Based in a great hotel (Conrad Cairo) we managed to fill our days with interesting excursions. On our first day, after having arrived the previous evening, we met our guide Youssef in the hotel lobby. That guy (he works for Tours by Locals) is really a jewel. Sympathetic, kind, willing to please you all the way. He was going to show us Old Cairo that day. The first item on the agenda was the visit to the Egyptian Museum. Now you must know that the Egyptian government is building a new museum near the pyramids, and it will open soon. Henceforth, a lot of artefacts have already been moved to their new spot. But the museum contains so much antiquities that is is still worth a visit.
We took our time walking around and seeing as much as possible. After this visit Youssef took us to the Saladin citadel and mosque. It is possible to enter the mosque, even when you are not muslim. We put on shawls (although it is not obliged) as a token of respect. We always carry light shawls in our handbag, because you frrequently need them (for instance, when entering churches in Italy). Beautiful architecture!
Later on, we also went to the Hanging Church (it actually balances on the remains of the old wall around Cairo) where the Holy Family found refuge after their flight to Egypt. This is a Coptic monument. And we also visited a synagogue. You see, many religions present here in this town.
To finalise our day, we walked along the old city walls, where lots of vendors and stalls are present and made it quite busy. We never felt threatened or unsafe, though. The Egyptians are not so much hooked on robbing you, but only ask for a tip when they do something for you.
What is terrible, is the traffic in town! I don't know how it is possible, but the cars just go where they like, it seems. And wonder above all, we didn't see any road accident on all our rides through it. Must be organised chaos.
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