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Please help a tourist who will be in and out of Cairo before/after Eid

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Allons-y

Hello!

I fly into Cairo on 18/Oct. and out on 2/Nov., but I have yet to plan anything concrete for my time in Egypt.  Though I bought Lonely Planet's Egypt guide in 2011, the revolution happened just before my February trip, so I cancelled it and am only now attempting to make my first entry into the country.  Because I have never been to Cairo, I would love to get some input for these and potential future questions:

Where are ideal spots for accommodation? I am a single man who prefers walking and public transit to taxis.  I don't know what people consider to be the "best" areas; perhaps near the Nile and/or near areas that are more interesting for tourists.  I am fine spending the minimum amount on a cheap place to lay my head, but I don't want to book something that winds up being far from what is interesting, boring late at night, and/or only reachable via taxi.

Since Eid is in the middle of my Egyptian trip, do you recommend getting outside of Cairo before or after the holiday? I understand that trains may be sold out for the days surrounding the holiday.  That written, would Cairo or a different place be "better" for a non-Muslim during Eid?

Which travel goals do you suggest for someone who is most interested in culture and experiences that can't be found elsewhere? I would like to see good belly dancing, the pyramids, perhaps take a cruise on the Nile, ride a camel, walk around a lot, and get in a bit of shopping (explained later), but I would like to hear feedback re: what you or others have really enjoyed.  This question pertains to time spent in Cairo as well as suggestions for where to go outside of Cairo.

As far as shopping, I don't have heavy shopping needs, but I would like to have a look at things that are not available in Saudi Arabia (where I work) nor the United States (where I am from).  Specifically, I can see myself buying a pair of nice, pointy black shoes and/or some short-sleeve collared shirts, though I might come across other things that merit a purchase.  Where do you suggest I go to find those items? Should I expect shoe and shirt prices to be more, less, or the same as Saudi Arabia and the U.S.?

I would like to be at least a little prepared for the trip so as to appreciate it more, so I will turn back to my Lonely Planet soon.  Which other books, websites, YouTube videos, movies, or phrases should I check out to get a better understanding of Egypt?

I may tack on some additional questions later, but for now, these (especially the accommodation/itinerary bits) are the most pressing things I have on my mind.

I greatly appreciate all feedback that you provide.  Thanks in advance!!

Miro : The Artist

You are always welcome in Egypt as Egypt arms are wide open welcoming all people all the time :D



Allons-y wrote:

I fly into Cairo on 18/Oct. and out on 2/Nov., but I have yet to plan anything concrete for my time in Egypt


Cairo climate during this time of the year would be great as it wouldn't be hot at all and still not cold.. we wish it would be just nice perfect refreshing autumn weather. Just think of the Jidda winter breath air.


Allons-y wrote:

I bought Lonely Planet's Egypt guide in 2011,


Although Lonely Planet's Egypt guide is considered one of the best guide books featuring many activities and places in Egypt However to know a place well you need to ask a person from there specially if he already love the city and had hiked all its streets:)


Allons-y wrote:

I have never been to Cairo,


You are always welcome in Cairo and be sure that you would never feel stranger here beside you still can add more other cities into your visit plans.. i.e. Dahab, luxor, Aswan.


Allons-y wrote:

Where are ideal spots for accommodation?


The ideal spot would really depend on your idea of vacation beside do you prefer to be with expat foreigners all the time more than local Egyptian..

some people may say Maadi while others would talk to you about Al-Rehab. but i would go more with Zamalek area (by the way Zamalek is a small island in the river Nile).. for many reasons. first you would find many foreigners and expats living around beside you would be able to walk and jog around the island as much as you can plus you are very close to down town, and there you may find a flat near the river Nile side in addition to all services and facilities (supermarket, pharmacies, etc is very close and available)

There is another point to be taken in consideration as you are going to be coming alone (being a single man) and you would be staying for 1 month i would recommend to give the youth hostels a try.. http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Ca … 018.en.htm

although you cannot reserve more than 10 days through the website but you can do so when you are there.. by the way i had checked and there is available rooms during your visit time.

this would give you a chance to know many people as most of the people staying in the hostels tend to be sociable and spend nights together playing and talking. In the same time you are near the city specially the shopping hot spots..i.e City Stars

There are 2 youth hostels in Cairo i prefer "the Hostel Cairo International Scout Center" found in Nasr city more than the other one found in Manial area..

