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| Cairo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_4 Samer Bassam Cairo is the capital of Egypt, and with a total population in excess of 16 million people, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East (which regions it conveniently straddles) - it is also the 13th largest city in the world. Situated on the River Nile, Cairo is famous for its own history - preserved in the fabulous medieval Islamic city and in Old Cairo - and for the ancient, Pharaonic history of the country it represents. No trip to Cairo would be complete, for example, without a visit to the Giza Pyramids, to nearby Saqqara, or to the Egyptian Museum in the center of town. Though firmly attached to the past, Cairo is also home to a vibrant modern society. As you fly into to Cairo, Egypt you will be left speechless as you look out the window and see the contrast of the setting. Out of one side of the plane, you will see the vast arid desert which seems to be never ending; out of the other side is a busy city which looks like a modern day oasis. Travelers from all over the world have been marveling at Egypt 's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years. Although these antiquities still exist today, a visit to Cairo , Egypt is more than an immersion into the past, as it also encompasses many modern day amenities which anyone will be sure to enjoy. Just walking around downtown and in the older residential parts inside the wall of the city where craftsmen work on the sidewalks outside their homes is also a real pleasure. It is easy to meet real Cairenes that are eager to discuss anything with you. Some of them try to lure you into their carpet shops; others are really interested and interesting to talk with. If you are hungry, make sure to try the most popular Egyptian dish, Koshray. Koshray is a traditional Egyptian meal that consists of a delectable combination of macaroni, spaghetti, rice, black lentils, chick peas, garlic sauce and a spicy tomato chili sauce, all topped with fried onions. A visit to the pyramids and the Sphinx is a must, since these icons are landmarks of the country's fascinating history. Beware, however, of the aggressive friendliness of Egyptian camel drivers and policemen, who may try to earn a few Egyptian pounds from you (they call it bahshis, or a tip) for small favors; to avoid this, simply ask another friendly tourist to take your picture, instead of one of the locals. While in the city make sure you visit the museum first before going to see pyramids, as it will help you appreciate the culture of ancient Egypt even more. It is advised not to make the pyramid visits on Fridays, due to mass at noon time 12pm-1pm, during which time the pyramids are closed. __________Sights Edit This cairo traffic & shops cairo traffic & shops matthew ipcar Cairo has many sights, enough for a week or two. Here they are divided into sections according to their nature. Some of the sights you almost cannot afford to miss include the Pyramids (would you consider skipping them?), the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum. They are the unique remainders of the oldest civilization of the planet. Try to get a good taste of islamic culture as well by visiting some of the mosques and the old town. Visiting these sights will give you some understanding of the basis of present day life in Egypt. Furthermore the Coptic quarter offers some interesting sights worth exploring. The City of Death is a category apart and merits a visit as well. Contributors February 28, 2007 change by rfujitani (1 point) Display all or display just: Coptic Quarter Graves and Cemeteries Hotspots Mosques Museums Palaces general Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Ibn Tulun Edit This Ibn Tulun mosque is one of my favourites. A good example of the classical style of religious buildings in Cairo. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Greek Orthodox Cemetery Edit This Cemetery Coptic Quarter Cemetery Coptic Quarter photo by: Wendy Cuijpers On the bounders of the Coptic Quarter lies a huge cemetery. Most graves look like small shrines. It's a very quiet place. As always when being in a cemetery, be respectful. type: Graves and Cemeteries World66 rating: [rate it] Al Azhar Edit This Al Azhar Mosque and the university have been the focal point of islamic learning for the last thousand years and continue to be an important centre for islamic studies today. You can visit the university and the mosque and they are good examples of islamic architecture. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Egyptian Museum Edit This Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum photo by: Mike Altschule The biggest sinlge attraction within the city center for tourists is the Egyptian Museum. The sprawling sandstone building on Tahrir Square is packed with antiquities: mummies including the pharaohs Ramses II and III and Seti I, the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamen’s (King Tut) and many many other highlights from the oldest of civilizations. Don’t overlook the excellent collection of Greek and Roman artifacts. You may want to spend more than one day here, or make it in two afternoons. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] Pyramid of Zoser Edit This Another famous attraction that is not in Cairo proper is Saqqara site of the Step Pyramid of Zoser and a number of interesting tombs (a doctor’s tomb has depictions of surgical operations and the Serapeum has the now empty tombs of 25 embalmed sacred oxen). Saqqara’s structures are much older than the Giza pyramids and the artwork in the underground tombs is more impressive than what’s seen in the Cheops Pyramid. The road to Saqqara is a site in itself past date plantations and scenic countryside. Get there early as the sight closes around 3 or 4 pm. Saqqara is more.. type: Palaces World66 rating: [rate it] al Mu'allaqa Edit This Mar Girgis - Hanging Chruch - Coptic Cairo Mar Girgis - Hanging Chruch - Coptic Cairo photo by: Sabarinath Iyer The basilica 'Al-Muaallaqah', meaning 'the hanging church', was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon, hence its name. It dates as far back as the 4-th century AD, making it one of the oldest churches of Christianity. In 2004 a new tunnel under the church used by the early christians to run away in case the church was attacked. Dont miss the Church with a portrait of Virgin Mary with Infant Jesus. The Benz Ezra Synagoue nearby is worth paying a visit. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] email: marydozier@aol.com Mohammed Ali Mosque Edit This Cairo citadel Cairo citadel photo by: Tamar Shavi Not named after the boxer but after a ruler of Egypt, the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel of Cairo is one of the finest examples in its kind. Be sure to visit. The citadel itself is also nice. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Blue Mosque Edit This The Blue Mosque of Cairo is less impressive than the one in Istanbul, but still definitely worth a visit. Great islamic architecture and a peaceful atmosphere where you can sit and relax and get away from the busy city. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Papyrus Museum Edit This The Papyrus Museum explains you everything about this ancient form of paper that was so important for the development of civilization. Beautiful examples of old papyrus documents. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] Museum of Islamic Art Edit This The Museum of Islamic art has beautiful examples of Medieval art form the Islamic Empire. It is worth a visit for those interested in the culture of Islam or for those who want to get away for a day from Pyramids, Sphinxes and temples. As of April 2005 the musuem was being renovated please check with tourist information before making the trip to the museum type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] Coptic Museum Edit This The museum houses a rare collection of ancient Christian relics including remains of architectural works, textiles, icons and old manuscripts reflecting the history of Coptic civilization. The Museum has an official WWW home page. Click here Tel (+202)362.87.66 type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] St. George the Martyr Edit This St. George the Martyr St. George the Martyr photo by: Church Archive One of the more important churches of Coptic Cairo. Amidst a fury of burning candles, art of many different styles, periods and media (metals, oils, and mixed media) you will find depicted scenes from St. George's valiant fight for Christianity. In the nearby Convent of Saint George there was also a dramatic chain ceremony that many people took part in as acknowledgement of the suffering and persecution of St. George and others. type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] St. Barbara Edit This Founded in the 5th Century, the Church was rebuilt in the 10th Century and still retains its wooden door, a magnificent example of fine Coptic art. type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] Christian and Judaic sites Edit This And don't forget, there's also a rich Judaic and Christian history too. You can even visit the site where baby Moses was purported to have been picked up out of the nile. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] _________Sights Edit This cairo traffic & shops cairo traffic & shops matthew ipcar Cairo has many sights, enough for a week or two. Here they are divided into sections according to their nature. Some of the sights you almost cannot afford to miss include the Pyramids (would you consider skipping them?), the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum. They are the unique remainders of the oldest civilization of the planet. Try to get a good taste of islamic culture as well by visiting some of the mosques and the old town. Visiting these sights will give you some understanding of the basis of present day life in Egypt. Furthermore the Coptic quarter offers some interesting sights worth exploring. The City of Death is a category apart and merits a visit as well. Contributors February 28, 2007 change by rfujitani (1 point) Display all or display just: Coptic Quarter Graves and Cemeteries Hotspots Mosques Museums Palaces general Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Ibn Tulun Edit This Ibn Tulun mosque is one of my favourites. A good example of the classical style of religious buildings in Cairo. