A good guide has a name: Rania.
In one word; Fantastic!
After a request on my part the day before to visit the Cheops pyramid first, due to less dammed heat in the great gallery and especially the royal chamber, as well as reduced persons amount in the ascent and descent of the great gallery and the ascent to it, this was promptly implemented the following day!
And here begins my little but heartfelt story, with the best guide you can find in Giza, I would like to say! Applied too thickly? Wait and see. ^^
I was out with Rania, which turned out to be an absolute genius move in terms of atmosphere, jokes and knowledge - but I can hardly call it an insider tip, a good 5 people approached me that day and said I got the best one you can get. I absolutely agree with these souls when writing these lines - Rania made this experience, which would be enough in itself, a real leap of joy for every traveler!! ^^
As noted, we first visited the great pyramid of Cheops - as suspected, the access was by no means overcrowded at this time, which offered countless opportunities for good snapshots, which I could not get in a previous tour, another travel provider well remarked at the point(!), at worlds... I did not notice that the lady was already in front of the hotel at 07.00, so we agreed 07.45 as the pick-up time (sorry again Rania!! -.-").
So I lingered in the royal chamber, taking photos as priceless as memory itself, whereupon we both made a walk to the tomb of Marsa Ankh. Before we were even a stone's throw away from the Cheops pyramid, it turned out that my guide Rania not only has a lot on her mind, yet she always knew an answer to my few questions - due to good conversation on your part, where everything had context and hardly any questions arose - but also has a trained eye for good photographs! This is where the real fun began! Buckle up, because when you're out with Rania, no eye stays dry. This is difficult with the sand of the desert, which is whirled in your face every now and then when a horse-drawn carriage or some camels pass by, but when you laugh tears, well, not one eye stays dry...
On the leisurely walk away from the usual tourist routes, we not only came to more possibilities of ingenious photos, I was already allowed to enjoy Rania's knowledge during this.
Once we reached the tomb of Marsa Ankh, we stopped in the entrance area, which probably most visitors without a guide do not notice: The story that can be found in the murals, if you can read and interpret it, probably remains hidden from most and it begins bereirs at the entrance columns. Did you know why there is an Anubis inscribed on each column inside? I didn't know, but Rania did. I will not deprive you of the experience in it, so you should have the opportunity to enjoy yourself, trust me, it is worth it! ^^
A dozen ingenious photos later we went into the sunlight again, now descending to the Sphinx. Yeah, it's called the Sphinx, not the Sphinx, I know, weird. And funny is a good cue, so Rania again knew a place where you can take great pictures - I allow myself to say at this point that I don't regret doing the "Walk like an Egyptian" dance (you can say it looked miserable). Needless to say, more inside jokes were thrown back and forth from the spot, which kept up until turning into the street of my hotel... ^^
So we continued our journey with wit and knowledge, where when walking the path, which probably only a handful of tourists make daily (if at all), we came to opportunities to photograph the sphinx from angles that would otherwise probably remain closed to an outsider. I'm already crying to these people: If you visit the Giza Plateau, you should also get something out of it...
I certainly got my money's worth, out of question! Took two attempts, but let me advise you so you can give yourself the Deluxe version right away: Long for Rania. Should you be able to take her on a tour, you will not regret it! ^^
We moved to the entrance of the tourist place for sphinx photos from the southern perspective. Even with the possibility to stay there longer to secure a good place for an absolutely typical picture, as everyone apparently wants, I do not need it at all, since I knew that Rania had previously appeared with me outside the facility, in which people roam like ants to get this a good photo, to the absolute top form in terms of her photographic understanding! If their guide takes a picture and when they briefly show the result, two of them are already doing the same thing as Rania offered me, since they, understandably, saw how brilliant it comes from the angle of view that is so inconspicuously hidden that you can tell you are in good hands, well, then you are probably traveling Rania and then you can dance like an Egyptian... ^^ When the lady says; "Jump!", your precise question should be; "How high?"
So we left the Sphinx behind, with better photos than the usual 08/15 story everyone can show. I'm suggesting here as an example the Leaning Tower of Pisa - I guess everyone feels creative to maintain the Leaning Tower with proper perspective. For the Sphinx there are also some absolutely "creative" approaches, which you can hear laughing there... ^^'
We bought a short Anubis sarcophargin, which I didn't see in any stores until then and if Rania tells you you don't have to buy anything, at least take her advice on which shop is cheap and has good goods, if you want to buy it - I was allowed to put it together myself from a standard set of three holographic pyramids, but since I built on the demonstration effect, I let the seller decide and it's perfect! ^^ I didn't feel any pressure during the activity of the purchase and although I'm not proficient in modern Arabic, I did understand that my company probably pointed out that I was interested in this one Anubis sarcoargin, whereupon at least pretty quickly finished showing other sarcoargins - whereby one looked funny, built similar to a Russian matroshka, 5 mummies in one, but I'm glad to have stood there not forever, as it probably noticed I decided. ^^
I would like to note that I was previously dragged to shops by tour guides and was always worked with indirect pressure on the tourist. I didn't have that feeling here. On the contrary, it seemed cordial, as if they both respected each other and who can blame people - I watched Rania again and again distributing Baksheesh to, for example, elderly cleaning staff without asking me to - then of course my Baksheesh flows to them, so it comes full circle, because this way these people ensure a good experience on the ground, from which I as well as you benefit. Such a person does not run with you to a booth to make money quickly, they respect the people and the people noticeably Rania too. You'll understand what I mean if you enjoy having been out with her after a tour. It's like night and day. This is how a companion should work...
Staring at the sphinx at our backs, we boarded the bus and drove to the other side of the Giza plateau, where a camel ride awaited me. I got the opportunity to shake hands with a man who is not only supposed to be super according to Rania's theory, but also proved to be more than professional in dealing with animals and humans! With regard to animals, they were completely calm and well trained, with regard to humans, the man once again took brilliant pictures and as the first of three I lingered on my camel until the others had their photos and if quiet stillness has a name, it is probably that of my camel. ^^ So when I snapped the last pictures high on the back of the still camel, we headed back. Danced like an Egyptian, walked, explored pyramids and now rode like a real Egyptian, I rejoined the ingenious company of Rania, where we made our way to our driver. Apart from the one phone call on the bus to the exit of the Giza plateau, which requires the necessity to inform our driver, Rania was always 100% there for all kinds of questions and the offer to take photos of me! So the phone call brought us to the direct arrival of the parking lot with our driver, where we headed for the way to a restaurant - I admit, I don't know what the meal was called anymore, let alone pronounce it correctly, but what is definitely clear to me is the fact that it was prepared besides clean, fast, absolutely delicious! What didn't fit in my stomach was packed, including the addition of a local spicy preserve - I'm talking about a pungency that makes the food enjoyable, but not numbs the taste buds of the tongue after the first bite.
On the way to the hotel we discussed the plans that emerged during the day - I don't regret cancelling the already paid tour of the coming weekend, as well as the last day of my stay in Egypt (for now at least!) so that I can give myself another tour with Rania... Thank you for showing that some are really good at what they do for a living!
As I said at the beginning; Fantastic.
10/10
Pioneer09808185814 · ian. 2026 · prin Tripadvisor · Tradusă