But if you want to be living meters away from the Nile and have the ability to walk any time, to use public transits beside very cheap accommodation where you can lay my head but still having fun in the area and if you free  -for any reason- and didn't find any thing to do at night just go out and walk or sit by the river Nile or have your dinner in one of the many fancy restaurants and still sitting in front of the Nile..:) then try the Cairo Hostel in Manial for a week http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Ca … 004.en.htm

you can stay for a week in this hostel having fun in the area and to be part of the real Cairo soul then go to the other hostel in Nasr city for another days where you can be doing your shopping. hihih :D


Allons-y wrote:

Since Eid is in the middle of my Egyptian trip, do you recommend getting outside of Cairo before or after the holiday?


I wouldn't be recommending to be in Cairo during the Eid time (it happen to be crowded with lazy kids & teens playing & noisy every where...lol), so i would either recommend 3 options although there are many others to be considered..

1) "Dahab" this is one of the best relaxing and diving spots over planet earth.. you can spend Bedouin nights, and enjoy safari activities and water sports, then you can go to saint Kathrine Mouton if you like hiking and you can even learn to dive or snorkel if you want also You would never get bored in Red Sea.

2) Luxor and Aswan .. best of the south Egyptian cities.. Luxor own more than 1/3 of the old world heritage you would be spending your days and nights exploring the old Egyptians architecture, temples, tombs, valley of the kings and more than to be mentioned if you love museums .. luxor is the biggest open museum in the world.. while Aswan is very relaxing city where you would gain peace of mind in all your stay there what ever you are doing ..

One of the great trips is to cruise between Luxor & Aswan by the river Nile.. this trip usually take 3 - 4 days.. so if you arrange it to be during the Eid you would find it fun..

By the way you can also cruise from Cairo to Aswan .. this journey take around 14 days but considered one of the best things to be done specially if you got a friend to be with you.. you wake up every day in a different place and would be visiting most of the old Egyptian remains, temples starting from cairn till you reach Aswan..

3) Siwa Oasis.. if you like desert real beauty (sure this wouldn't be like KSA at all) .. you should visit Siwa where you can swim in the salt lake, and camp in the white desert and the black dessert then visit the crystal mountain and Temple of Amun where Alexander the great came for inspiration beside the old lost then found city..

Those 3 adventures would take at least 3 days (the Eid time) and would be more than amazing perfect beside they can't be repeated or found any where else over plant earth.


Allons-y wrote:

I understand that trains may be sold out for the days surrounding the holiday.


Only if you are going to Luxor or Aswan you would need to reserve your ticket.

and it would be better to reserve sleeping train for your comfort.. this is the link of Egypt trains online reservation service.

https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/login.jsf

you wouldn't need to reserve any train tickets if you are going to Dahab or Siwa.. you would need to reserve a bus seat (around 7 hours trip but it worth the effort and if you take the night bus where you can sleep all road and night then when you wake up you would find yourself there)


Allons-y wrote:

Which travel goals do you suggest for someone who is most interested in culture and experiences that can't be found elsewhere?


I would tell you one thing; living in Egypt -especially Cairo- is a daily unexpected adventure and the list of great experiences which never can be simulated elsewhere is endless ..

1- The whale Valley : "Wadi Al Hitan" .. fossils of whales, dinosaurs & prehistory creatures are found in this special place which UNESCO had declared it as World Heritage Site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Al-Hitan

2- Siwa Oasis.. as mentioned before there are a lot to be done in Siwa.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwa_Oasis

3- White Desert.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farafra,_Egypt

4- Al-Rayan Valley: Wadi Al-Rayan  unique flora & animal collection in this pure nature preserve http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Elrayan

5- The colored canyon in Sinai http://www.egypttourinfo.com/coloured-canyon.html

6- The prehistory man drawings found in the south of Egypt west desert caves

7- Old Cairo.. you would find amazing adventure here:

A) Al-Moez street.. Islamic unique architecture including mosques, schools, houses,  and even the old wall that was surrounding the old city.