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Greek Orthodox Cemetery Edit This Cemetery Coptic Quarter Cemetery Coptic Quarter photo by: Wendy Cuijpers On the bounders of the Coptic Quarter lies a huge cemetery. Most graves look like small shrines. It's a very quiet place. As always when being in a cemetery, be respectful. type: Graves and Cemeteries World66 rating: [rate it] Al Azhar Edit This Al Azhar Mosque and the university have been the focal point of islamic learning for the last thousand years and continue to be an important centre for islamic studies today. You can visit the university and the mosque and they are good examples of islamic architecture. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Egyptian Museum Edit This Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum photo by: Mike Altschule The biggest sinlge attraction within the city center for tourists is the Egyptian Museum. The sprawling sandstone building on Tahrir Square is packed with antiquities: mummies including the pharaohs Ramses II and III and Seti I, the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamen’s (King Tut) and many many other highlights from the oldest of civilizations. Don’t overlook the excellent collection of Greek and Roman artifacts. You may want to spend more than one day here, or make it in two afternoons. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] Pyramid of Zoser Edit This Another famous attraction that is not in Cairo proper is Saqqara site of the Step Pyramid of Zoser and a number of interesting tombs (a doctor’s tomb has depictions of surgical operations and the Serapeum has the now empty tombs of 25 embalmed sacred oxen). Saqqara’s structures are much older than the Giza pyramids and the artwork in the underground tombs is more impressive than what’s seen in the Cheops Pyramid. The road to Saqqara is a site in itself past date plantations and scenic countryside. Get there early as the sight closes around 3 or 4 pm. Saqqara is more.. type: Palaces World66 rating: [rate it] al Mu'allaqa Edit This Mar Girgis - Hanging Chruch - Coptic Cairo Mar Girgis - Hanging Chruch - Coptic Cairo photo by: Sabarinath Iyer The basilica 'Al-Muaallaqah', meaning 'the hanging church', was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon, hence its name. It dates as far back as the 4-th century AD, making it one of the oldest churches of Christianity. In 2004 a new tunnel under the church used by the early christians to run away in case the church was attacked. Dont miss the Church with a portrait of Virgin Mary with Infant Jesus. The Benz Ezra Synagoue nearby is worth paying a visit. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] email: marydozier@aol.com Mohammed Ali Mosque Edit This Cairo citadel Cairo citadel photo by: Tamar Shavi Not named after the boxer but after a ruler of Egypt, the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel of Cairo is one of the finest examples in its kind. Be sure to visit. The citadel itself is also nice. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Blue Mosque Edit This The Blue Mosque of Cairo is less impressive than the one in Istanbul, but still definitely worth a visit. Great islamic architecture and a peaceful atmosphere where you can sit and relax and get away from the busy city. type: Mosques World66 rating: [rate it] Papyrus Museum Edit This The Papyrus Museum explains you everything about this ancient form of paper that was so important for the development of civilization. Beautiful examples of old papyrus documents. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] Museum of Islamic Art Edit This The Museum of Islamic art has beautiful examples of Medieval art form the Islamic Empire. It is worth a visit for those interested in the culture of Islam or for those who want to get away for a day from Pyramids, Sphinxes and temples. As of April 2005 the musuem was being renovated please check with tourist information before making the trip to the museum type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] Coptic Museum Edit This The museum houses a rare collection of ancient Christian relics including remains of architectural works, textiles, icons and old manuscripts reflecting the history of Coptic civilization. The Museum has an official WWW home page. Click here Tel (+202)362.87.66 type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] St. George the Martyr Edit This St. George the Martyr St. George the Martyr photo by: Church Archive One of the more important churches of Coptic Cairo. Amidst a fury of burning candles, art of many different styles, periods and media (metals, oils, and mixed media) you will find depicted scenes from St. George's valiant fight for Christianity. In the nearby Convent of Saint George there was also a dramatic chain ceremony that many people took part in as acknowledgement of the suffering and persecution of St. George and others. type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] St. Barbara Edit This Founded in the 5th Century, the Church was rebuilt in the 10th Century and still retains its wooden door, a magnificent example of fine Coptic art. type: Coptic Quarter World66 rating: [rate it] Christian and Judaic sites Edit This And don't forget, there's also a rich Judaic and Christian history too. You can even visit the site where baby Moses was purported to have been picked up out of the nile. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] __________Getting Around Edit This A typical view of traffic in Giza with fast tooting traffic and good humour. A typical view of traffic in Giza with fast tooting traffic and good humour. Duncan Harley Traffic in Cairo can be hell. Driving your own vehicle takes some guts. The best ways of transport are taxis and the subway system. Buses tend to be very overcrowded with people hanging out of the doors and it is often hard to find out where and when they are going. [Add Local transport mode] Airport Edit This Cairo International Airport is 23 km from the city centre. Transfer by coach or taxi, taking 30 mins but much longer during rush hour. Airport departure tax: E£ 19 Latest check-in time: International 90 mins, domestic 30 mins. There is an airconditioned bus that goes from the airport (on the far side of the parkinglot) to behind the Egyptian Museum for 2LE+0.5LE per piece of luggage. It is worth the walk to save the hassel of dealing with the airport taxi's. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Taxi Edit This Taxis are metered. Insist that the driver uses the meter or fix a price in advance. Keith Hekman: The taxis in cairo have not used their meters for years. They work quite well, but it is the riders responsibility to know the fare in advance. When you arrive to the place, get out, and hand the exact change back through the window. Then walk away. The driver may complain, but ignore him, if you know you have given him a fair price. I have found that most of the taxi drivers are nice. The key is self confidence (and a little bit of Arabic helps as well) A more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] River Bus Edit This Apart from the taxis, buses and metros which are known in all kinds of cities, Cairo has its river bus. Like a bus, it follows specific routes, but on the Nile, not on the road. They are mostly used by the Cairenes and very convenient. Although they don't go very fast, they don't suffer from traffic jams. One of the stops is next to the Ramses Hilton. If one of your destinations is along side the Nile, just ask at your hotel whether a river bus goes there. It's possible to take a river bus to the Coptic Quarter where a lot of churches, an enormous Coptic more.. World66 rating: [rate it] __________-Getting There Edit This [Add Global transport mode] l Edit This To get to Cairo from UK it would take around 4 ½ - 9 hours by air, flying is the only option to get to Egypt unless you travel from Cyprus that you can do by ferry. The flight usually costs £200-£1000 depending on how many stops you make and what class. type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] __________Orientation Edit This The biggest part of Cairo is on the East bank of the Nile. The Pyramids and the Sphinx are on the West Bank. Zamalek is a small residential island in the Nile. If you are in Cairo for any legnth of time, Zamalek has several western-style grocery markets which may be less intimidating for an out-of-towner than those in downtown. Zamalek is also home to the one and only Gezira club, which occupies much of the island. The Opera house is also on Zamalek, and is a very nice stop if you have the time. Avoid Midan Talat Harb unless you want to be mobbed by touts-- but most of the rest of downtown makes lovely walking. The leafy streets of Garden City are just minutes away from where most tourists stay in downtown, but they are off the usual touristy path, and a lovely change from dusty downtown. On the other side of the Nile, Mohandaseen is mostly a residental district, but it has some nice places to grab some tam'mia and fatir or whatever. If you are really adventerous, Mu'qutum (the hills to the east of Cairo) is a great place to go spend an evening smoking sheesha and drinking asir aseb _________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This i Cairo has always been famous for its nightlife. Display all or display just: Bars and Pubs Casinos Clubs Clubs and dancing Pubs Salsa Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Entertainment place] Darts Edit This Besides the possibilty of playing darts, also a good place for a meal and a drink. type: Bars and Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Heliopolis Sheraton Hotel El Orouba Street tel: +20 2 2677730 Crazy House Exit Edit This photo photo by: yestreen House, lots of dancers, bars and very loud music. type: Salsa World66 rating: [rate it] address: 1 Salah Salem Road tel: +20 2 3918415 Cairo Jazz Club Edit This Live music some evenings. Wednesday nights are the favourite and most crowded. Very popular place. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Midan Sphinx, Mohandiseen ClosingTime: 3:00 a.m. Cairo Sheraton Casino Edit This Mixed crowd gathers here to have a drink before setting of for one of the nightclubs or fails to leave this bar with its vibrant atmosphere. type: Bars and Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: 31 Abdel Khaliq Sarawat tel: +20 2 1238957 Bulls Eye Pub Edit This Samba, hiphop and live jazz music on some evenings. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: 32 Jeddah Street tel: +20 2 7616888 Pub 28 Edit This Pub with sometimes bizarre music - cheesy oldies and Arabic pop mix with the occasional reggaeton number. Big ex-past hangout in Zamalek, good finger foods while you drink, especially the meatballs and tahini. Stays open until 2:00 am. type: Casinos World66 rating: [rate it] address: 28 Shagaret El Dorr St. Zamalek tel: 7359200 ______________Things to do Edit This Felucca down the Nile Felucca down the Nile Hiran Karunaratna In the neighborhood of Cairo you can do quite a few activities. These include camel safari's in the desert, Felukka rides on nile river and other things. [Add Activity] Horse riding Edit This i_1 photo by: dody Another trade mark of Cairo is to go horse-back riding in the desert. If you take a left on Pyramids Road, about one kilometer before you reach the Pyramids, the same way you would go to the Sound and Light Show, you’ll find a large number of stables with foreign names to attract tourists. i.e. “AB Stables” and “EuroStables”. Most of the stables have really good quality horses, a lot better than the ones you’ll find right by the Pyramids. Many rich Egyptians who own horses keep them here to be looked after. The prices range from 20LE to 40LE, depending on the horse more.. type: Hiking World66 rating: [rate it] Desert Trips Edit This photo Various travel agents in Cairo organize jeep safaris into the desert, where you can escape the immense noise pollution of Cairo and at the same time enjoy the silence and mystical beauty of the desert. If you’re not part of a tour, you’ll need to access a 4x4 in order to explore the desert. A nice excursion would be to take horses from one of the stables (mentioned on this page as well) and have a barbecue in the desert or maybe even spend the night there. The people at the stables can give you all the details about it. Spending a night out in the desert is an experience you more.. type: Hiking World66 rating: [rate it] Sailing Edit This Felucca down the Nile Felucca down the Nile photo by: Hiran Karunaratna When in Cairo, you’re bound to notice 'feluccas' sailing up and down the Nile with their huge white sails. A 'felucca' is an ancient Egyptian traditional sailing boat. In the old days they were used for both transport and trade. Today, sailing trips on feluccas are reserved for tourism and entertainment. You can get a group together and rent one for 30LE an hour. You’ll find boarding places nearby the Meridian Garden City Hotel and the Helnan Shepard Hotel. These feluccas are interesting because they sail throughhout the waters in the heart of Cairo and the scenery can be more.. type: Sailing World66 rating: [rate it] |
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http://www.paesionline.it/hotel_alberghi_il_cairo Golden Tulip Hotel Flamenco 2 El Gezira El Wosta Street Zamalek Città: CAIRO Egitto Safir Cairo Hotel Al Misaha Square Dokki Città: CAIRO (11211) Egitto Ramses Hilton 1115 Corniche El Nile Città: CAIRO Egitto Royal Crown Hotel 4A El Khalifa El Maamoun St, Roxy Sq., Heliopolis Città: CAIRO (11841) Egitto Le Meridien Heliopolis 51 Al Orouba Street, PO BOX 2928 Al Horeya, 11361 Heliopolis Città: CAIRO (11361) Egitto Conrad Cairo 1191 Corniche El Nil Città: CAIRO (11221) Egitto El Gezirah Sheraton Hotel, Towers and Casino El Orman P.O. Box 264 Città: CAIRO Egitto CAIRO SHERATON HOTEL TOWERS GALAA SQUARE 20 (2) 3369800 LE MERIDIEN CAIRO CORNICH EL NIL, GARDEN CITY 20 (2) 3621717 SEMIRAMIS INTER-CONTINENTAL CORNICHE EL NIL, GARDEN CITY 20 (2) 3557171 SHERATON NILE CRUISES 5, SHOHADAA EL MOHANDESSEEN STREET 20 (2) 3051600 CAIRO MARRIOTT SARAY EL GEZIRAH STREET, ZAMALEK 20 (2) 3408888 CAIRO NILE HILTON CORNICHE EL NIL STREET, TAHRIR SQUARE 20 (2) 5780444 LE MERIDIEN HELIOPOLIS 51, EL OUROUBA STREET 20 (2) 2905055 EL AIR CAIRO MOKKATAM HILL 20 (2) 5060911 CAIROTEL MAADI ENTRANCE, MAADI 20 (2) 3506787 Africa CAIRO 300, PYRAMIDS ROAD 20 (2) 621100 GREEN PYRAMIDS 13, HELMIAT EL HARAM STREET 20 (2) 537491 |
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________Da Vedere
****Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum Aknaten Statue in the Egytian Museum ****Ibn Tulun (Moschea) ****Cimitero Ortodosso Greco ****Al Azhar (Moschea) ****Mohammed Ali Mosque (Moschea) ****Coptic Museum ****Egyptian Museum ****Pyramid of Zoser ****Museum of Islamic Art ****Papyrus Museum ****St. George the Martyr ****Blue Mosque ****al Mu'allaqa (Basilica) ****St. Barbara ****Christian and Judaic sites |
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GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo Cronologia http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cairo&action=history Il CairoDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
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Una veduta del centro moderno del Cairo Il Cairo (in arabo القاهرة; al-Qāhirah) è la capitale e la più popolosa città dell'Egitto, grazie a una popolazione stimata di 15 milioni di persone. È anche la più grande città dell'intera Africa e del Vicino Oriente e attualmente è la tredicesima metropoli in ordine di popolazione al mondo. Nonostante al-Qāhirah sia il nome ufficiale della città, Il Cairo viene chiamata semplicemente con il nome Egitto, Misr (arabo, مصر) pronunciato Masr in dialetto locale. Il nome al-Qahira significa La soggiogatrice. Questo nome è stato dato alla città (al-madìnat al-qàhira, "la città soggiogatrice" ) dai Fatimidi che, dopo avere espulso la dinastia ikhshidide, la fondarono a immediato ridosso dei precedenti insediamenti arabi di Fustàt (epoca del califfato "ortodosso"), di al-‘Askar (età abbaside) e di al-Qatà’i‘ (età tulunide), con l'auspicio che la nuova dinastia che la scelse per capitale potesse assoggettare il mondo islamico e restaurare a proprio vantaggio il califfato che essa riteneva usurpato dagli Abbasidi. Non fu l'ultima dinastia a insediarsi in questa città, perché essa divenne capitale degli Ayyubidi e dei Mamelucchi, cadendo infine sotto il controllo degli Ottomani che peraltro vi mantennero a lungo, come vassalli, gli sconfitti Mamelucchi. Dopo la spedizione di Napoleone I in Egitto e in Vicino Oriente il Paese fu affidato dagli Ottomani a un khedivè (una sorta di viceré), nella persona di Mehmet Ali, il cui ultimo discendente Fārūq fu deposto dal colpo di Stato dei Liberi Ufficiali di Muhammad Nagīb e di Gamāl ‘Abd al-Nāsir.
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GeografiaIl Cairo si trova sulla riva e sulle isole del Nilo, nel nord dell'Egitto, immediatamente a sud del punto in cui il fiume abbandona il corso del deserto e si rompe in tre branche che formano la regione del delta del Nilo. La parte più antica della città è sorta a est del Nilo, successivamente si è sviluppata verso ovest, inghiottendo i terreni agricoli vicino al fiume. Questa parte occidentale della città è stata costruita sul modello di Parigi dal khedivè Ismā‘īl a metà del XIX secolo, ed è caratterizzata da ampi viali, giardini pubblici e spazi aperti. La zona orientale più antica è invece molto differente: è cresciuta in maniera disordinata nei secoli e presenta piccoli viuzze affollati. Mentre la parte occidentale del Cairo ospita palazzi governativi ed è contraddistinta da architetture moderne, quella orientale è disseminata di centinaia di antiche moschee di maggiore o minor grandezza. Il vasto sistema idrico ha anche permesso alla città di espandersi a oriente oltre il deserto. Dei ponti collegano le isole sul Nilo di Gezira e Roda, dove vi sono molti uffici e palazzi governativi. Altri ponti attraversano completamente il Nilo collegando la periferia di Ghiza con il resto della città. La zona ovest di Ghiza, oltre il deserto, è parte dell'antica necropoli di Menphi dove sono situate le piramidi egiziane più famose, tra cui la grande Piramide di Cheope (l'unica sopravvissuta delle antiche sette meraviglie del mondo). Circa 18 km a sud della città moderna, si trova la città di Menphi e, poco distante, la necropoli di Saqqara. Queste ultime due sono le città predecessori dell'antica Cairo. La città ospita anche il più importante Museo Egizio del mondo.
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StoriaLa posizione locale del Cairo sarebbe stata troppo distante dal corso antico del Nilo per poterne trarre giovamento. Appena a sud della città odierna si trovano le rovine di Menphi, l'antica capitale dell'Egitto fondata nel 3100 AC circa da Menes dopo che egli ebbe unito i due regni dell'Alto e Basso Egitto, anche se la capitale successivamente è stata trasferita a Heliopolis, più a sud di Tebe e sotto la dinastia tolemaica, ad Alessandria d'Egitto. Il primo insediamento nella zona dell'attuale Cairo, fu un forte romano edificato attorno al 150 d.C. e conosciuto come Fortezza di Babilonia e sita in prossimità di un antico canale egiziano che collegava il Nilo al Mar Rosso. Una piccola cittadina copta cristiana crebbe lentamente attorno alla fortezza e fu contro questo insediamento che si scagliarono le armate di ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās, provenienti dalla Palestina. La battaglia portò alla capitolazione della fortezza (le cui vestigia sono osservabili al di sotto del Museo Copto della Vecchia Cairo) e il conquistatore dette presto ordine che nell'area si edificasse un accampamento militare, Fustat, che divenne la capitale del neo-governatorato del quale ‘Amr divenne immediatamente titolare per volere del califfo ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb. Presa per accordo la città di Alessandria d'Egitto - città importantissima della cultura ellenistica e seconda alla sola Costantinopoli, piena di simpatizzanti per l'Impero bizantino sotto il quale l'Egitto sino ad allora si era trovato a vivere - ‘Amr si limitò a godere dei privilegi connessi alla sua carica, incontrando non poche critiche fino alla sua successiva deposizione da parte di ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān. Per tutto il periodo del califfato ortodosso l'Egitto non dette altra notizia di sé altro che per il forte malumore derivante dall'azione anmministrativa del suo governatore ‘Abd Allāh ibn Sa‘d, che contribuì non poco all'assassinio del califfo. Per tutto il periodo omayyade le cose non cambiarono e il Paese si avvantaggiò molto della saggia amministrazione del fratello del califfo ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān, ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Marwān. Ugualmente distratta fu l'azione abbaside in Egitto e fu per dar corso alle spinte regionalistiche e alle esigenze di decentralizzazione in un califfato ormai troppo dilatato per essere ben funzionante che Ahmad ibn Tūlūn prese il potere inaugurando una felicissima rinascita del Paese, sia sotto il profilo economico sia sotto quello politico e culturale.
