We return from Alexandria and the demonstrations have quieted down. We are allowed to visit the Egyptian Museum. We surrender our cameras as no cameras are allowed in the museum.
We walk around the grounds before the tour begins. Our guide, M, gives a talk about the history of the pharaohs using the men and women from our group to play each part. Gregg is Ramses II and I’m Nefertari, his wife.
The burned out building in the background is what’s left of the February demonstrations this year.
We tour the museum and it’s almost deserted. We have the Tutankhamun’s room with his solid gold death mask weighing 11kg all to ourselves along with his two golden sarcophagi and jewels. We wander from room to room admiring all the treasures, including the pharaoh’s lion throne that’s covered in sheet gold and inlaid with lapis, carnelion, and other semi-precious gemstones.
We pay an extra admission and toured the Royal Mummy Room with mummies dating from the 17th to the 21st dynasties (1650 BC – 945BC).
As we left the museum we drove past one of the Tahrir Square entrances. People are still demonstrating, but every day there are fewer people coming.