B) Salah Eldin Citadel.. you would find more than a dozen of places there to be seen.. including 5 museums and the famous Muhammad Ali mosque and over all the opportunity to see Cairo from the highest geographical spot in Cairo (Mokatum Hill)

C)Old Cairo local markets.. every street in the old Cairo area is a unique market of its own.. here you would find a street for gold, another for copper products, then a third for textiles and forth for herbs and spices .. i can name more than 100 specialized market as every street is market and its name come from the product or the profession of the workers there..

D) Coptic Cairo.. you can see the hanging church, and many of the amazing old christian places that belong to the time before Islam had entered Egypt.

E)The complex of Religions .. here you would find the first Islamic mosque build in Egypt & whole Africa beside the Saint George christian church and the Jewish temple.. all are next to each other with great harmony and peace.

F)Feluka over the river Nile .. "Feluka" is a small sailing boat with a big single sail - which you can rent any time even in the midnight and enjoy yourself relaxing and feel rest any time gazing at the stars, watching sun set or sun rise.. as any time you would feel calm and happy.

G) The Egyptian Museum.. you can spend a whole week without seeing all the museum side and possessions.

H) The Islamic Museum & the Coptic Museum.. beside more than 100 other museum around Cairo only.. you can visit a museum every day for a whole year and even so you would never see them all.

I)The former royal family palaces.. and each one of them is more than pure gem.

J) The great pyramid in Giza is one of more than 100 other pyramid around Giza .. and each one had it is own style.. i.e. there is the red pyramid in Dahshur, and the Step pyramid in Sakara.. and if you are lucky you may be able to enter one of them exploring some of the pyramids secrets by your own eyes..

K) Berqash camel market.. this is the biggest live camels market all over Africa and the whole world.. a never to miss experience.

L) Cairo opera house.. all kinds of musics where you can entertain your ears.

M) St.Samaan Church that is build and hand sculptured inside the Mokatam hill rocks.

N) Sound and light evening Show in Pyramids area.. using the pyramid structure as background and stage of the of this amazing show.

all that can be done in Cairo only and there are more to add depending on your preferences.

Outside Cairo.. you can visit

- Alexandria City.. a coastal city over the Mediterranean sea where you can do many things also here

A) Bibliotheca Alexandrina
B) Montazah Palace & gardens
C) The aquamarine museum, the Greek museum, are samples of many museums in Alexandria city.
d) The Alexandria citadel and fort
e) Stanly & San Stefano Bridge
f) The fish market in Al-Max where you would see the small manual fishing boats garage and marina where street is replaced with water canal and cars replaced with boats..
g) the old light house
h) the long amazing Mediterranean coast and the Cornish.
I) The sinking statues in Abu-ker.. you can dive to see the drawn city and between the statues that belong to the Greeks & Alexander the great time.
J) water sports and the shipping simulators in Arab marine & transposition academy.. where you can feel as if you are the captain of the ship taking charge in amazing virtual reality experience.

If you are interested in under water and marine life then you should go to Ras Mohamed preserve area & Blue Hole so never miss diving in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweibaa .. as south Sinai is considered the best diving paradise over earth..


I guess this quick list is enough to fill your short visit.. so what ever you want.. you would find it here..

Allons-y wrote:

As far as shopping, I don't have heavy shopping needs, but I would like to have a look at things that are not available in Saudi Arabia (where I work) nor the United States (where I am from).  Specifically, I can see myself buying a pair of nice, pointy black shoes and/or some short-sleeve collared shirts, though I might come across other things that merit a purchase.  Where do you suggest I go to find those items? Should I expect shoe and shirt prices to be more, less, or the same as Saudi Arabia and the U.S.?


you would find many alternatives and shopping centers.. i.e. City center, Mall of Arabia, City Stars,... and more where you would find many world trade marks shop that would fulfill all your needs with wide range of prices..

