After a couple of days seeing the sights, including the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, American actor and rapper Will Smith and his family left Cairo on Monday morning.
During their visit, Smith and his family were accompanied by former antiquities minister and famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass who presented the history of the three pyramids in Giza and the Sphinx.
While on the tour, Smith said that as a child he always dreamed of being an Egyptologist in order to discover the secrets of the Pharaohs.
Watching the sunrise at the Sphinx with Hawass, Smith said: "This beauty is incomparable."
Hawass told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Sunday morning that the story of his meeting with Smith at the pyramids dates back to 2006, when he was chosen by Times magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
That year, Hawass met Smith and his wife, as well as actor and singer Jennifer Lopez.
Smith had told Hawass he wanted to visit the pyramids and watch the sunrise there, upon which the Egyptologist invited the actor to Egypt whenever he liked.
After the early morning trip to the pyramids on Sunday, Hawass accompanied Smith and his family on a tour at the Giza Pyramids area and then to the Mena House hotel where they had breakfast.
Smith told Hawass he would visit Siwa Oasis and Luxor on his next visit to Egypt.
At breakfast, Smith asked Hawass about the excavation of the tombs of those who built the three pyramids – a decision he took which was opposed by others. Hawass said many accused him of being "crazy" at the time.
Smith asked Hawass about his frustration and transforming it into success. "At the time of the revolution, I was being insulted and attacked, so I wrote six books," the former minister said.
Smith said he was also accused of being a failing actor in his first movie, but with work and diligence he became one of Hollywood's most prominent stars.
