Egypt 2022: Cairo Musea (II) and last afternoon in Cairo.

The new National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) is our next stop.

A new building for an existing collection includes the oldest skeleton found in Egypt (circa 35,000 years old), collections of tools, the serekh of king Ka, models, jewelry, a Senet, etc. The complete text of Sinuhe. Items found by ambassador Eduard Toda (Spanish ambassador, archaeologist, collector, also responsible for restoration of Poblet, in Catalonia). Nilos, a Roman Egyptian god. Nubian king crown. And a portrait of King Ismail, who promoted the building of the Suez Channel. The Museum also houses the collection of Royal Mummies, recently transported from the Antiquities Museum.

After the museum, our last planned activity, it's time for a riverside lunch and a free afternoon

But having the chance to explore on our own is a temptation to large to ignore, and there are a couple of places to visit less than 10 min from our hotel.

Mainly the idea is to find and visit the Egyptian Modern Art Museum. Should be around the corner from the Sheraton, just across the river, but it seems to be somewhat hidden and the small map in the Lonely Planet guide does not help much; neither another hotel concierge, who directs us straight to a taxi instead of giving us directions we asked for.

In any case, on the way there, we see the National Opera House, with the Music Library and Arts Council. Finally, after going around the block and ending up at the Opera House again and asking some people who were just leaving from a rehearsal there, we find the Egyptian Modern Art Museum. But unfortunately today it is closed to visitors, as there's a private event being held there.

On the way back, we follow the fence of the Garden of Freedom and Friendship (for which you need to buy a ticket somewhere) and find a shortcut (we were never lost, of course) across the Sofitel Hotel.

Back to the Sheraton. Last drinks at the Reception bar, and of course dinner at the Sapporo restaurant. Tomorrow we fly back to Barcelona.

Egypt 2022: Cairo Musea (I)

(8h00) The journey is coming to an end. Tomorrow we shall be heading back to Barcelona, but today we still have a tight schedule of visits. The old Museum of Egyptian Antiquities of Cairo and the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. I would also like to visit the Contemporary Art Museum, but we'll see how the day develops...

Now, time to hit the breakfast buffet at the Sheraton. [To be updated later] 

(9h30) First stop is the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. Crowds pile up to cross the fence and go through what passes for security. The collection started having several 'homes', but finally, with the insistence and hard work by Mariette, the Museum was open in 1902. The structure of the museum feels old as the building, some areas feel more like a warehouse than a museum, security of the exhibits is non-existent (well, some display cabinets have tiny padlocks, others simply some wire). Pieces tend to 'disappear' and no one notices for years (if ever!).

Anyway... We start our visit... at the beginning. The beginning of an united Egypt, with the Narmer Palette. Also several stelae. Psusennes Sarcophagus, the pyramidon of the Black Pyramid we saw in the distance in Dashur. Sekhmet and Amenhotep III and his wife Tyi. Israel stelae. Akhenaton, quartzite busts and Akhenaton's sarcophagus (the mummy has been found!). Sculpture with the name of Rameses II. Horus and Seth with Rameses III.

Items from the tomb of Yuya and Thuya (from the time of Amenhotep III). Possible mother of TutAnkhAmun, Sitamun. Yuya's Book of the Dead, the longest papyrus in Egypt. The rooms of TutAnkhAmun and Psusenes I (from Tanis) are unfortunately closed, and most of their exhibits on their way to the new Antiquities museum.

Characteristic art from Middle Kingdom, literature. Sphinx of Hapshepsut. Tutmosis III. Hapshepsut's chapel. Sesostris III and other examples of Middle Kingdom art style. Senet the dwarf and his wife. Rakhotep and his wife Nofret. Statue of Khafre in diorite. Micerinos's regional triades.

A quick visit to the souvenir shop and time to go on to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.