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| Cairo Travel Guide Cairo Travel Guide and Cairo Travel Information - TravelPuppy.com Cairo, which Egyptians proudly call the ‘Mother of All Cities’, spreads along the banks of the Nile for 40 kilometes (25 miles) north to south, the largest metropolis in Africa. Travellers through the ages have been both fascinated and repelled by the city. Visitors are intrigued by its medieval buildings, streets, oriental bazaars and Islamic architecture of carved domes and sculpted minarets, while being appalled by its dirt, noise, pollution, crowds and constant demands for baksheesh (gratuities). Paying baksheesh is the local custom, however, so expect to give little and quite often. Culture shock is part of the experience of Cairo and can be wearing. However, as is written in the ancient tales of the 1001 Nights, ‘He who hath not seen Cairo, hath not seen the world’. Cairo is a bewildering place but most of the city lies on the east bank of the Nile. Tourists often feel most relaxed finding their feet in the Westernised downtown district of central Cairo around Midan Tahrir (Liberation Square). This is a public transport hub, separated from the Nile by the huge Nile Hilton Hotel. Located here too is the city centre’s main attraction, the Egyptian Museum. Opposite downtown is the Nile island of Gezira, with the island of Roda situated just to the south. The Pyramids of Giza, however, are on the west bank of the river, about 18 kilometres (11 miles) from the city centre. Old Cairo is south of central Cairo, while Islamic Cairo covers a large area to the east. The city is growing rapidly, both in terms of geographical area and population, with new suburbs expanding on its outskirts, especially to the Eastern Desert. Northwest of the city centre, close to the airport, Heliopolis is home to many of Cairo’s wealthy, while to the west, the middle-class suburb of Giza has expanded to within sight of the Pyramids. Cairo today is Egypt’s capital and largest city, teeming with about 18 million people, its position of prominence in the long timeline of Egyptian history is relatively recent and it did not even exist when the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Then, the town of Memphis, 24 kilometres (15 miles) to the south, was the Pharaonic capital. Cairo was not founded until the Romans rebuilt an old Persian fortress along the River Nile in AD116, which was known as Babylon-in-Egypt, in today’s Old Cairo district. From the late ninth century, a succession of Arab rulers made their mark on the city, Ibn Tulun built his royal city el-Qatai, the Fatimids built the walled city of el-Qahira, and from which Cairo takes it name. In the 13th century, the Mamluks, a group of Turkish soldier-slaves, rose to power, then the Ottomans, the French under Napoleon and finally the British. The birth of modern Cairo came during 1863, when the ruler Ismail expanded the city along the River Nile in the style of the great European cities. After the country returned to Egyptian rule during 1952, Cairo rose to the forefront as the capital of the Arab world. Cairo is also called the ‘City of 1000 Minarets’ and it is the exotic skyline of graceful domes and towering minarets that casts a spell of magic over the grinding reality of the metropolis. Most tourists come to see the great Pyramids of Giza, the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb and other wonders in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, as well as to shop in the sprawling Khan al-Khalili marketplace. There are also dozens of Coptic churches, mosques, smaller museums and streets to explore. This tourism is Egypt’s key source of foreign income, while the public sector, including government and social services and military, makes up the largest ‘industry’. The city is also the centre of a growing trade, insurance and finance. In the summer, temperatures in Cairo can climb to 38 °C, though the low humidity is some consolation. One of the best times to visit is between October and April. Occasional downpours occur during January and February, while during March and April the khamseen, a hot, strong, dry wind, blows periodically in from the desert. ___________ Cairo Business Profile Cairo business profile - Cairo TravelPuppy As the capital of Egypt and largest city, Cairo is the hub of the country’s economy. With a GDP of $68.8 billion during 2001/02 (a 2 per cent increase on the previous year), Egypt has the 3rdlargest economy in the Middle East and North Africa region, after Israel and Saudi Arabia. Its trade in goods and services exceeds $30 billion. Egypt is still a rising market, moving from an economy formerly dominated by nationalised industries to one that is increasingly led by the private sector. The commitment of the current government to privatisation of industries and banking and other reforms has encouraged foreign investment. Economic growth slowed down to 2.5 / 3 per cent for 2001/2002 (it was 5.7 per cent during 1998/1999). Inflation is under control and is expected to remain below 3.5 per cent in the approaching years. The budget deficit fell to 5.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Products during 2001/2002, with balance of payments deficit declining to only 1 per cent of GDP. Exports show a rise of around 2 per cent per year, with non-petroleum exports showing an increase of 15 per cent, primarily due to rude cotton and free zone exports. Unemployment, is high in Egypt as a whole – at 17.5 per cent– and even this is only the official figure and does not consist of the large numbers of unregistered people. Reducing unemployment, chiefly by encouraging private sector initiatives, is a high priority for the current government. The public sector, including social services, government and the military, makes up Cairo's largest ‘industry’. Cairo is the centre of a finance, growing trade and insurance sector, with names including Coopers & Lybrand, American Express and Price Waterhouse present in the city. Tourism and the industry of the Suez Canal (serving the shipping companies) are the primary industries in the services sector. Tourism is the Egypt's largest source of foreign currency and has shown outstanding growth, with record numbers of visitors with 70 per cent of them from Europe during 2002. The most significant tourism markets are Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. Although total revenues have been falling in recent years, petroleum remains 1 of the key industries and is ready to recover with the rise in oil prices. Egypt has become the 12th largest natural gas provider in the world due to gas reserves of 57 billion cubic metres and further reserves being exploited. Oil companies including Mobil, Exxon and Esso are all investors here. Just under a 3rd of Egyptians are employed in agriculture, with cotton being the major export. The mining and industrial sectors made up 20 per cent of GDP during 1998/1999. The economy is reasonably well varied, with construction, manufacturing, transport, communications, and tourism, all showing significant expansion. Transport and communications have shown strong growth in the past few years. Key industries, such as metals (aluminium, steel and iron), textiles, automobiles, petrochemicals, cement, consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals, are gradually expanding under private sector management. The government has also promised to make the development of high-technology a priority, and attract export oriented manufacturing firms to institute bases in Egypt. Business Etiquette Hospitality and courtesy are as significant in business dealings as they are in Egyptian life.. The host of a business meeting should be sure to offer guests tea or a small snack before starting the meeting. It is considered polite to refuse the 1st offer but the host must insist and then it would be impolite for the guest to refuse the 2nd or 3rd invitation to have something. Alcohol should be avoided until visitors are assured of their colleague’s attitude towards it. Even when drinking with Egyptians, visitors should only ever partake in moderation and this particularly applies to women, for whom it is not considered seemly to over indulge in alcohol. Hospitality in Egypt is generous, and if invited to a business lunch, the table is likely to be covered in food and visitors must do their best to enjoy as much of it as possible. It is always better to claim an allergy to a particular kind of dish than to express any distaste. It is regarded as extremely bad manners to openly criticise or display anger throughout the Arab world. Skill and diplomacy will be required to conduct business meetings and much will be gained by a close observation of the way businesspeople operate. Instead of contradicting or criticising someone, visitors should instead ask if they think a different way of doing something may be better. In social life, it is considered rude to turn up for a rendezvous at precisely the agreed times and everyone is always a little late. This is less accurate in the business world but does also happen. No one will take offense if foreigners are on time but Egyptians certainly apply the right to be late and visitors should be prepared for this. As a Muslim country, women should not suggest to shake a man’s hand, but only do so if the man offers his hand first. Women are advised to dress smartly for business meetings and always dress modestly. Government offices are open from 8.30 am to 2.00 pms except Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. Business hours for the private sector are generally 9.00 am to 2.00 pm in winter, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm in the summer, and open again in the evening from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm. Christian businesses may be closed on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays, and Muslim businesses may be closed on Thursday afternoons and Fridays. _____________Cairo Culture Guide Cairo Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com The Cairo Opera House (telephone number: (02) 341 2926 or 739 8144) is the city’s main venue for dance, drama, film and music. It is situated in the Gezira Exhibition Grounds on Gezira Island and has excellent acoustics and 2 halls, with the main one seating 1,200 people and the smaller holding 500. There are several cultural centres, which have very varied programmes including lectures, music, films, exhibitions and other cultural events. Details are available in the monthly magazine Egypt Today and in the newspapers Al-Ahram Weekly and The Middle East Times. The main cultural centres include: The American Cultural Centre US Embassy, 5 Amrika al-Latiniya. Telephone number: (02) 355 8927) The British Council 192 al-Nil Telephone number: (02) 303 1514) The Canadian Cultural Information Centre 5 al-Saraya al-Kubra Telephone number: (02) 354 3110) The Centre Français de Culture et de Coopération 1 Madrasat el-Huquq al-Faransiya Telephone number: (02) 354 1012) The Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation 11 Shagarat al-Durr Telephone number: (02) 341 5419) The Goethe Institute 5 ‘Abd al-Salam’ Arif Telephone number: (02) 575 9877) The Japanese Cultural Centre 2nd floor, Cairo Centre, 106 Qasr al’Aini Telephone number: (02) 355 3962 or 794 9432) The Middle Eastern Cultural Centre 17 Mar’ashli Telephone number: (02) 341 4053) The United Arab Emirates Cultural Centre 9 Qambiz Telephone number: (02) 349 9166) Cairo has a good art scene, with various galleries spread around the city. To find out what is going on, the Atelier du Caire, 2 Karim al-Dawla (telephone number: (02) 574 6730), acts as both gallery and a meeting place for artists. There is no city-wide ticketing organisation in Cairo. The best way for tourists to purchase tickets is from their hotel concierge or a local travel agency, such as American Express (telephone number: (02) 370 3411), Misr Travel (telephone number: (02) 393 0010) or Thomas Cook (telephone number: (02) 356 4650). Music Classical performances at cultural centres and at the The Cairo Opera House are generally more of Western classical music, although classical Arab music can also be heard. Performances can also be heard at the Sayed Darwish Concert Hall, Sharia Gamal al-Din al-Afghani (telephone number: (02) 561 2473), in performances given by the Umm Kalthoum Classical Arabic Music Troupe, during the winter. Theatre The 7-storey The Cairo Opera House has both international and local performers. There are 2 indoor concert halls and an open-air theatre. Visitors should note, that in the main hall men must wear a tie and jacket. Dance Dance is not a major art form in Cairo, unless you count the folk dance shows, several hotels incorporate these as part of the entertainment packages for guests. There are additionally performances by visiting dance companies, including an annual visit by the Bolshoi Ballet, and by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, at The Cairo Opera House. The cultural centres which are listed above also put on dance performances. Other options range from Sufi dancing to belly-dancing. Belly-dancing can be seen in Las Vegas-style productions at the Nile Hilton, Midan Tahrir (telephone number: (02) 578 0444) and the Cairo Sheraton, Midan el Galaa in Dokki (telephone number: (02) 336 9700). Sufi dancing, more universally known in the West as the dance of the whirling dervishes, can be seen on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at the Ghurriya Cultural Centre in the Madrassa of al-Ghouri, Sharia al-Azhar (telephone number: (02) 909146). Film Cairo was once known as the Hollywood of the Middle East due to the number of Arabic films made here, but no longer, although a new movie studio was built outside of the city recently. Cinemas tend to show Hollywood blockbusters with Arabic subtitles but there are also limited runs of some arthouse films in the numerous cultural centres around Cairo. 