Pyramids day: the early bird gets the best photos

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, which is becoming a habit on this journey. The pre-dawn hours have a special quality - a stillness that makes even the busiest cities feel momentarily peaceful. Cairo is no exception.

My hotel room faces east, and I watched the sky transition from deep blue to a hazy orange as I got ready. I had everything prepared last night - camera charged, extra battery, water bottle filled, comfortable shoes placed by the door. The pyramids have been waiting for thousands of years, but I wasn't going to be late.

At 6:45, I was in the hotel lobby, finishing my first coffee of the day. The night manager looked surprised to see anyone up so early.

"The pyramids don't open until 8:00," he said with a bemused smile.

"I know," I replied. "But I want to be there when they do."

He nodded knowingly and called me a taxi. As we drove through the awakening city, the streets were already coming to life. Bread vendors arranging their morning wares, street cleaners sweeping, early commuters beginning their day. The Cairo that had seemed so chaotic yesterday now appeared more orderly, like watching the backstage preparation before a performance.

We crossed the Nile, its surface glimmering in the early light, then drove through Giza. I arrived at the entrance complex at 7:50 - perfect timing. A small queue had already formed, mostly tour groups and a few other independent travelers with the same idea as me.

The gates opened right at 8:00, and I was among the first to enter. The morning haze hung over the plateau, giving the pyramids an ethereal quality. The Great Pyramid of Khufu loomed ahead, its massive stone blocks catching the morning light. For a moment, I just stood there, taking it in. These structures have stood for over 4,500 years - it's hard to truly comprehend that kind of permanence.

I spent the next two hours circling the three main pyramids, trying to capture their grandeur from different angles. The early arrival paid off - I got several photos without crowds of tourists in the frame. The hazy sunshine that the weather report mentioned created a perfect diffused light for photography.

At one point, I found a spot where I could frame the Great Pyramid with a cluster of palm trees in the foreground. The contrast between the ancient stone and living trees created exactly the kind of composition I'd been hoping for. I took at least twenty variations of that shot alone.

By 10:30, the site was filling up with tour groups. The peaceful atmosphere of early morning had given way to the bustle of a major tourist attraction. Vendors called out to passing visitors, camel drivers offered rides, and guides led clusters of tourists, their voices competing in various languages.

I made my way to the Solar Boat Museum, which houses a reconstructed ship found buried near the Great Pyramid. The craftsmanship was remarkable - cedar planks fitted together with rope, designed to carry the pharaoh into the afterlife. The museum was blissfully air-conditioned, offering a welcome break from the warming day outside.

Around 11:30, I found myself at the Sphinx, the iconic human-headed lion that has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Egypt. Despite having seen countless images of it throughout my life, nothing quite prepares you for the real thing. Its enigmatic gaze, worn by millennia of wind and sand, still commands attention.

I'm back at my hotel now, downloading photos and resting before heading out again later. The temperature has risen to about 67°F (20°C) - practically t-shirt weather compared to Norwegian December, though the locals seem to think it's quite cool, many wearing light jackets and sweaters.

Looking at my photos, I realize that no image can truly capture the feeling of standing in the presence of these monuments. The sense of scale, the weight of history, the connection to people who lived thousands of years ago - these are things that can only be experienced firsthand.

I have four more days in Cairo before my scheduled departure on the 26th. Tomorrow, I plan to visit the Egyptian Museum to see Tutankhamun's treasures. Hassan from the café yesterday also recommended checking out the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids, though he mentioned it's still partially under construction.

For now, I'm enjoying this moment of reflection. 118 days into this journey, with 382 still ahead, I feel incredibly fortunate to be here, witnessing these wonders that have drawn travelers for millennia.

Later this afternoon, once the day cools a bit, I think I'll explore Khan el-Khalili bazaar. But first, maybe another coffee and a longer look at these pyramid photos.