Return 2 Cairo

After our time in Aswan, we returned, via night train, to Cairo. There, we secured a visa for Syria and enjoyed the city one last time.

One of the pleasures was seeing a free performance of Sufi dancing at the Madrass Mosque. Sufis are members of a Muslim mystical sect which emphasizes music and dancing as a direct personal experience of God. And their performances reflect the energy and zeal of the devout, and were most entertaining. Our prior time in Cairo, we had hoped to see Sufi dancing only to be denied as we arrived too late to beat the enormous crowds that pack the very small theatre. Not to be denied, this time we arrived almost 3 hours in advance of the performance to assure ourselves a seat.

Typical street, downtown Cairo.

View from a minaret at Bab Zuwela, the sole surviving gate from the southern wall of Old Cairo, looking out toward the Citadel.

While downtown Cairo is vibrant and architecturally interesting, often striking the visitor as an attractive, European style city, many of Cairo's 16 million inhabitants live under less attractive conditions. Low-rise homes, with debris piled on the roofs, and with many buildings still suffering from the massive earthquake that hit the city in 1992, dot the cityscape.

The sign of a Kushari joint in downtown Cairo (the Kushari was excellent) near our hotel. Does the man depicted on the sign resemble any of the partners at Long, Aldridge and Norman?

Our last night in Cairo we enjoyed what we started to call our "Night in America." As it had been over 7 months since we had seen a movie, we decided to go see The Beach. And as it happened, right next to the theatre was a McDonald's, a treat we also have not indulged in for over 7 months. Both experiences were great.

Our next destination is the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

2 Go Maps / 2 Go Actual Itinerary / 2 Go Photos / 2 Go Home Page

PLEASE E-MAIL US. . . WE WOULD LOVE 2 HEAR FROM YOU!

[email protected]