2 proper cinemas that do show arthouse films are the Cairo Sheraton, Sharia al-Giza (telephone number: (02) 760 6081), and a 2-screen cinema at the Ramses Hilton (telephone number: (02) 574 7436). Others that show English-language films include the Horeyya, with 2 screens on the 6th floor of the Horeyya Mall, The Tahrir, 122 Sharia Tahrir in Doqqi (telephone number: (02) 335 4726), Sharia al-Ahram in Heliopolis (telephone number: (02) 452 9980), and The Cosmos, 12 Sharia Emad ed-Din (telephone number: (02) 574 2177). Visitors should be prepared for the fact that for security reasons, no-one is allowed to leave the cinema until the film is finished, and movie audiences can be as noisy as a sports crowd. Cultural events Egypt has more feasts and festivals than most other countries in the world, mixing Christian, Coptic, Islamic and ordinary secular holidays. It also uses 3 different calendars (Western Gregorian, Coptic and Islamic Hejira). Most religious feasts are calculated using the Islamic calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, and these events occur roughly 10 to 12 days earlier each year in the Western calendar. Ramadan is the principal religious feast that visitors should be aware of. During the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims allow nothing to pass their lips thorughout the hours of daylight and also abstain from sexual activity completely. Some people choose to sleep longer in the afternoon than at night, and so some shops and offices will have quite unpredictable opening hours. It is considered impolite to drink or eat in public when the fast is taking place, so visitors must use discretion although they are not expected to observe Ramadan themselves. Tourist hotels will be largely unaffected however some restaurants may close. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan fasting with 3 days of feasting, and the slaughter of goats, sheep and occasionally cows. There will be fewer people in Cairo then but their place is taken by vast numbers of animals, commonly tethered in pens in the streets. Eid al-Adha is another great Islamic feast, held seventy days after the end of Ramadan. It lasts for 4 days, and on this occasion only sheep are killed as the feast celebrates the prophet Abraham slaughtering a sheep in place of his son. Literary Notes There is 1 towering literary figure in Cairo and that is Naguib Mahfouz, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988. His books teem with Cairo life and have been compared to the novels of Balzac and Dickens, The Cairo Trilogy is his masterpiece, acclaimed in Egypt when the 3 books were 1st published in 1956 and 1957, and again when finally all 3 were translated into English in the 1990's. The novels (Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street) are a historical family saga set mainly in the Islamic quarter of the city, where Mahfouz himself was born during 1911. Other notable works include The Thief and the Dogs (1961), a sketchy psychological novel that marked a change of style, and Midaq Alley (1947), set in a poor back-street also in the Islamic quarter. His novels show a sympathy for the underdogs of Cairo life, and portray a side of the city that the average visitor will seldom even glimpse. One of Cairo’s leading women writers is Nawal el-Saadawi, who was born outside of Cairo and worked in the city as a doctor and psychiatrist. She founded the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and has written plays, short stories and social studies as well as novels. Her socialist and feminist beliefs pervade her work and she has not always been very popular in her own country, she was even imprisoned under the Sadat regime. More recently, she has left Cairo to teach in North American universities. Woman at Point Zero (1979), a novel about the killing of a pimp by a woman who is then condemned to death, has been banned in Egypt, while her most famous book The Hidden Face of Eve (1977) is a non-fiction book dealing with women in the Arab world. Cairo has always held a noteworthy fascination for British authors and both Olivia Manning (The Levant Trilogy, 1978 onwards) and Penelope Lively (Oleander, Jacaranda, 1994) have used the city as a background for their fiction. _______________Cairo Festival - Events Cairo Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com The following is a selection of festival - events occurring in Cairo in 2006: Book Fair January, Cairo Exhibition Grounds. Cairo International Song Festival August, various locations Experimental Theatre Festival September, various locations Pharaohs’ Rally Early October, Pyramids of Giza Arabic Music Festival Early November, Opera House Cairo International Film Festival Early December, various locations __________ Cairo Getting Around Getting Around Cairo - TravelPuppy.com Public Transport Using public transport is not advised in the city of Cairo with the exception of the clean, cheap and efficient metro system. Buses are usually very overcrowded and visitors will have to fight their way on like the Cairenes, who try to make sure they get on-board by leaping at the bus before it has even stopped. However, it is a real experience of Cairo life, tickets should be purchased on-board from the conductor who fights his way through the throng of passengers. The fare depends on the journey length but for a few stops is usually around 25 piastres. There are also microbuses, which are private enterprises and a cross between a public bus and a taxi . The destination is not marked, therefore visitors should shout out where they wish to go as one passes and if it is going in the right direction and has room on-board, it will stop. The fares on microbuses are slightly more than on public buses. The metro is one of Cairo’s delights, the system is clean, quick, cool, safe and cheap, operating 5.00 am to 11.30 pm. There are 2 lines, 1 runs along the east bank of the Nile from Helwan in the north to al-Marg in the south, via Tahrir. The other, newer line goes from Shubra in the north to Giza in the west, also via Tahrir where the lines intersect with more metro extensions planned. A flat fare of 50 piastres will take you up to 9 stops, with a sliding scale beyond that. Smoking is prohibited in the stations and the trains. The 1st 2 carriages on most trains are reserved for women only, although women can travel in any carriage without much risk of harassment. Taxis While Cairo does have its share of rogue taxis drivers, there are also several drivers who will become your guide, protector and even friend while you are visiting the city. Taking a taxi directly from a hotel is more expensive than hailing 1 in the streets. Taxis are black and white and are shared, so if one is driving by with passengers, it is achievable to call out one’s destination and if it is going that way, it will stop. The protocol in Cairo is different from that in other cities. Passengers are expected to know the fare rather than negotiate it in advance or use the meter. A guideline is E£10 per kilometre for a hotel taxi and half that for one hailed in the street, a hotel taxi to the airport costs about E£60-70 (again half that for a street taxi). It is also possible to negotiate hire by the hour or by the day, for personal tours. The round-trip taxi fare to Saqqara is about E£100. Limousines There are limousine hire companies in the city and, while the standard of the cars may not be quite up to Hollywood standards, neither are the prices. They do represent an good economic proposition if you do not wish to join organised excursions or face the occasional hassles of dealing with taxi drivers or public transport. Limousine Misr (telephone number: (02) 285 6721) charges about E£55-80 for a half-day hire with air conditioning and an English-speaking driver. Other companies include: • Bita (telephone number: (02) 574 6169) • Cairo Car (telephone number: (02) 345 2393) • Heliopolis Limousine (telephone number: (02) 240 1789) • Hepton Limousine (telephone number: (02) 417 7500) • Mohamed Naguib (telephone number: (02) 350 9123) • Mohamed Selmi (telephone number: (02) 352 8706) • Mustafa Muhammad (telephone number: (02) 375 1961) • Rowas Car and Limousine Rental (telephone number: (02) 349 9831 or 554 4400) and • Smart Limo (telephone number: (02) 365 4321). Driving in the City Driving is not advised in Cairo as it is not for those of a nervous disposition and taxis tend to be far safer. Visitors who are contemplating driving should spend a day or two observing the locals before going ahead, as few road rules are followed. There is no such thing as rush hour – it lasts all day and through most of the evening too. Road markings are generally ignored, as are most of the traffic lights. Horns are used constantly. At night, few drivers use lights, except for flashing lights, which are to tell oncoming traffic to move out of the way, rather than to indicate giving way as in many countries. Car Hire An International Driving Permit is required and the minimum age for hiring a car in Egypt is 25 years old. Most of the larger hotels will have agents for the leading car hire companies but the main offices are: • Avis, 16 Sharia Ma’amal el-Soukkar, Garden City (telephone number: (02) 794 7400) • Budget, 5 Sharia Makrizy, Zamalek (telephone number: (02) 340 0070), and at the New Airport (telephone number: (02) 265 2395) • Europcar at the Max Building, 27 Sharia Libnan, Mohandiseen (tel: (02) 347 4712) • Hertz, 195 Sharia 26th July, Mohandiseen (tel: (02) 303 4241) • Thrifty, 1 Al-Entesar, Heliopolis (telephone number: (02) 265 2620) • J Car, 33 Sharia Missaha, Dokki (telephone number: (02) 335 0521). Rates begin at about E£185 per day for unlimited mileage. Bicycle Hire Although many Egyptians cycle, it would be unsafe for any visitor not used to Cairo traffic. Getting There By Road To drive in Egypt, foreign drivers must be at least 25 years old and be in possession of an International Driving Permit, however, driving in Egypt is not recommended as there are few rules that are either enforced or adhered to. The roads are of very poor quality, with several bumps and potholes to avoid. Egyptian drivers overtake constantly and visitors should beware of cars coming towards them in their own lane. Flashing headlights means ‘get out of the way’ and night driving is particularly dangerous as headlights are rarely used. Emergency breakdown service(s): No national provider, car hire operators may have local arrangements. Routes to the city Main routes from Cairo are Highway 1 (Delta Highway) northwest to Alexandria, Highway 11 (Desert Highway) also northwest towards Alexandria and the northwest coast, Highway 3 northeast towards Port Said, Highway 2 south alongside the Nile towards Luxor, and Highway 33 east to Suez. Driving times to the city: • From Alexandria – 3 hours • Port Said – 3 hours • Luxor – 10 hours • Aswan – 16 hours. Coach services Cairo is linked by comfortable, inexpensive and regular coach services to other main Egyptian cities. Several coaches are air conditioned but there are also older coaches in operation, which can be very uncomfortable. Generally, the ticket prices reflects the level of comfort to be anticipated. There are 5 long-distance coach stations and tickets can only be bought at the coach station itself but can be booked in advance only in person. Services are run by many operators serving different regions of Egypt from the different coach stations. These include the Upper Egypt Bus Company, the East Delta Bus Company and the West Delta Bus Company. Coach terminals are chaotic, with ticket offices and refreshment stands. The Abdel Mouneem Riyad Terminal is often also called the Ramses Hilton Terminal, as it is located close to that hotel on Sharia Gala. From here, there are half-hourly services to Alexandria, several per day to Hurghada, and 1 per day to Aswan and to Luxor (overnight). Behind here is the Ahmed Helmi Terminal, with numerous overnight services to Luxor and Aswan, and other daily services to Hurghada and to Middle Egypt. The Sinai Bus Terminal (officially the Abbassiyya Station, close to Midan Abbassiyya) has many services per day to Sinai towns, such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Nuweiba, with 1 per day going via St Catherine’s Monastery. The Koulali Terminal at Midal Ulali near Midan Ramses serves the towns in the Nile Delta and the Canal Zone, while the Al-Azhar Terminal, 45 Sharia al-Azhar, operates services into the Western Desert. Getting There By Rail Egypt’s railway provider is the Egyptian State Railway (telephone number: (02) 574 9474 or 575 3555, wagons-lits reservations). The network is limited but efficient and reasonably comfortable in 1st class or 2nd class superior. All trains stop at Cairo’s main station, the Ramses Station, Midan Ramses. A post office, tourist office, and left-luggage facilities are located at the station. Rail services Cairo is connected to the other major Egyptian cities, such as Alexandria (journey time of 2 hours 20 minutes), Luxor (journey time of 11-12 hours) and Aswan (journey time of 14 hours). If travelling south from Cairo down the Nile Valley, tourists must use the guarded ‘tourist trains’ for security reasons. Tickets can be reserved up to 7 days in advance at Ramses Station. Abela Egypt (telephone number: (02) 738 3682; website: www.sleepingtrains.com) run 1st class sleeping trains, primarily to Luxor and Aswan. It is possible to book these through their website or the Egyptian State Railway numbers, the Central Reservation Office outside the station, but it is easier to use a travel desk at a major hotel or a local travel agencies for a small commission. Transport to the city There are buses, taxis and service taxis ) outside the railway station. It is also on the metro (Mubarak metro station stop). ___________ Cairo International Airport Cairo International Airport - TravelPuppy.com Address Cairo International Airport Oruba Road Heliopolis Cairo Egypt Location The airport is located 22km (13.5 miles) northeast of Cairo. Country code 202 Airport code CAI Telephone (0)2 291 4255 Fax (0)2 633 2522 or 7132 Email ciap@idsc.net.eg Website www.cairo-airport.com Cairo International Airport is located 22 kilometres (14 miles) northeast of central Cairo and is the main international gateway to Egypt. With 2 terminals, Terminal 1 (also referred to as the Old Airport) is mainly used by the national carrier, EgyptAir, for both domestic and international flights, while terminal 2 (the New Airport) is used by other international airlines. The terminals are roughly 3 kilometres (2 miles) apart and are linked by a free 24-hour EgyptAir shuttle bus. Airport News A new terminal, Terminal 3 is currently under construction for completion in January 2007. Number of Terminals 2 Transfer between Terminals A free shuttle bus links the 2 terminals. Major airlines EgyptAir is the national airline and has several offices in Cairo (telephone number: (02) 390 0999 or 393 2836 or 245 0270 (24 hours) or 290 8453 or 245 0260 or 391 4501). Other major carriers include: • Air Canada • Air France • Air India • Alitalia • Austrian Airlines • British Airways • Cyprus Airways • Czech Airlines • El Al • Delta • Gulf Air • Japan Airlines • KLM • Lufthansa • Olympic • SAS • Singapore Airlines • Swiss • Thai Air • TWA • Tunis Air • Turkish Airlines • United Airways Approximate Flight times to Cairo: • From London is 5 hours • From New York is 11 hours • From Los Angeles is 15 hours • From Toronto is 13 hours 20 minutes • From Sydney is 21 hours Arrival/departure tax None Time Zone GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Friday in April to the first Friday in October) Airport facilities Money and communications The airport has a bank and ATMs with post offices and a 24-hour bureaux de change, which are situated in the Departures hall in both terminals. The post office is open 24 hours daily. Eating and drinking There are many restaurants at the airport. The Bars are located in the Departures halls of both terminals and open 24 hours. Shopping Shops, including clothes shops, gift shops, bookshops and newsagents, are situated in the Departures halls in both of the terminals and in the new transit hall. Duty-free shops are available in both of the terminals. Luggage Porters and baggage trolleys are available in both terminals, as well as left-luggage facilities. Other facilities A pharmacy is situated in Departures in both terminals. Disabled Facilities Wheelchairs are available on request and there are disabled toilets located in the terminals. Disabled passengers should contact their airline for assistance. No reserved car parking spaces are available for disabled passengers. Conference and Business Facilities There is a business centre in Terminal 1 connected to the new transit hall by escalator and providing computer and fax services. Metting rooms and business facilities are also available in the Novotel Cairo Airport Hotel (telephone number: (0)2 918 520). There are VIP lounges in both terminals. Information and help desks Information desks are situated in both Terminal 1 (Old Airport) and Terminal 2 (New Airport), in the Arrivals and Departures halls and in the transit hall. Flight information (telephone number: (0)2 634 8566) is available 24 hours a day. Tourist police within the terminals provide information. Driving Directions The airport is reached from Cairo city centre, across the 6th October Bridge, via Salah Salem Road which leads to Heliopolis. The airport and Heliopolis are well signposted from the centre. The airport is situated off the Al-Orouba main road. Car Parking Short-term car parking is available for about 1,000 cars and is walking distance of the terminal buildings. Car Hire Car hire companies represented at the airport include: • Avis • Budget • Europcar • J Car • Hertz • Thrifty Transport to the city Although there are bus connections into the city, the best option is to take a taxi, these cost approximately E£30-£35. An official taxi from outside the terminal is recommended, visitors should avoid bargaining with taxi touts inside the terminal. There is also an official ‘limousine taxi’ service from terminal 1, with fixed fares, which is convenient but costs almost twice as much as an ordinary taxi. Even more convenient, and more expensive, are the limousine transfers offered by luxury hotels, which cost from around E£50 to around £E100 (city centre). The taxi ride to/from the centre takes thirty minutes to one hour depending on the traffic. Airport Hotels The Novotel Cairo Airport Hotel (telephone number: (0)2 918 520) is located 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the airport. Other hotels in the vicinity include Le Meridien Heliopolis (telephone number: (0)2 905 055), Movenpick Cairo (telephone number: (0)6 370 077) and Sheraton Hotel Heliopolis (telephone number: (0)2 677 730). Complimentary shuttle buses run from the airport to all the major hotels. _____________ Cairo Nightlife Cairo Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com Cairo is livelier at night than it is during the day, and the Cairenes have always known how to enjoy themselves. As the sun starts to goes down, the people come out. Shopping, drinking coffee and socialising all need to take place before the more serious business of drinking, eating, dancing and music begins. The fun goes on for as long as you can stand the pace and even though most places wind down around 3.00 am or 4.00 am, some are open 24 hours. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the usual big nights out. Egypt is a Muslim country and several Cairenes will enjoy themselves all night long by only drinking soft drinks. However, alcohol is not difficult purchase for those who want it. Some Muslims are more devout than others but if you are with Egyptian contacts or friends and they decline your offer of a drink, you should be sensitive to their religious beliefs. Plenty of nightlife options are available. Most basic are the baladi bars, often called cafeterias to cover the fact that they sell alcohol. Whilst a little rough, they are entirely safe, however women on their own may feel uncomfortable in what is essentially a male domain. Some baladi Bars are situated in the Sharia Alfy area around the Midan Orabi. To find out what’s on, get the English-language edition of Al-Ahram Weekly, the Egyptian Gazette (Egyptian Mail on Saturdays), or the monthly magazine Egypt Today (but double check as some monthlies are not completely up to date). Bars The newest spot in town is the Hard Rock Café, opened during 2002 on the lower level of Le Meridien Cairo Hotel, with 205 restaurant seats and a bar seating 85. It turns into a huge disco, with live bands, at midnight. All the major hotels have Western-style bars, which are just as popular with Cairenes as with the Western guests themselves. The fashionable place to drink changes monthly but there are some favourites. Harry’s Pub at the Cairo Marriott Hotel in Zamalek is busy, with its karaoke and ladies’ nights. The Ramses Hilton has its Windows on the World bar on the 36th floor and is the place to have a sundowner with its stunning views over the city and also popular and a safe bet for women, The Taverne du Champs de Mars at the Nile Hilton. Casinos Cairo has over a dozen casinos, most of them within the large international hotels. Games and opening hours vary, but all offer soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and snacks. Casino d’Egypt has two hotel locations, both in Giza, the Mena House Oberoi Hotel, Pyramids Road (telephone number: (02) 383 3222), is open 7.00 pm to 5.00 am, whilst the Pyramisa Hotel, 60 Sharia el-Giza (telephone number: (02) 336 7000), is open 24 hours. Casino Ramses Hilton, 1115 Cornich el-Nil (telephone number: (02) 574 4400), is open 3.00 pm to 9.00 am, while 24 hour gaming is available at the Cairo Marriott Hotel’s Omar Khayyam Casino, Sharia Saraya el Gezira, Zamalek (telephone number: (02) 340 8888). Clubs In Egypt, a nightclub is a place where you sit down, watch a show and eat and drink. The most popular have belly-dancers and these are included in the Culture section. The large hotels provide the best options as there are also numerous seedy joints aimed at parting you from your money, but only go to one if a dependable Egyptian friend recommends it. If you’re after a Western-style nightclub, call it a disco and, again, head for the hotels. Jackie’s Joint at the Nile Hilton is an upmarket favourite. Tamango at the Atlas Zamalek Hotel, Casanova’s on the 7th Floor at Hotel el-Borg, and late night at Windows on the World at the Ramses Hilton are other popular hangouts. One of the latest openers is Regina at the El-Gezirah Sheraton, which opens until 3.30 am. If you’re feeling fickle, as unlikely as it sounds, head for the World Trade Centre on the Corniche at Bulaq, here you’ll have a wide choice of fashionable places, including On the Rox, Piano Piano and Upstairs. ___________Cairo Shopping Cairo Shopping Guide - TravelPuppy.com Shopping can be great fun in Cairo, whether its for an everyday souvenir or for something more valuable. Painted papyrus scrolls, often embellished with hieroglyphics, are admired and perhaps a little more tasteful than the stuffed camels or models of the pyramids. Egypt may be rich