The journey of film and television world is endless

#554 - Chapter 41: Cairo Egyptian Museum

Cairo, the capital city, is hailed as one of humanity's oldest cities and the largest in the Arab world. As of July 2008, it was home to over 7.78 million residents.

As Liu Yuan stepped out of the airplane, he felt the atmosphere of a foreign land. Inside the airport, he smoothly paid the $10 visa-on-arrival fee and exchanged some of his cash into the local currency—Egyptian pounds. At that time, the Egyptian pound had not yet experienced severe devaluation, and the exchange rate with the US dollar was approximately 11.2 to 1.

After leaving the airport, travelers faced a choice of transportation: they could take a regular taxi or a local minibus. These minibuses were actually small vans, and the variety of these vehicles was dazzling and diverse. To Liu Yuan's surprise, there were even Wuling vans, known as the 'national people's car'.

Having pre-booked his hotel, Liu Yuan knew that the Conrad Hotel was one of the top hotels in Cairo. The hotel also thoughtfully provided an airport pick-up service, which made Liu Yuan feel particularly welcomed. He boarded a spacious eight-seater Toyota van, which was undoubtedly much more comfortable than the crowded minibuses. The journey from the airport to the hotel was about 18 kilometers, and along the way, Liu Yuan enjoyed the charming scenery of the Nile River and the ancient and solemn buildings of Cairo.

It is worth mentioning that Cairo is one of the cities in the world that has suffered the least war damage. Therefore, the city has been able to preserve many precious historical sites. In addition, successive rulers have attached great importance to the protection of buildings. Here, tourists can witness Islamic-style architecture from various periods, the most common of which are mosques and minarets.

Although Egypt is an Islamic country, it is deeply influenced by the British, and the social atmosphere is relatively open. Here, women may wear headscarves, but compared to other countries, they do not wrap themselves up so that only their eyes are visible. It is also not common for men to wear traditional clothing; more often, they choose to wear light and comfortable clothing such as jeans, T-shirts, or casual shirts.

The vehicle continued along the road and finally arrived at the Conrad Hotel. At the hotel entrance, two enthusiastic porters were smiling and welcoming Liu Yuan, and they proactively stepped forward to help him with his luggage.

Located on the banks of the Nile, the Conrad Hotel is a landmark building in the heart of Cairo, holding a pivotal position. Upon entering the hotel lobby, one cannot help but be attracted by the magnificent crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, while the exquisite reliefs on the walls showcase an endless atmosphere of luxury.

According to the porter's introduction, this hotel not only provides high-end dining services, but also features a variety of entertainment and leisure facilities, such as a 24-hour casino, a Turkish-style bath, a beauty salon, and exquisite boutiques. In addition, there is an impressive 24-hour fitness club, including an outdoor heated swimming pool, allowing guests to fully enjoy their leisure time.

After checking in at the front desk, Liu Yuan took the elevator under the guidance of the attendant. Since the presidential suite and the royal suite had already been booked by other guests, Liu Yuan had no choice but to select an ordinary large suite. Fortunately, the room was spacious and comfortable, with exquisite interior decoration and 18th-century antique furniture, creating a strong historical atmosphere. From the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire bustling cityscape of Cairo, and the private balcony offered stunning views of the majestic Nile River.

Liu Yuan was quite satisfied with such accommodation. He looked at the two smiling porters with a smile on his face, and suddenly realized that he seemed to have forgotten something important—tipping! This is an unwritten rule, after all, it was the British who got them used to it. According to custom, it is about 2 to 5 Egyptian pounds, of course, if you are in a good mood or the service is particularly good, the most you would give is only 10 Egyptian pounds. Moreover, the Egyptian pound is still quite valuable now, for example, this suite only costs 300 Egyptian pounds per day.

Liu Yuan gently patted the square television, which looked a bit like an early computer monitor. Upon closer inspection, the brand was actually Beko, a well-known British brand. He skillfully fiddled with it a few times and quickly connected to the internet. Although the electrical equipment in the room was full of retro features, the internet speed was quite fast. Liu Yuan began searching for the information he needed, and finding the leadership module might take some effort.

But the device that the Transformers use to draw solar energy is in the Great Pyramid. What was that thing called again? That's right, it's the 'Star Harvester'. Liu Yuan searched online for a long time and basically locked onto the three largest pyramids in the Giza area. He decided to go to the pyramids to take a look, but before that, he had to go to the museum.

The next morning, the sun had just risen, and golden sunlight shone on the streets of Cairo. Liu Yuan got up early, washed up, and couldn't wait to leave the hotel and head to Tahrir Square, not far from the hotel. He knew that his destination was there—the Egyptian Museum.

The museum was designed and built by the famous French archaeologist Auguste Mariette in Bulak, northern Cairo, in 1858. At that time, Mariette witnessed a large number of precious Egyptian artifacts being transported to Europe, and he was determined to protect these valuable cultural heritages and prevent them from being lost abroad. So, he decided to build a museum in Egypt specifically to display artifacts.

Outside the museum, there is a pool, the edge of which is planted with 'lotus leaves' symbolizing ancient Upper Egypt and 'papyrus' representing Lower Egypt. On both sides of the pool are some exquisite sculptures, such as sphinxes, pyramids, pharaoh statues, and so on. These sculptures are lifelike, as if bringing people back to that mysterious and glorious ancient Egyptian era.

The main building of the museum is a neoclassical brick-red stone building, the front of which is a huge arch, with the Egyptian national emblem and the name of the museum engraved above the door. The ticket price is 25 Egyptian pounds (this was the price 18 years ago, now it is 100~120 Egyptian pounds). Walking into the museum, the first thing that catches the eye is a tall and spacious atrium, where light shines into the room through the diffused glass inlaid in the ceiling and the windows on the second floor, creating a sacred and peaceful atmosphere. In the atrium, huge statues are placed in imitation of the ancient Egyptian temples, making people feel the mystery of ancient Egypt.

The design of the museum entrance is unique and full of the unique charm of ancient Egyptian art. The outer contour of the gate presents a magnificent circular arch, like a time-traveling passage, leading people into the ancient and mysterious Egyptian world. In the niches on both sides of the arch are inlaid exquisite reliefs, which show the image of the pharaoh in a European style, vividly presented to the tourists.