Stone

Lots and lots of stone - constructions and slabs and decorations.

Down inside

Inside the (assumed) funerary complex.

Tribute

I haven't recommended reading in a post in a long long time, but you can find articles almost daily to the left here. In tribute to the new Arab political reality whose birthpangs I believe we see, I would like to mention a few key pieces I came across today.

Norwegian Foreign Minister writes here on his experience of the region and vision for our lessons now. Turkish Foreign MInister offers his views here. A view on the youth here. International Crisis Group gives a regional perspective here and Rami Khouri here.

More Abu Sir

The Abu Sir site has 4 pyramids according to my guide - only one was really obvious, but this may have been the ruins of one. I would have guessed more of a worker's complex from the layout, but have to confess to a very bad memory... This map gives a necropolis which matches the location...

The site

More looks at the Abu Sir archaelogical site...

Infrastructure

As usual, the presence of primitively undisguised infrastructure is so much mote prevalent.

Nile valley lush

On the outskirts of Cairo, life is tough, but in some epic way, still a tribute to 5000+ years of civilization.

Spirit of Tahrir

A tribute to the amazing metropolis of Cairo, where freedom is celebrated tonight. O people of Egypt, you have a long road ahead, but also a rich heritage to fetch strength from. Umm ad-Dunya, may your spirit live forever.

Seeing Giza

Giza was visible too, on this clear calm day.

Around Abu Sir

The immediate surroundings, despite the deserty fell of the site itself, were of a lush Nile valley type. Thousands of years of history.

The city

Distant views of a mighty historic city, who seemed so tranquil on this New Year's Eve, a Friday, too, and whose inner dynamism has since become so evident again. The bottom photo actually allows a glimpse of Muqattam, all those miles away on the other end of the city.

Recommend!

Unfortunately, a slight bout of flu (probably over by now, but still resting) prevents me from attending tonight's talk on "Arab uprisings - the beginning of a new era?" exploring understandings of recent developments, at Södra Teatern in Stockholm tonight. Do go and tell me about it!

More: You might want to take a look at this too - Chatham House on Egypt and the Middle East.

My main newssources these 2 weeks have been Al-Jazeera English and selected twitter feeds, btw. I also recommend Swedish national radio.

History in the making

Blogging photos of historic sites and tourist spots feels hopelessly banale - I spend my free time online, watching the mighty standoff of the Egyptian people. I will find more inspiration to see my photos of a strong heritage as a tribute. Until then, join in the spirit of Miydan Tahrir.

Current events

The mighty force of the protest going on right now almost defies comment or description. In tribute, I can only recommend you to follow events, for example by watching the Jazeera live-stream. See history being made.

Surrounding the pyramid

Looking out from the pyramid site.

History in Cairo

Toda is truly a historic day in Egypt's history. We are all still holding our breaths for the outcome, but the importance of the energy of the protests is indisputable, regardless. Let my photos from last month be a tribute to a great people and city.

At a distance

Cairo! We are really on the outskirts of the great city.

Abu Sir pyramid

The actual pyramid.

More details on the way

So much to see, every meter along the way to the pyramid!