About the shoes.. Egyptian raw leather is considered the best shoe material and best of the Italian leather products are made from Egyptian leather.. so you would find many options here.. although i had found something special o .. 100% real beef leather all hand made with unique and custom made design so you wouldn't find any similar pair of shoes.. you can get the shiny pointy shoes that exact fits your feet measure..lol beside being very convenient and classy with perfect price around $50 (beef leather is the best type of leather)


Allons-y wrote:

Which other books, websites, YouTube videos, movies, or phrases should I check out to get a better understanding of Egypt?


to Know a place you should ask a person from there.. this saying is typically true as there are many things to be done in Egypt and most of the real soul of Egypt isn't yet documented .. and there is another thing to be told.. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".. and "when you are in Italy, live like Italians and enjoy the gelato" ... and for me i would add when you are in Egypt walk like an Egyptian and live like pharaoh but you would eat beans as breakfast & Koshary at lunch..lol


Sorry for the lengthy answer however i tried to keep it short as possible..lol :D but Egypt can't be summarized in single one post.. so feel free to ask me what ever you want and i would be glad to help you enjoying your visit in Egypt..

welcome Again and looking forward to see you soon

Allons-y

I just quickly read through what you typed and want to thank you for such a great answer!!!! It's very kind of you to include so many details.  I will process the info and possibly write more later.

Thanks!

ihab ahmad

[Moderated]

hebbatollah

Hallo Allons-y
here my input to your message

welcome to cairo, hope you'd enjoy the trip and stay :)

Accommodation: go for something in Zamalek, Downtown. I checked some hotels for you and here you go the links:

Cairo City Center Hotel
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/cairo_city_center_hotel.html?asq=N7ffTCNxR3fuEsZfPUFSAio5iMvKH3h%2bPaRj9lLMICRe3XRPrrztHb9tfWr8AgfjGxKX2eqEZQOUno94UHm4F1qVpQCWYI02sbHtnW7o8kiKimvSBF3MOe1KLejF2KYw

Ramsis Hilto (of HIlton Chain, 5 stars)
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/ramses_hilton_hotel.html?asq=yc7V6412hTxJKS6NpEptoCyaZWwSlTYbBKWl%2fpJh%2fble3XRPrrztHb9tfWr8AgfjQqCViDlEcfzcMoFWUByH9v23FlqAU64hFlTCarVeQ2nRQwcNASkBi6kCR8c9pnKl

Juliana Hotel
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/juliana_hotel.html?asq=2xrpGdWBvnYD5qPEyz7qAacLcJsnkYnAnNUyxRpxZFxe3XRPrrztHb9tfWr8Agfjm9FxvydZ9XwpoYVAabnJ3J%2bx35Q2eypYc90j2jvo8%2faKimvSBF3MOe1KLejF2KYw

Hotel Royal (right in the middle of Cairo)
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/hotel_royal.html?asq=QbWwGV1l%2bwD2EPPldPGo6dPA%2fxkX%2boRnb4xfH1IWopE%3d

Golden Tulip Flamenco Hotel Cairo
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/golden_tulip_flamenco_hotel_cairo.html?asq=g7qO%2bDng0q3qDOcFnJXjySyaZWwSlTYbBKWl%2fpJh%2fble3XRPrrztHb9tfWr8Agfjm9FxvydZ9XwpoYVAabnJ3KWVlQRgAaRWpRErRUO6I0WKimvSBF3MOe1KLejF2KYw

Barcelo Cairo Pyramids (very close to the Pyramids, but far from downtown)
agoda.com/africa/egypt/cairo/barcelo_cairo_pyramids.html?asq=t2MIOd9pkebqrfJXn1%2bmcf3NpZAyylrBJyO4s7fpUMle3XRPrrztHb9tfWr8Agfjm9FxvydZ9XwpoYVAabnJ3GihxnTBo54gFvo7dIIT9dWKimvSBF3MOe1KLejF2KYw

check them and choose what suits you. but i surely recommend to stay downtown. and don't worry about staying out late, Cairo doesn't "sleep". you will always find soemthing to do somewhere, even if only taking a walk along the nile.the hotel where you will stay could arrange for a Nile-tour with a simple boat, a folklore tour at evening or day time too.

