“How do I get on that?”
“Don’t worry, be happy,” says the guide. “Just relax, keep your arms straight and lean back.”
I am petrified. My palms are sweating so much that I fear they will slip off the metal handrail. The camel underneath me lurches. I am halfway up and hanging on for dear life. The camel lurches again and he is upright. Somehow, I manage to hang on. I exhale. I made it. Now I just have to stay on.
The guide is at the front and a dozen camels follow, linked together with ropes. One by one, each camel rises with each rider either exhilarated or terrified. There seems no in between. Once we’re all aboard, our camel train sets off for our ride amongst the Pyramids of Giza.
I have wanted to come to Cairo and the Pyramids for so long. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with Ancient Egypt. Now I am here. Terrified. But here.
As far as my eyes can see, there are hues of gold - the Pyramids and the sand. Fine, fine sand that is whipping me in the face. Luckily, I bought a scarf yesterday. There seemed every colour of the rainbow to choose from but I chose my Mum’s favourite colour - orange. As the vendor told me, it was a perfect match for the intense, burning sun. The guide had tied the scarf around my head and across my face so, in combination with my sunglasses, I am largely protected from the flying, biting sand.
The camel gently takes me on a scenic ride. It feels much like being on a horse and I start to relax into the undulating movement. I am awed at the Pyramids. I mull over so many questions. “How were the Pyramids built so long ago? How were they so perfectly shaped without computers? How many people died or were injured whilst building them?”
My mind wanders as to how I managed to be in Egypt at all. Overseas travel wasn’t on my radar whilst I was raising two kids on my own. For so many years, my life was work, look after the kids, pay bills, tidy the house, wash, grocery shop, cook, taxi the kids around. Repeat. Any spare money was put aside for emergencies. I don’t regret it. The kids are the best part of me but overseas travel? Bahaha. That was not an option.
My Mum knew I dreamt of travelling. Particularly of visiting the Pyramids. When she got sick last year, she told me that I was to use her inheritance to see, “Those Pyramids of (mine).” So I did.
Tears roll down my face at the memory. At hearing her voice in my head.
“Thank you Mum,” I say out loud. “Those Pyramids are better than I ever dreamt they would be.”
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