STORY:
Partying With Camels And Pyramids

Millennium Society's New Year's Eve party at the Great Pyramids in Egypt

Compiled by Elizabeth Scott

Everything2000 - As the sun sets beyond the sand dunes at the edge of Cairo, the silhouette comes into focus. Probably the most famous of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids of Egypt, will be a powerful backdrop for events to celebrate the new millennium.

The Egyptian government plans to host a spectacular event at the Great Pyramid. In a 12- hour millennium celebration, Egyptian authorities are pulling out all the stops.

"At sunset on December 31st, a gold-encased capstone will be lowered by helicopter onto the top the Great Pyramid, setting off a specially commissioned dusk-to dawn music and laser show by the French musician Jean-Michel Jarre," said a statement from event organizers. In an opera titled the Twelve Dreams of the Sun, the audience viewing the pyramids will have the opportunity to view what Jarre calls a "reflection of mankind and eternity".

The original idea for using the pyramids as a focus for a millennium celebration was the brainchild of Dr Zahi Hawass. The archaeologist directing current work at the Giza Plateau. Dr. Hawass, a scholar of all things Egyptian, explained that the pyramids represent and symbolize many things including the unity of the Egyptian people and the life-everlasting.

There are a few worries about the success of the event. Dr. Hawass notes that some of the sites have been changed by urban sprawl. But the millennium event wills a great excuse to get the area cleaned up and presentable for thousands of expected visitors. According to local tour agencies, there are still hotel rooms available but it is quite limited.

Another group, the Millennium Society, has found a number of auspicious spots for its upcoming parties. The Great Pyramid of Cheops in Giza, Egypt presents a perfect setting the group’s keystone event.

Their eight page invitation reads, "come celebrate Dec. 31, 1999, at a black-tie charity benefit in the shadow of the Pyramids...Caesar stood there. So did Napoleon. It's the sole surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World. And now you and your friends can greet the Year 2000 as the sun rises up out of the African desert and seven millennia of Egyptian history."

After traveling by bus from hotels in Cairo, guests dressed up in their finest outfits must travel the final 1 ½ mile stretch by camel to the party site by the Pyramids. The guests--1,000 to 1,500 are expected - will then be treated to "the equivalent of a grand expanded wedding feast" with table service and a dance floor. At midnight, they will watch as the restored peak of Cheops' pyramid is dramatically unveiled. And they'll have a skybox-like view of the 12-hour dusk-to-dawn concert.

For the general public, the society is offering packages for $3,000 that include airfare, a four-night stay at the Cairo Marriott, a Nile cruise, golf or tennis and tours of local attractions. A slightly less fancy package is available for $2,500.

DATE: 8/09/99

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