Introducing Cairo
Upon arrival, the choreographed chaos here hits you like a ton of bricks. It doesn’t take long, however, to acclimatise to Cairo’s wall of noise, snarl of traffic, cry of hawkers and blanket of smog, and get drawn into the hypnotising charm of this pulsating metropolis. Known to its nearly 20 million residents as Um ad-Dunya (Mother of the World), modern Cairo is a hotchpotch of recent growth barely superimposed on a dense bed of history. Wander down to Islamic Cairo and you’ll be sucked in through the looking glass to a bygone medieval era. Head out west to Giza’s famed pyramids and the time warp sets you back a full 4000 years. Meanwhile, the city’s main museum bursts at the seams with the priceless wealth of ancient Egypt’s antiquities. But the real allure of Cairo lies somewhere in the quiet moments in between: sipping a sugary shai or puffing leisurely on a sheesha while watching the life of the city whirl past as it has for eons.
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Last updated: Jan 20, 2012
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Egyptian food
by applecrisp 14 September 2011
In Cairo, what are the best restaurants and foods to eat? Are there snacks on the street? How good is this country's food, basically.…
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RE: Female Tour Guides (or even a few nice men?)
by EllaBella 14 September 2011
I went on a tour in Luxor and two in Cairo and all my guides were female, although I didn't request a female guide. In Luxor, I was the…
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RE: Taba to Eilat and back again.
by Ros85 14 September 2011
I'm not sure where this information came from that Taba is not in the visa-free area; I have been there several times (each time arriving…
