Page 32 - WDT Magazine Egypt

it ruin our enjoyment of this view of a lifetime. he explained the driver would have reacted that way
Our camel driver almost immediately began hint- regardless of the amount. It would not be the last time
ing for a big tip at the end of the ride. He played out we experienced this guilt trip tipping scam.
his best canned “I love America” lines and chatted Our camel ride conveniently ended right in front of
about his large family dependent on his tip income. the 4,500-year-old Great Sphinx of Giza. It was almost
He bemoaned the little business he got in these hard surreal to be in the presence of arguably the most
times. It was transparent, amusing and irritating at the well-known sculpture in the world. It’s also among the
same time. largest measuring some 240 feet long and 66 feet
At the end of the ride, we tipped him consider- high. The lion’s body with human head adorned with
ably more than our tour guide suggested, but he a royal headdress was carved from a single piece of
looked heartbroken. When we told that to our guide, limestone, and like most other Egyptian objects, was

32 WDT MAGAZINE SUMMER 2018