in antiquities but it is not rich enough to supply the thousands of vendors who will edge towards tourists offering a furtive glimpse of a ‘genuine antique’, in any case, it is illegal to export authentic antiquities without a licence. Among the items that do make attractive legal souvenirs are jewellery, leather goods, perfume, copper and brass items, and herbs and spices. Almost anything can be found in the city’s main market, the Khan al-Khalili in Islamic Cairo. While this is on every tour itinerary and there will be 100's of shopkeepers and touts to deal with on arrival, it is a vast place and most visitors do not venture into its interior, where many locals do their own shopping. Jewellery, silks, spices and hand-made gellibayas (long robes) make great purchases, as do perfumes from the Perfume Bazaar area. Several French perfume houses source their supplies from Egypt, and in the bazaar pure essential oils are available for purchase. The Street of the Coppersmiths (An-Nahassin) is the place to go to find a good range of brass and copperware. Large engraved brass trays are very popular and can be bought complete with a wooden stand to turn them into a coffee table. More easily transported are the bowls, cups, plates and ornamental trays. Silver and Gold is largely available and not expensive, provided you bargain the price down a little. However, local taste tends towards the gaudy or the mock-ancient, incorporating scarab beetles, hieroglyphs and pharoah’s heads , so it may be a hunt to find something a little more unusual. In addition to the Khan al-Khalili, the jewellery shops on Sharia al-Muizz li-Din Allah and Sharia Abdel Khalek Sarwat are good bets. Opening Hours Normal opening hours for shops are Monday to Saturday from roughly 9.00 am to 8.00 pm however in the summer they will close between roughly 12.30 pm and 4.00 pm with the tourist shops often staying open later. Haggling Haggling is a way of life, especially in the markets and bazaars, visitors should not be frightened to try. Prices are inflated for visitors anyhow but remember that it is meant to be fun and not a fight to the death, if the final price is between half and two 3rds of the original asking price, then both parties should be happy. ___________Cairo Sightseeing Cairo Sightseeing Guide -TravelPuppy.com With its layers of history and density of streets, one could spend months in Cairo and still not manage to see all of its mosques and minarets, souks, Coptic churches, small museums and many other places of interest. Just to visit the top attractions will require a stay of days if not weeks. Some sections of Cairo are attractions in themselves, including the narrow streets ofIslamic Cairoand Old Cairo are lined with ancient homes and buildings that can provide hours of fascinating wandering. The Khan al-Khalili, Cario ’s main market, with its silk and spice merchants, haggling and steady stream of Cairenes from all walks of life, is one of the best places to soak up the local colour of the city. People watching is a rewarding activity. Western women may feel self-conscious at the several sidewalk cafés, as Egyptian women do not visit them (apart from those in the market), but there are plenty of restaurants with outdoor dining that afford a respite from the bustle of the streets and the ability to watch the world passing by. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is situated downtown near the central square, Midan Tahrir. To the north is Bulaq, a district with appealing mosques and medieval back streets along the Nile, which butts up against the modern offices of the World Trade Centre. In the south, is the suburb of Garden City, a tree-lined former British enclave during the wartime years. Many of the main attractions are situated in Old Cairo, the Coptic quarter where the Hanging Church and Coptic Museum are located, and Islamic Cairo, a huge maze-like medieval quarter peppered with minarets and domes that lies to the east of central Cairo and downtown. The towers of Bab Zuwayla, the Gayer Anderson House, the Citadel, and the Islamic Art Museum are among the sights here. There is an official website for Cairo’s Islamic monuments. The famous Pyramids are located in Giza, 18 kilometres (11 miles) from Cairo city centre. Other areas worth exploring include the 2 Nile islands. Roda includes the residential Manial district on its northern end, while Gezira, the largest island, is split into 2 distinct districts: Zamalek, home to diplomats, wealthy foreigners, luxurious villas and trendy bars and restaurants, and Gezira proper with its Opera House and art museums. Public transport on the overcrowded Cairo buses is not advised and, as such, no transport details for the attractions are given below. Regrettably, the metro does not serve many of the main tourist spots. Mari Girgis is the stop for Old Cairo, Sadat is the metro stop for Midan Tahrir in downtown Cairo. The simplest and quickest way is to take a taxi to the 1st destination of the day and walk to nearby sights from there. Please note that most museums are closed during midday prayers on Fridays, approximately 11.30 am to 1.30 pm. Tourist Information Egyptian Tourist Authority 5 Sharia Adly, Midan Opera Telephone number: (02) 391 3454. Website: http://touregypt.net Opening hours: Daily 0830-2000 hrs (0900-1700 hrs during Ramadan). There are also offices at the Cairo International Airport (terminal 2/New Airport), the Pyramids and the Railway Station. Passes There are no tourist discount passes available in Cairo. Key Attractions Egyptian Museum of Antiquities With more than 100,000 artefacts spanning Egyptian history from the earliest dynasties to the Roman era, the Egyptian Museum represents the largest collection of its kind and it would take several months to see every exhibit. A minimum of 3 to 4 hours is necessary to take in the highlights and, if time allows, the museum is best appreciated on succeeding half-day visits. The collection was 1st assembled by the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette during 1858. The top attractions are the Royal Mummy Room, which contains the corpses of 11 of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs including Seti I and his son Ramses II and the Tutankhamun Galleries, which display the gold and gem-inlaid funerary mask and 1,700 other treasures found in the tomb of the Boy King.. Room 27 displays elaborate models of ancient life on the Nile during the Middle Kingdom, while the Old Kingdom Rooms contain statues and death masks from Saqqara and Giza. The Akhenaten Room, Jewellery Rooms and animal mummies are also worth seeing. Midan Tahrir Telephone number: (02) 575 4319. Website: www.egyptianmuseum.gov.eg Opening hours: Daily 0900-1645 hrs. Admission: E£20, E£40 (Mummies’ Hall). Pyramids of Giza 1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and now one of the wonders of the modern world too, the Pyramids of Giza are 1 of Egypt’s prime tourist attractions. First impressions can disappoint, partly because many visitors find them smaller than anticipated, but the longer the visit, the more influential the pyramids become. The Great Pyramid of Cheops was completed in about 2600BC and is the the largest in egypt and the oldest on the site. It stands 136.4 metres (447.5 feet) high and is made from an estimated 2.5 million limestone blocks and was built to house the sarcophagus of King Cheops, although it is not known whether he was ever actually buried here. Nearby are 3 smaller pyramids built for the king’s queens, and beyond are the 2 other large pyramids, those of Chephren and Mycerinus. Chephren was the son of Cheops and well known belief has it that he had the idea of building the Sphinx, to stand close by his own tomb and that of his father. Archaeologists say that this is not the case, and that the Sphinx may even be some 2,600 years older than the pyramids themselves. Pyramid Road, 18 kilometres (11 miles) southwest of central Cairo Opening hours: Daily 7.00 am to 7.30 pm, pyramid chamers daily 8.30 am to 4.00 pm. Admission: E£20 (per pyramid). Coptic Museum Located in a lovely garden in the former Roman fortress of Babylon-in-Egypt, the Coptic Museum features Coptic art from the Christian era (AD 300 to 1000). Among the highlights are the exquisite Coptic textiles, papyri with text from the Gnostic gospels of Nag Hammadi, carved ivories, and Nubian paintings from flooded villages of Lake Nassar. The rooms are decorated with beautiful fountains, mashrabiyya (carved wood) screens and painted ceilings. Sharia Mari Girgis, Old Cairo Website: www.copticmuseum.com Opening hours: Daily 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Admission: E£16. El-Muallaqa Church (the ‘Hanging Church’) Possibly dating back as far as the 4th century, el-Muallaqa is the oldest Christian place of worship in the city. It is called the ‘Hanging Church’ because it is built on top of a Roman gate and reached by a stairway that leads to a courtyard. The beautiful interior features altar screens of inlaid ivory and bone and an exquisite,3 barrel-vaulted aisles, carved marble pulpit supported by 13 pillars representing Christ and his disciples. Sharia Mari Girgis, Old Cairo Opening hours: Daily from dawn to 4.00 pm, Coptic masses Friday 8.00 am to 11.00 am and Sunday 7.00 am to 10.00 am. Admission: Donations. Bab Zuwayla The southern gate of Bab Zuwayla is all that's left of the Fatimid city of el-Qahira, executions took place here in Mamluk times but in the 19th century it acquired a better-off reputation when a local saint, Mitwalli, performed miracles close to the gate. To this day, people seeking healing nail a lock of hair or piece of clothing onto the gate in hopes of receiving divine aid. Rising above the gate are the minarets of the Mosque of el-Muayyad, which offer some of the most beautiful panoramic views in Cairo from the top. The mosque contains the mausoleum of the Sultan el-Muayyad and his son, who began building the mosque during 1415, as well as a shady courtyard. Sharia Darb el-Ahmar, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk (mosque). Admission: E£6 for the mosque and baksheesh for the minarets. Bayn al-Qasryn In medieval times, Bayn al-Qasryn was the leading public square in the city, bustling with market stalls and entertainers. Today, it is lined with 3 Mamluk palace complexes, which form a harmonious and impressive façade. The Madrassa and Mausoleum of Qalaun is the most excellent and also the earliest, completed during 1279. The mausoleum is beautifully decorated with ornate coffered ceilings, an elaborate stucco arch bearing stars and floral motifs, and stained glass. The Madrassa and Khanqah of Sultan Barquq (1386) and the Mausoleum of an-Nasir Mohammed (1304) also boast fine architecture and decoration. Incidentally, a khanqah is a monastery and a madrassa is a theological school. Sharia el-Muizz, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk. Admission: E£6 for each complex. Bayt el-Suhaymi Behind an unassuming façade is 1 of Cairo’s finest houses, Bayt el-Suhaymi. Dating from the Ottoman era, it offers a glimpse of the lifestyle of well-to-do merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries. The maze of rooms on different levels feature an ornate 1st floor harem with mashrabiyya screens overlooking the gardens and an impressive ground floor reception room where men were entertained with dancers and music. 19 Haret Darb el-Asfar, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600 hrs. Admission: E£20. Citadel (el-Qal’a) Nothing remains of Salah ad-Din’s original 12th century palace but the mosques and palaces atop this limestone outcrop reflect seven hundred years of Cairo history. The fortifications were 1st built to repel the Crusaders and became the royal residence for sultans into the 19th century. The Mohammed Ali Mosque, with its large central dome and 4 semi-domes, towers over the city. The enclosure also contains the Mosque of al-Nasir, Yusuf’s Well. The views over Cairo from the Citadel are breathtaking. Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (October to May), 8.00 am to 6.00 pm (June to September). Admission: E£20. Gayer-Anderson House (Bayt el-Kritliya) The Gayer-Anderson House was the home of an English doctor to the royal family, who resided here from 1935 to 1942. He restored 2 16th-century houses, joined them together and filled them with exquisite decoration, furniture and other oriental objects. The mashrabiyya-screened women’s gallery overlooks the magnificent reception room with its central fountain, the finest in Cairo. 