The Trip to the land of the Meroetic Kingdom...
It was organized on the last day of the Conference a visit to archeological sites in the River Nile state in Northern Sudan, dating back from pharaonic time. We visited in particular the Meroe pyramids of the Meroetic Kingdom (4th century BC) as well as the Royal City some 4km to the West. Then in our way back, we visited the Shendi University, a new 6000 students strong state University with even a Faculty of Medecine.

To close up this Conference, a visit to the land of Meroe in Northern Sudan with its string of pyramids...	Our dedicated guide on the trip was our learned colleague, Dr Shaddad. Not only is he an astronomer specialized in planetary sciences, but he has a long standing interest in archeology as he is indeed the president of the Sudanese Archeological Society!
Leaving Khartoum, we traveled through vast tracks of fertile land extending beyond the horizon. Certainly Sudan could be the granary of Africa if properly exploited.	Some harvested fields...
... and some fields yet to be harvested	We encountered on our way strange huge geological formations : broken down, pilled up boulders. Was it a source of inspiration for pyramid builders?
We then reached a desertic area which used to be the Kingdom of the Mereotic Kings and Queens. Here Dr Shaltout from Helwan Observatory and behind him Foued Anane from Jeunes Science Djerba riding a camel to reach the pyramid's site, thus avoiding a walk on the sand.	...and the sandy track for the courageous ones.
.	The guide providing some historical background.
Dr Shaddad explainning the significance of the fresques
Many pyramids were lying all over the top of the hill, some unfortunately severely damaged by the infamous treasure hunter Ferlini in the 19th century, as we see from the missing conical top of tha pyramids on the horizon...	... and the one on this picture
We then went to the Royal City of Meroe, an ancient city few kms from the pyramid site.
Here is the central alley of the Royal City of Mereop.	A visit to Shendi University in our way back to Khartoum where our delegation was welcomed by its President.
. A typical Sudanese mosque with its imposing minaret with an Egyptian style.	We were surprised to see a great number of churches in the Khartoum area, a tribute to the tolerance reigning in the country.
A magnificent sunset on our way back.
	...as a farewell to this hospitable land