CAIRO and PETRA: The first wonder is the Giza Pyramid Complex in CairoEgypt. The Giza Pyramids are the world's largest pyramids and were built about 5,000 years ago by three Pharaohs and by an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 workers. The pyramids are astonishing up close and majestic from far away. To get to the pyramids the Egyptian government charges a mandatory $5. But you can rent a camel or horse along with a tour guide and ride around them for a first glance. A lot of the tour guides will try to take every penny in your pocket if you let them. In order to save money, do research or ask a hotel about the price of the trip. At the end of the tour around the pyramids the tour guide will ask for more money as a tip. Set your own price. At the end of the tour, the tour guide will then take you to a papyrus and perfume shop. If you want a souvenir from the pyramids, again do research and ask around for the best price, as with anywhere in Egypt, bargaining is hard. After riding around the pyramids, taking the picture and seeing the Sphinx your day will be complete. You will have one wonder of the world under you belt. Now it is time to make way to the second wonder: Petra, Jordan. Before leaving Egypt you have to get reentry visas from the chaotic Mugamma building in Cairo. Get there right at the opening, which is normally 8:00 am and make sure it is not a national holiday. The Mugamma closes at 2:00 pm, however, that usually means 1 or 1:30 pm. Have a copy of your passport ready and pay your fees before going to the crowded windows. A single reentry visas is 50.10 LE and double reentry visas are 60.10 LE. After the chaotic experience at Mugamma, you will want to leave Cairo for a while. Go to the bus station and book a night trip to Nuweiba. After the bus drops you off in Nuweiba, you will need to find the Ferry ticketing station located at the end of the main road. There are two choices in ticketing. One being a slow, more crowded 4 or 5 hour trip and the other being a one-hour trip. I strongly recommend the one-hour trip. The longer trip is packed and the line for the boat usually seems endless. It was a reasonable $80 for a hassle free beautiful boat ride. After going through customs in Jordan, expect a flock of taxi drivers in the hall outside. If you want to go to Petra that night, a taxi ride should be about 30 Jordanian Dinars for a three-hour drive. There are hostels in Aqaba, but I recommend going straight to Petra to get a full day in the city. Entrance into Petra costs 33 JD for a one-day admission to the park and 38 JD for a two-day admission. Petra is easily explored in two days. The ticket includes a free tour, with suggested tips at the end, and one free horse ride to the gates of Petra. I recommend buying two large waters and packing a small lunch before going through the gates because lunch inside is expensive. After going through the gates, the overhead vibrant red cliffs are amazingly beautiful. The walk through these trails is worth a slow walk. The cliffs on both sides are breathtaking and there are multiple carvings in the side of them nearing the entrance of the Treasury. The narrow trail slowly reveals the Treasury. The Treasury is most famous from the film Indiana Jones and The Last Crusades. Passing the Treasury, walk down to more ancient buildings carved from the side of the mountain. You will pass the Theater and then you will be surrounded with sites to see. The city is 40 square miles, but most of the sites are clumped together. Stay on the trail for the first day and keep going to the Al-Habees Museum. From the Museum you can go around the mountain to the top. That is if your legs are not aching from the trek. I strongly suggest pushing to the top of the mountain for beautiful landscape. At the top there are rocks that you can sit on, meditate and take in the striking scenery. After the climb down, look for the horse to take you back to the visitor's center. After exploring the city the second day, walking through the many ancient tombs and carved structures you will have seen most of Petra. And you will have completed two Wonders of the World in less than seven days. BM