It's ok to stay in Cairo in Eid for non-muslims. the city has different sides for anyone to enjoy the stay. Museum doesn't close and so do all other touristic sites. Eid celebration in Cairo is just in people going out, so you will find some places little crowdy.

places to visit: pyramids at the morning, lunch somewhere nearby and then sound & light show at evening, check their schedule for the language you wish to attend. (soundandlight.com.eg/shows/gizapyramidshome.aspx?lang=en-US),
national museum,

cultural wheel events, if available(culturewheel.com/eng),
citadel & related masjids (Alabaster & Sultan Hassan, Ibn Tolon mosques & Islamic Cairo) followed by a late lunch at Al-Azhar park and then a visit to Khan El Khalili Bazar at evening time (you find there best hand-made silver ware, t-shitrs and shoes you mentioned)

Coptic & Old Cairo

Cairo Tower (something like the Empire State Building, egyptian version, cairotower.net)

The Pharaonic Village (pharaonicvillage.com)

For a luxury Nile Cruise you can take the "Nile Maxim" (maximrestaurants.com/maxim.html), or "Nile Crystal" (nilecruiseegypt.net/nile_crystal_dinner_dinner_cruise_nile_cruise_egypt-36-4), and if you wish to attend a belly dance show, you can take the night cruise. they offer belly dance. the day cruises are all about a simple cruise and lunch.

check these out and let me know if you need something else. and of course the hotel would always suggets soemthing for you to do.

hope you will enjoy your visit.

Hebba

Allons-y

Hebba,
Thank you for responding.  Right now, I am still reading and planning, but I think I will try for Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.  I hope to write about my experiences after my trip to thank you again and let you know my impressions.

Best wishes.

hebbatollah

I am glad to help :-)
yes please.It would be nice to hear from you again about your impressions of Egypt.

You will love the Luxor-Aswan trip. everytime i go there, the visits to temples simply make me speechless.

Have a nice trip
Hebba

n.maya1987

Thank you for all - U ARE AN ARTIST !!!!

Miro : The Artist wrote:

You are always welcome in Egypt as Egypt arms are wide open welcoming all people all the time :D



Allons-y wrote:

I fly into Cairo on 18/Oct. and out on 2/Nov., but I have yet to plan anything concrete for my time in Egypt


Cairo climate during this time of the year would be great as it wouldn't be hot at all and still not cold.. we wish it would be just nice perfect refreshing autumn weather. Just think of the Jidda winter breath air.


Allons-y wrote:

I bought Lonely Planet's Egypt guide in 2011,


Although Lonely Planet's Egypt guide is considered one of the best guide books featuring many activities and places in Egypt However to know a place well you need to ask a person from there specially if he already love the city and had hiked all its streets:)


Allons-y wrote:

I have never been to Cairo,


You are always welcome in Cairo and be sure that you would never feel stranger here beside you still can add more other cities into your visit plans.. i.e. Dahab, luxor, Aswan.


Allons-y wrote:

Where are ideal spots for accommodation?


The ideal spot would really depend on your idea of vacation beside do you prefer to be with expat foreigners all the time more than local Egyptian..

some people may say Maadi while others would talk to you about Al-Rehab. but i would go more with Zamalek area (by the way Zamalek is a small island in the river Nile).. for many reasons. first you would find many foreigners and expats living around beside you would be able to walk and jog around the island as much as you can plus you are very close to down town, and there you may find a flat near the river Nile side in addition to all services and facilities (supermarket, pharmacies, etc is very close and available)

There is another point to be taken in consideration as you are going to be coming alone (being a single man) and you would be staying for 1 month i would recommend to give the youth hostels a try.. http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Ca … 018.en.htm

although you cannot reserve more than 10 days through the website but you can do so when you are there.. by the way i had checked and there is available rooms during your visit time.

this would give you a chance to know many people as most of the people staying in the hostels tend to be sociable and spend nights together playing and talking. In the same time you are near the city specially the shopping hot spots..i.e City Stars

There are 2 youth hostels in Cairo i prefer "the Hostel Cairo International Scout Center" found in Nasr city more than the other one found in Manial area..

But if you want to be living meters away from the Nile and have the ability to walk any time, to use public transits beside very cheap accommodation where you can lay my head but still having fun in the area and if you free  -for any reason- and didn't find any thing to do at night just go out and walk or sit by the river Nile or have your dinner in one of the many fancy restaurants and still sitting in front of the Nile..:) then try the Cairo Hostel in Manial for a week http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Ca … 004.en.htm

you can stay for a week in this hostel having fun in the area and to be part of the real Cairo soul then go to the other hostel in Nasr city for another days where you can be doing your shopping. hihih :D


Allons-y wrote:

Since Eid is in the middle of my Egyptian trip, do you recommend getting outside of Cairo before or after the holiday?


