The New Seven Wonders Countdown: The Pyramids Of Giza by Travelogger

Jul|31|2007

The New Seven Wonders Countdown: The Pyramids Of Giza

Posted by Benj as Africa

The Pyramids of Giza were officially pulled out of the ‘competition’ for the list of the ‘new’ seven wonders of the world, but the great monuments to Egyptian architecture and engineering was awarded a special citation for being the only remaining ancient wonder. Though the structures have been around for more than four millennia, the pyramids still continue to draw oohs and ahhs from modern day nomads just like the way it did back at the time when Greek tourists fell in awe of their majestic allure.

It would come as a surprise to a lot of people that the Giza is only a few minutes away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Weirdly enough a Pizza Hut restaurant can be spotted a few hundred meters from the pyramid complex itself. For all the damage that it does to ambiance, the younger crowd who might get cranky under the searing African sun could find comfort in the fact that some Western influence has found its way to this tourist destination. If you’re not happy with pizza, Col. Sanders also has an outpost near the site so you could have your KFC fix even when you’re at the edge of the Sahara Desert.

The four most imposing features at the complex include three pyramids and the legendary statue of the sphinx. Of the three pyramids, the largest is the Pyramid of Khufu (sometimes referred to as Cheops). The two other pyramids are considerably smaller - the Pyramids of Khafre and Menaukre.

Tips when visiting the Pyramids:

Egypt has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October.
Temperatures vary widely in the inland desert areas, especially in summer, when they may range from 7° C at night to 43° C during the day. During winter, temperatures in the desert fluctuate less dramatically, but they can be as low as 0° C at night and as high as 18° C during the day.

Weather information.