will need to choose one
It was so good to wake up to all your comments!!! Mary Susan, do you realize you are one of the huge influences on my travel bug???? Your photos from distant lands you would show me years ago, aer what gave me the overwhelming desire to see the world too!
I was playing with all my beads last nite and scarabs. Boy I really am happy with what I found so far. I didn’t buy a lot yet but enough to share. The prices here are not cheap but he workmanship is top notch so I don’t mind paying a bit more. Hope to visit the Fair Trade Art Center tomorrow. I really love these places because the price is fixed and the money goes back into the communities and tribal artisans and not the middleman.
Mom, I’m soooooooooooooooooo happy your kiln is fixed!!!! Did Dave fix it? You need to send me pix of any new things you get done!!! I’m so excited to get our designs worked out !!
do you think you and Mom will work out design ideas with an Egyptian influence? some bowls with some of Tuts Jewelry patterning would be just incredible. The coral colors, blues, and golds are just rich and mouthwatering. i just had an idea flash in my head about a special bowl. remind me when you get home and i will tell you about it. of course, you are way ahead of me on design and jewelry and porcelain……still……i get crazy ideas, alot which dont always work out!!! hehehe. last night when i was at my moms helping with her bills and stuff…..she went to bed early, i flipped the tv on and there were the Pyramids…..right then!! i was freaked. a group was exploring and doing some paranormal testing as there seems to be so many unexplainable noises and figures and forms seen in and around Tuts tomb. how exciting that was, to see this, while you are there!!!
Love those turquoise scarabs! The museum must have been great and the jewelry from the book you bought is stunning. Can’t believe the craftsmanship they had back then, it all held up great and is still
something I would wear now!
That man at the jewelry store sounds like he was quite a character…lol, my hubby woulda offrered him the same for me…maybe only 1 camel and a goat! The food at poolside looked very yummy too, nothing better than good food and a nice pool after a day of sightseeing!
Hope you go the the ZOO!
I saw that same show Kathleen, it was kinda freaky
Ohhhhhh, those turquoise scarabs were soooo wonderful. I was drooling. everything was just beautiful.
Vonnie……did you see the same show on the same night? i love shows like that and although they are creepy, i love to be creeped out. the only thing, i had to drive home from my moms at midnight, alone in the dark…….ooooooooooo. i was so jumpy!!! Sandy, are you getting any weird vibes from being in a place with so much history and mystery and preserved dead people? Egypt is so full of magic and superstition, but i believe alot of paranormal things happen there…..why such reverence and beauty and ceremony and riches for the dead? anyway…..i love that stuff.
oh my god ,,now that I am going through all your posts about your purchases in egypt , ,,if only I was there ,,if only I knew ,, I would have been with you showing you were to go for shopping for stones ,semi precious stones for perfectly good prices for art work ,,,,but,,,,,my luck !!!!!! SO now , this to all of you my friends please tell me before you come to Cairo ,I am here for all of you anytime !
love
salwa