I wouldn't be recommending to be in Cairo during the Eid time (it happen to be crowded with lazy kids & teens playing & noisy every where...lol), so i would either recommend 3 options although there are many others to be considered..

1) "Dahab" this is one of the best relaxing and diving spots over planet earth.. you can spend Bedouin nights, and enjoy safari activities and water sports, then you can go to saint Kathrine Mouton if you like hiking and you can even learn to dive or snorkel if you want also You would never get bored in Red Sea.

2) Luxor and Aswan .. best of the south Egyptian cities.. Luxor own more than 1/3 of the old world heritage you would be spending your days and nights exploring the old Egyptians architecture, temples, tombs, valley of the kings and more than to be mentioned if you love museums .. luxor is the biggest open museum in the world.. while Aswan is very relaxing city where you would gain peace of mind in all your stay there what ever you are doing ..

One of the great trips is to cruise between Luxor & Aswan by the river Nile.. this trip usually take 3 - 4 days.. so if you arrange it to be during the Eid you would find it fun..

By the way you can also cruise from Cairo to Aswan .. this journey take around 14 days but considered one of the best things to be done specially if you got a friend to be with you.. you wake up every day in a different place and would be visiting most of the old Egyptian remains, temples starting from cairn till you reach Aswan..

3) Siwa Oasis.. if you like desert real beauty (sure this wouldn't be like KSA at all) .. you should visit Siwa where you can swim in the salt lake, and camp in the white desert and the black dessert then visit the crystal mountain and Temple of Amun where Alexander the great came for inspiration beside the old lost then found city..

Those 3 adventures would take at least 3 days (the Eid time) and would be more than amazing perfect beside they can't be repeated or found any where else over plant earth.


Allons-y wrote:

I understand that trains may be sold out for the days surrounding the holiday.


Only if you are going to Luxor or Aswan you would need to reserve your ticket.

and it would be better to reserve sleeping train for your comfort.. this is the link of Egypt trains online reservation service.

https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/login.jsf

you wouldn't need to reserve any train tickets if you are going to Dahab or Siwa.. you would need to reserve a bus seat (around 7 hours trip but it worth the effort and if you take the night bus where you can sleep all road and night then when you wake up you would find yourself there)


Allons-y wrote:

Which travel goals do you suggest for someone who is most interested in culture and experiences that can't be found elsewhere?


I would tell you one thing; living in Egypt -especially Cairo- is a daily unexpected adventure and the list of great experiences which never can be simulated elsewhere is endless ..

1- The whale Valley : "Wadi Al Hitan" .. fossils of whales, dinosaurs & prehistory creatures are found in this special place which UNESCO had declared it as World Heritage Site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Al-Hitan

2- Siwa Oasis.. as mentioned before there are a lot to be done in Siwa.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwa_Oasis

3- White Desert.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farafra,_Egypt

4- Al-Rayan Valley: Wadi Al-Rayan  unique flora & animal collection in this pure nature preserve http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Elrayan

5- The colored canyon in Sinai http://www.egypttourinfo.com/coloured-canyon.html

6- The prehistory man drawings found in the south of Egypt west desert caves

7- Old Cairo.. you would find amazing adventure here:

A) Al-Moez street.. Islamic unique architecture including mosques, schools, houses,  and even the old wall that was surrounding the old city.

B) Salah Eldin Citadel.. you would find more than a dozen of places there to be seen.. including 5 museums and the famous Muhammad Ali mosque and over all the opportunity to see Cairo from the highest geographical spot in Cairo (Mokatum Hill)

C)Old Cairo local markets.. every street in the old Cairo area is a unique market of its own.. here you would find a street for gold, another for copper products, then a third for textiles and forth for herbs and spices .. i can name more than 100 specialized market as every street is market and its name come from the product or the profession of the workers there..

D) Coptic Cairo.. you can see the hanging church, and many of the amazing old christian places that belong to the time before Islam had entered Egypt.

E)The complex of Religions .. here you would find the first Islamic mosque build in Egypt & whole Africa beside the Saint George christian church and the Jewish temple.. all are next to each other with great harmony and peace.

