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Location: Africa
Geography: Desert, City
Vacation Type: Adventure
Popularity: Moderate Tourism, Touristy
Costs: Moderate
Attractions: Historical Sites, Scenery, Cultural Attractions
Facts and Stats:
City Population: 7,500,000
Metropolitan Population:15,750,000
Government: Republic
Time Zone: GMT+2
GMT+3 from April 28-Sept. 29 (Daylight saving time)
Telephone Area Code:02
Country Code: +20
Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language: Arabic
Electricity: 220V
Introduction:
Cairo. Not a single one of us has not heard or thought about this majestic and historical city. Adventurous, exotic, mysterious - The allure and mystique of Cairo has captivated the imaginations of many. It is one of the most visited cities in history where over two million tourists visit daily. The archeological wonders alone are worthy of awe - of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids and sphinx (about 3000 BC) are the only wonders that still stand.
It is a city that has had many names and many faces. The most interesting part about modern Cairo is that the imprints of the previous faces can still be seen today. It isn't a city that was continually torn down and built over, it was built around. It is richly steeped in history and traveling to Cairo is like experiencing layers of time travel.
Cairo is the capital of Egypt, it's commercial and industrial center, and the biggest city in all of Africa. Today, it is a chaotic mass of districts and dust, traffic and pollution, taxis and carts all piled noisily up against layers of history, both old and new. It is a place that moves both quickly and slowly.
Brief History:
The origins of modern Cairo can be traced back as far as the 4th millenium B.C. when it was founded as Memphis, The Pharaonic capital. The names of the old cities do not bear the same exact geographical location, but they are close enough in proximity to consider it as the same city, even though technically, new cities were built next to old cities. Cairo has been under a long succession of rulers and empires, starting with the Romans in 116, whom called it Babylon-In-Egypt. Fatmids in the 9th century controlled the city and called it 'Al-Qahira, Cairo' (The Triumphant City).
In 1867 Ruler Ismail (descended from the Ottoman Sultan) spent a great deal of money to fashion Cairo like European cities after travelling to Paris. He, like many others before him, did not rebuild, but simply expanded and built next to pre-existing parts of Cairo. Boulevards and trams, public squares, ministries, and an opera house were added. A cosmopolitan city was born. However, the price tag of the new city alongside previous debts to complete the Suez Canal left Cairo with too great a debt to repay. Great Britian took control of Cairo until 1952, when a revolution staged by The Free Officers returned control to Egpyt July 23, 1952.
Geography:
Cairo is located in Northern Egypt, and spans both banks of the mighty river Nile, near where the river leaves the desert valley and breaks into two branches of the delta region draining out into the Mediterranean Sea. Numerous islands connect the banks of the Nile. Cairo is more than 175 square miles, although the lines of the suburbs vs. the city proper are rather blurry. Deserts surround Cairo to the east, south and west, and the Nile Delta is to the north.
The downtown center of Cairo is called Tahrir Square and is located on the east bank of the Nile. This is the hub of Cairo, where the Egyptian Museum is located, many tourist attractions and the Arab League Headquarters. The East Bank also hosts Islamic Cairo, where the unique narrow streets, bazaars and mosques all bear a distinctive feel. South of Islamic Cairo is Old Cairo, where some of the city's oldest monuments are located, as well as Coptic Cairo, the small Christian community of Cairo. Corniche is Cairo's main thoroughfare, and runs North to South on the East Bank. Also in city center is an island called Zamalik that hosts the Cairo opera house and The Cairo Tower as well as upscale living communities. The city has tripled since 1952 and has expanded into the desert. Memphis and Saqqara are located about 11 miles south of Cairo, and are the ancient predecessors of modern Cairo.
People/Culture:
For thousands of years, Egypt has been the place where civilizations have converged. Pharoahs, Greeks, Muslims, Turks, Africans, Berbers, and many more have all contributed to the collective culture and racial mixture of Cairo. Arabic is the country's official language, but English and French are widely understood in the educated classes.
Residents of Cairo are called Cairenes. The majority of Cairenes are Sunni Muslims, and a small percentage belong to the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church. Cairenes are respectful and courteous and expect similar respect from visitors. Since the majority of Cairenes are Muslim, most women cover most of their skin, or at minimum wear a head dress. As a woman tourist, covering the upper arms and legs is respectful and helps to discourage unwanted attention. Public displays of affection are not typically shown, so it would also be respectful to not be over affectionate in public with your partner. Until recently, women were an anomoly in bars (coffeehouses) or smoking sheeshas. It is seen in a few places, but it still isn't considered the norm. English is understood in the educated classes, but for the tourist interacting with vendors and cabs, etc, it might not be understood, so speaking some basic Arabic phrases will be helpful to you, and appreciated by them. Wearing lightweight, breathable and loose fitting clothing for both men and women is common and encouraged, because of the hot desert climate.
For as huge and sprawling as Cairo is, the crime rate is amazingly low. There are instances of petty theft, but they are still extraordinarily low for a city of its size. The low crime rate is often attributed to the high morals of the Sunni muslim religion. Whatever the case, it is reassuring as a western tourist in a city of Cairo's size to hear about such low crime rates. Haggling is a custom when shopping in the Bazaars or shopping centres. It is expected that you haggle the price, which, can be daunting, so again, be sure to have some basic arabic phrases.