4 Midan Ahmed Ibn Tulun, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, closed Friday during midday prayer (11.00 am to 1.00 pm). Admission: E£16. Ibn Tulun Mosque Of all the mosques in Cairo, Ibn Tulun Mosque is the one that should not be missed. Completed during 879, it is the oldest intact mosque in Cairo. The huge structure, built of mud-brick and wood, covers 2.4 hectares (6 acres) but is uncomplicated in decor. It is an individual example in Cairo of classical Islamic architecture inspired by Iraqi models, having been constructed by Ibn Tulin, who was sent to rule Cairo by the caliph of Baghdad and the pointed arches are the 1st of their kind. The views from the top of the spiral minaret are excellent. Sharia el-Salibah, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admission: E£6. Islamic Art Museum This museum houses one of the world’s largest and finest collections of Islamic art, dating from the 7th to the 19th centuries. The rooms contain carved woodwork and columns, metalwork, mosaic fountains and other architectural exhibits salvaged from crumbling mosques and mausoleums throughout the country with some of the finest pieces are located in the central hall. Midan Ahmad Mahir (Bab el-Khalq), Port Said Street, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Friday 9.00 am to 11.00 am and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Admission: E£16. Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan Covering 7900 square metres (85,000 square ft), this is 1 of the largest mosques in the world and the finest early Mamluk structure in the city. It was built between 1356 and 1363 and consists of a stunning courtyard, 4 madrassas (theology schools) and a mausoleum flanked by huge doors. Visitors should go in the morning as the sun lights up the dark mausoleum. Sharia el-Qal’a, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (until 6.00 pm in the summer). Admission: E£12. Further Distractions Wikala of al-Ghouri A wikala, also known as a caravanserai, is a medieval merchants’ hostel that catered for the travelling traders. They stabled their animals on the ground floor, slept in the rooms above and haggled with clients in the courtyard. This is 1 of the best preserved of the handful of Cairo’s remaining wikalas. The stables now house artists’ studios, while the courtyard is used for concerts and theatre. Around the corner is the striking striped al-Ghouri complex, with a mausoleum and mosque-madrassa. The mausoleum now serves as a cultural centre, offering twice weekly Sufi dancing performances. Sharia el-Azhar, Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily 8.00 am to 12.00 am. Admission: E£6. City of the Dead Some tourists may feel squeamish at the thought of visiting the City of the Dead, but dozens of ‘tomb squatters’ have made it their home and other Cairenes come to visit and picnic at the graves of their relatives, an antique tradition. This large necropolis is divided into the southern and northern cemetery on either side of the Citadel and contains some outstanding Islamic architecture. The finest monuments are located in the northern cemetery. The Mosque of Qaitbey, a Mamluk ruler, has an intricately carved dome, the finest in the Muslim world, while the splendidly decorated interior surrounds a serene courtyard. Tourists are advised to stick to the main streets in the cemeteries for safety reasons. Islamic Cairo Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free; E£6 (Mosque of Qaitbey). ____________Cairo Sports Cairo Sports Guide - TravelPuppy.com Cairenes are sports fans, as participants and also as spectators. Badminton There are weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 pm at the British International School, 5 Mishil Lutfallah in Zamalek (telephone number: (02) 536 2378). Cycling The Cairo Cyclists (telephone number: (02) 352 6310) can offer details of their regular Friday and Saturday morning cycle rides, which start outside the Cairo American College, Midan Digla at 8.00 am. Diving Diving is a popular activity in Egypt, which has some of the best diving in the world in the Red Sea. Staying in Cairo has no restrictions, as the Cairo Divers Group (telephone number: (02) 570 3242) organises regular excursions and also meets on the 1st Monday of each month at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel, Corniche el-Nil, Garden City (telephone number: (02) 355 7171). Fitness centres These are popular in Cairo, although not all are as sophisticated as their Western counterparts and it is wise to check facilities first. Most are located in international hotels, and are usually open to non-residents. There is a 3,000 square metre (32,291 square feet) Gold's Gym on the 8th / 9th floors of the Maadi Palace Mall (telephone number: (02) 378 5592 or 375 3601), with a women-only gym, mixed gym, Jacuzzi and sauna. In several gyms, male and female activities are normally conducted separately and, if sharing facilities, then more time is allocated to the men. There is a predominantly good gym at the Nile Hilton, Midan Tahrir (telephone number: (02) 578 0444), and Splash at the Cairo Marriott, Sharia Saray el-Gezira (telephone number: (02) 340 8888), has rowing and cycling machines alongside sauna, pool and tennis facilities. Football Football is as popular here as anywhere else in the world and there is a strong national side, mostly made up of players from the two rival Cairo teams, al-Ahly (telephone number: (02) 340 2114) and Zamalek (telephone number: (02) 340 5690). These share the Cairo Stadium in Heliopolis (telephone number: (02) 260 7863 or 7865), playing on Friday, Saturday or Sunday from September to May. Golf Golf in Egypt is developing fast. There are courses in and around the city. The Mena House Hotel and Golf Club (telephone number: (02) 383 3444 or 3222) is an 18-hole, 9-fairway course in Giza, within sight of the pyramids and Green fees start at E£20, whilst the Gezira Club (telephone number: (02) 341 5270 or 340 6000) is an 18-hole course in Zamalek. Further afield is the Dreamland Golf Course (telephone number: (011) 400577), an 18-hole course in the desert some 8 kilometres (5 miles) beyond the Pyramids and fees here start at E£150. Near Heliopolis, the Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort (telephone number: (02) 758 0512) has 27 holes and a ‘tennis ranch’. Horseracing Horseracing takes place from October/November to May at the Heliopolis Hippodrome (telephone number: (02) 241 7086 or 7134) and the Gezira Sporting Club (telephone number: (02) 341 0434 or 6006) on Saturdays and Sundays from 1.30 pm. The Egyptian Gazette carries details of events in Cairo. Horseriding Excellent riders can hire a horse and guide for the day at the Pyramids. This generally involves a 3-hour trip across the desert to Saqqara (see Excursions). This ride can be quite demanding and is not for beginners. Rowing There are many rowing clubs in the city, congregating on the east bank of the River Nile between Giza and Embaba. It is achievable to join a crew at the al-Nil Sporting Club, near Kubbri ’Abbas on the Corniche at Giza (telephone number: (02) 393 4350). For those who just want to spectate, Friday is the big rowing day. Running The Cairo branch of the international running network, The Hash House Harriers, meets every Friday afternoon / evening for non-competitive runs around the city (telephone number: (02) 340 0820). Swimming Many of the good hotels have their own swimming pools, but non-residents’ fees can be quite high. Swimming in the Nile is not advised due to the risk of bilharzia or giardia. Tennis Tennis is well liked in Cairo and major hotels, including the Marriott, Sharia Saray el-Gezira (telephone number: (02) 340 8888), and the Nile Hilton, Midan Tahrir (telephone number: (02) 578 0444), have their own courts, open to non-residents. Several have tennis pros for hire, and the courts are made of clay. The Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort (see Golf above) has a ‘tennis ranch’. ______________Cairo Tours - Excursions Cairo Tours Guide - TravelPuppy.com Walking Tours In fume-filled Cairo, there are few obvious walking tours on offer and none in the blistering heat of the summer months. However, personalised tours can be organised through some of Cairo’s cultural organisations (see Culture section), or the Community Services Association (telephone number: (02) 350 5284 or 376 8232) and the American Research Center in Egypt (telephone number: (02) 354 8239 or 355 8683). Official guides for individual tours can be organised through hotels and tourist offices, at a fixed hourly rate and a tip. Unofficial guides approach people in the street and range from the awful to the very good. Personal judgement is all that can be used and if unsure, visitors should refuse politely but firmly. Bus Tours Any hotel will be able to offer the standard range of bus tours for guests, generally incorporating the highlights of the Egyptian Museum, the Khan al-Khalili bazaar, the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Alternatively, a local travel agent, such as American Express (telephone number: (02) 370 3411), Misr Travel (telephone number: (02) 393 0010) or Thomas Cook (telephone number: (02) 356 4650) can also arrange tours. Excursions For a Half Day Birqash Camel Market The biggest camel market in Egypt takes place just outside the village of Birqash, which is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) northwest of Cairo. Every Monday and Friday morning, camel traders come from all over Egypt and as far afield as the Sudan, to sell their beasts in a hubbub of sounds, sights and smells. It is an impressive tourist attraction too and visitors will be asked to pay an admission fee. The most convenient way to make the 45 minute journey is to take a taxi. Visitors should negotiate a waiting time and most drivers will be happy to wait or come back at a pre-arranged time. For a Whole Day Alexandria The Mediterranean port of Alexandria, named after Alexander the Great, and the setting for Lawrence Durrell’s The Alexandria Quartet, is a popular day trip from the city. Locals make the 225 kilometres (140 mile) journey northwest to enjoy the main promenade, the beaches and the cooler temperatures. The beaches are nothing out of the ordinary and are packed however, there are other attractions. The most recent addition is the Library (Bibliotheque) of Alexandria, established in October 2002 at a cost of $200 million and ambitiously planned to become a world class centre of knowledge. The Citadel of Qaitbai was built in 1479 supposedly on the site of, and from the stones of, the Lighthouse of Pharos, 1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. The museums worth visiting include: The Graeco-Roman Museum Royal Jewellery Museum Fine Art Museum Cavafy Museum Naval Museum Marine Life Museum Beautiful palaces and mosques also make this a trip worth taking. Trains from Cairo (3 a day) take 2 hours, buses take about 3 hours and it is also possible to take a taxi from outside the Ramses train station. There are also numerous flights a day on EgyptAir. Memphis and Saqqara These two historic sites are about 3 kilometres (2 miles) apart, some 24 kilometres (15 miles) south of central Cairo, and easily reached by bus, rented taxi, coach excursion or even by camel or horse. However, a full day should be allowed as Saqqara alone extends for a good 7 square kilometres (3 square miles). This is where the 1st pharoahs were buried, although they are now overshadowed in by the sites of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens in Luxor and the Great Pyramids. Several pyramids are here and, because much archaeological work still remains to be done at Saqqara, it may even be that one day it becomes Egypt’s most important historical site. Saqqara was the resting place for the pharoahs when Memphis was the ancient capital. Memphis is the oldest known royal city in the world, founded in 3100BC during the 1st Dynasty, it was the royal capital for five hundred years and remained occupied in all for a total of 4,000 years. Unfortunately, not much remains today of what was 1 of the grandest cities in the world however the small museum and scattering of statues make a good appetiser for the more beautiful remains at Saqqara. |