F)Feluka over the river Nile .. "Feluka" is a small sailing boat with a big single sail - which you can rent any time even in the midnight and enjoy yourself relaxing and feel rest any time gazing at the stars, watching sun set or sun rise.. as any time you would feel calm and happy.

G) The Egyptian Museum.. you can spend a whole week without seeing all the museum side and possessions.

H) The Islamic Museum & the Coptic Museum.. beside more than 100 other museum around Cairo only.. you can visit a museum every day for a whole year and even so you would never see them all.

I)The former royal family palaces.. and each one of them is more than pure gem.

J) The great pyramid in Giza is one of more than 100 other pyramid around Giza .. and each one had it is own style.. i.e. there is the red pyramid in Dahshur, and the Step pyramid in Sakara.. and if you are lucky you may be able to enter one of them exploring some of the pyramids secrets by your own eyes..

K) Berqash camel market.. this is the biggest live camels market all over Africa and the whole world.. a never to miss experience.

L) Cairo opera house.. all kinds of musics where you can entertain your ears.

M) St.Samaan Church that is build and hand sculptured inside the Mokatam hill rocks.

N) Sound and light evening Show in Pyramids area.. using the pyramid structure as background and stage of the of this amazing show.

all that can be done in Cairo only and there are more to add depending on your preferences.

Outside Cairo.. you can visit

- Alexandria City.. a coastal city over the Mediterranean sea where you can do many things also here

A) Bibliotheca Alexandrina
B) Montazah Palace & gardens
C) The aquamarine museum, the Greek museum, are samples of many museums in Alexandria city.
d) The Alexandria citadel and fort
e) Stanly & San Stefano Bridge
f) The fish market in Al-Max where you would see the small manual fishing boats garage and marina where street is replaced with water canal and cars replaced with boats..
g) the old light house
h) the long amazing Mediterranean coast and the Cornish.
I) The sinking statues in Abu-ker.. you can dive to see the drawn city and between the statues that belong to the Greeks & Alexander the great time.
J) water sports and the shipping simulators in Arab marine & transposition academy.. where you can feel as if you are the captain of the ship taking charge in amazing virtual reality experience.

If you are interested in under water and marine life then you should go to Ras Mohamed preserve area & Blue Hole so never miss diving in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweibaa .. as south Sinai is considered the best diving paradise over earth..


I guess this quick list is enough to fill your short visit.. so what ever you want.. you would find it here..

Allons-y wrote:

As far as shopping, I don't have heavy shopping needs, but I would like to have a look at things that are not available in Saudi Arabia (where I work) nor the United States (where I am from).  Specifically, I can see myself buying a pair of nice, pointy black shoes and/or some short-sleeve collared shirts, though I might come across other things that merit a purchase.  Where do you suggest I go to find those items? Should I expect shoe and shirt prices to be more, less, or the same as Saudi Arabia and the U.S.?


you would find many alternatives and shopping centers.. i.e. City center, Mall of Arabia, City Stars,... and more where you would find many world trade marks shop that would fulfill all your needs with wide range of prices..

About the shoes.. Egyptian raw leather is considered the best shoe material and best of the Italian leather products are made from Egyptian leather.. so you would find many options here.. although i had found something special o .. 100% real beef leather all hand made with unique and custom made design so you wouldn't find any similar pair of shoes.. you can get the shiny pointy shoes that exact fits your feet measure..lol beside being very convenient and classy with perfect price around $50 (beef leather is the best type of leather)


Allons-y wrote:

Which other books, websites, YouTube videos, movies, or phrases should I check out to get a better understanding of Egypt?


to Know a place you should ask a person from there.. this saying is typically true as there are many things to be done in Egypt and most of the real soul of Egypt isn't yet documented .. and there is another thing to be told.. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".. and "when you are in Italy, live like Italians and enjoy the gelato" ... and for me i would add when you are in Egypt walk like an Egyptian and live like pharaoh but you would eat beans as breakfast & Koshary at lunch..lol


Sorry for the lengthy answer however i tried to keep it short as possible..lol :D but Egypt can't be summarized in single one post.. so feel free to ask me what ever you want and i would be glad to help you enjoying your visit in Egypt..

welcome Again and looking forward to see you soon

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