Cairo brings together the East and the West in an enormous amalgamation of cultures, languages, foods and arts. The largest city in the Arab world has ancient structures – the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx are located in Old Cairo – and modern skyscrapers.
With some seven million residents, Cairo is one of the most densely-populated cities in the world. Walking around the ancient streets of East Cairo, which are too narrow but for the smallest cars, visitors can sense that the city was not so much planned as just allowed to grow in every which way. The crush of homes built right next to each other without yards or gardens and the lack of green space from parks and boulevards doesn’t give the eye (or the lungs) much rest.
The western part of the city was planned in the 19th century – apparently based on the Paris city plan – and provides more green spaces. Modern government buildings and high-rises line the wide boulevards interrupted, occasionally, by public gardens.
While the Nile provides for cooler and more humid air, temperatures in the city are usually in the 90s F./30 C. (and sometimes in the 100s F./40s C.) during the summer months. Officially, however, temperatures never get above 40 degrees Celcius (regardless of the reality) as the law states that workers must be left off work when the mercury reaches such heights.
In keeping with their reputation, bazaars and markets are amazing for their colors, sounds, smells and tastes in hundreds of tiny stalls selling music, fabrics, clothing, spices, coffees and all kinds of foods. A somewhat overwhelming experience for the first time visitor. In preparation for Ramadan, many stalls sell decorative lamps – some as big as a man. Water pipes can also be found in every color imaginable and every time a visitor looks at them a vendor is sure to come out and try to sell one as a souvenir.
Arab Sensibilities
There are many, many coffee shops usually filled with men smoking fruit-scented tobacco from water pipes. Women are rarely seen in these shops except for the occasional Westerner. It’s no surprise that there are few bars in this Muslim country however some coffee shops do serve beer in an inner room where you cannot be seen from the street. It feels like smoking areas in Western restaurants except that here you can smoke anywhere but must drink in a separate area. Restaurants also serve alcohol (beer, wine & cocktails) but only indoors. No sipping wine in sidewalk cafes here!
On-line Information
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar: This market is almost 700 years old and if that and the ancient city gate nearby aren’t enough to send visitors back to Ancient Egypt nothing is. The plethora of stalls selling everything is amazing to see, feel, hear and taste. The crowds have diminished, however, since a terrorist bombing in January 2009 caused the death of a French girl and injured 24 tourists and local people.
Sister Cities
New York & Dallas, USA; London, UK; Paris, FR; & Beijing, CH