The mysterious Sphinx in front of the Pyramid of Khafre on the Giza Plateau, Egypt

Legends have passed over hundreds of years regarding the simple omission in this photograph of the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre, part of the Giza Pyramid (or Great Pyramid) complex in Egypt. Where is the Sphinx’s nose? Many of us have heard the tale that a cannonball fired by Napoleon’s soldiers hit the nose and caused it to break off. Sketches of the Sphinx by the Dane Frederic Louis Norden were created in 1737 and published in 1755, well before the era of Napoleon. However, these drawings illustrate the Sphinx without a nose and clearly contradicts the legend. So what really happened?

The Egyptian Arab historian al-Maqrīzī wrote  in the 15^th century that the nose was actually destroyed by a Sufi Muslim named Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr. In 1378 CE, Egyptian peasants made offerings to the Great Sphinx in the hope of controlling the flood cycle, which would result in a successful harvest. Outraged by this blatant show of devotion, Sa’im al-Dahr destroyed the nose and was later executed in spite of vandalism. Whether this is absolute fact is still debatable.

Have you seen the Sphinx up close?

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An Ocean Wave at California Coast Photo by Vera Smirnoff, Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

The winter season is fast approaching, and as it gets colder many of us think of somewhere warm and toasty… like Baja California, in Mexico. It’s a big blue ocean out there, full of amazing living creatures, and Baja California’s Pacific Coast is one of the premiere whale watching areas in the world.

While we dream of going south to warm weather, gray whales have the like idea and are adhering the move from the Arctic to warmer waters. As they migrate from their colder feeding grounds, they enter a more sheltered area in the Gulf of California to raise their young calves.

Imagine getting up close and personal with one of the largest animals on our planet, along with snorkeling with sea lions and the variety of exotic fish of this region.

This video  from the Smithsonian Channel shows the blue whale, the largest animal in succession the planet, off the coast of Australia. But you don’t need to go that far away to go whale watching.

Check thoroughly our Baja California: Among the Great Whales tour for your own big blue adventure!

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