Food and Nightlife:
In Cairo there is the full gamut of dining experiences from the street stand to the 5 star. The food is reflective of the melting pot of cultures that have resided here over time. It is inexpensive to get local dishes, and Cairo will certainly have Americanized chain restaurants, but they will be more expensive than local fare. (Mcdonalds actually makes a McFalafel, if you want to give that a go).
A typical Egyptian breakfast is bean cakes, cheese and jam. The largest meal is served at lunchtime, which is typically a meat, rice, vegetables and bread. Dinner is usually light, if at home, it is often leftovers from lunch.
Egyptian food is best described as a cross between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. However, you will not find a lot of pork here as Muslims view it as unclean. In Muslim culture, touching food should be with your right hand and not your left, as it is also considered unclean.
Koshray is one of Egypt's most popular dishes. It is pasta,rice, black lentils, chickpeas, and garlic sauce, all topped with fried onions. Schwarmas (thin sliced meat sandwiches) are also popular. Shish kabob style food and fava bean cakes are also common foods to find.
Coffeehouses are a tradition here, businessmen frequent them to drink Khawa (coffee) to discuss business and politics. Devout Muslims may not partake in alcohol consumption, but alcohol, wine and beer are available. Drinking age is 21 in Egypt. Even though devout Muslims do not consume alcohol, the nightlife still is very lively. There is music and dancing and will go on as long as you can keep up. Wednesdays and Thursdays are big nights to go out and have fun. There are Baladi Bars, Discos, Karaoke, and plenty of western style bars.
Money/Costs:
Cairo uses the Egyptian Pound. One pound is made up of 100 Piastries. Be sure when exchanging your money, you do not accept torn money as most vendors will not accept them, either.
Tipping: Porters, doormen, and cabbies expect tips, or "baksheesh", for services rendered. Small tips in amounts of 50 piastres to 1 Egyptian pound are adequate. When tipping in restaurants, the usual practice is to give 10% of the bill before taxes, since the bill will be inflated by a 12% service charge plus a 7% government tax.
Getting there and around:
Taxis are cheap and plentiful in Cairo, and their drivers are always ready to chat, even if you might not understand. Registered Cairo taxis are painted black and either yellow or white. Most rides within the city cost less than $5. Fares should be agreed upon in advance. Limousines are considerably more expensive, and can be rented for a particular journey or for a whole day. Peugot taxis are larger and a little more expensive than the standard taxi. The concierge at your hotel can help you arrange transportation. Transportation in Egypt is comprised of a rail system, subway system, road system and maritime services. Cairo is certainly the heart of all transportation systems. The subway is called The Metro, and is a fast and efficient way to get about the city, but it doesn't service many of the tourist attractions.Cairo Transport Authority runs the buses,trams and ferries in Cairo. The trains are operated by Egyptian National Railways, and for overnight trips, you can reserve air-conditoned sleeper cars: http://www.sleepingtrains.com/
The Cairo airport is 13.5 miles northeast of the city center. From the airport to downtown Cairo will take about 35 minutes. A price of around 45 Egyptian pounds is considered reasonable from the airport to the city. For about 20 to 30 pounds more, you may opt to hire a limousine, which is usually a Mercedes Benz sedan.
Egypt Air is the national airline, and it has direct services from JFK. From other parts of the United States, flights connect either through New York or a European city: Lufthansa, for example, flies from San Francisco to Frankfurt and on to Cairo. Most major European cities have nonstop flights to Cairo.
Weather:
Egypt is very hot and dry. Temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and rain is very scarce. The best time to visit is September - May. Sandstorms are frequent in April and May. Below is the current forecast for Cairo.
The table below shows the weather averages for Cairo.
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Avg High |
65 |
68 |
73 |
82 |
89 |
93 |
93 |
92 |
90 |
85 |
75 |
67 |
| Avg Low |
49 |
50 |
54 |
59 |
64 |
70 |
72 |
72 |
69 |
65 |
58 |
51 |
| Precipitation |
0.2" |
0.2" |
0.1" |
0.1" |
0" |
0" |
0" |
0" |
0" |
0" |
0.1" |
0.2" |
Entry Requirements:
All visitors are required to have a visa and a valid passport that isn't not due to expire within six months. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are exempted from the visa requirement. Nationals of European countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. can obtain entry visas upon arrival in Egypt. You can expect to pay around US$ 30 for your visa, which will remain valid for three months. Visa extensions can also be obtained.
Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival provided the purpose of travel is for tourism for US$15. For travellers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 14-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
Holidays:
March 9th: Birth of the Prophet.
April 25th:Sinai Liberation Day.
May 1st:Labor Day.
July 23rd: National Day.
September 20th-23rd: Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan).
October 6th: Armed Forces Day.
November 27th-28th: Grand Feast.
December 18th: Islamic New Year.
Emergency numbers:
Ambulance: 123
Fire Brigade: 125
Police: 122 or 02/303-4122
Tourist Police: 02/390-6028
US Embassy: +20 (0)2 797 3300.
Tips:
Be respectful of their customs
Be aware of the current political climate
Have photo ID with you at all times
Dont use the tap water to drink or brush your teeth.
Dont use ice in any beverage.
Milk is unpasteurized, dont drink it.
Dont swim in fresh water.
Photographs taken in tombs, museums, or pyramids will cost a small fee.
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