Cairo is the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt. It was established by “El-Moezz Ldine allah El-Fatmy (358 H- 969 A.D.) to be his capital. It is one of the governorates that consist of one city. The population is about 15.5 million excluding the Gza and Shubra El-Khima cities.
Cairo city lies on the east cost of the river Nile with 41542 km long. Its north bound is surrounded by the Kalubiya and the Sharkiya governorates, while on the south and west bounds are surrounded by the Giza governorate and from the east by the Suez governorate.
The Greater Cairo city is considered the semi official managerial entity which includes the Giza city with some of its suburbs and Shubra El-Khima from the Kalubiya governorate beside the Cairo governorate.
The most popular places in Cairo:
- The Egyptian Museum.
- The Three Pyramids.
- Salah El-Din Citadel.
- Hundreds of the beautiful ancient Mosques where on the top of the list is the “holly Azhar Mosque”
- The suspended church.
- The Orthodox Cathedral.
- Sixth of October Panorama.
- Cairo International Conference Center.
- The Egyptian Opera.
- The Azhar Park.
- The Egyptian book house.
- In addition to other beautiful ancient places in Egypt.
-Egypt is distinguished by its warm weather in winter and hot in summer. In addition to its important natural resources such as sand, limestone and basalt.
Fossilized Forest Protectorate:
- The Petrified Forest protectorate lies far from east maadi by 18 km. the petrified forest area is full of the petrified trees’ roots and steams which is a part from a wooden mountain structure which its history goes back to the Oligocene age.
- This wooden mountain consists of sandy, pebbles, clay and petrified wood layers with thickness varies from 70 – 100 meters. These petrified roots and steams of large trees take rocket shapes that gather together to form the petrified forests.
Degla Valley Protectorate:
- Degla Valley protectorate is located eastern the maadi city in the east desert. The valley passes by clay stones that had been precipitated in the aquatic environment during the Eocene age in the east desert (60 million years ago), that’s why it is full of excavations. The height of the rocks on the sides of the valley is about 50 meters in addition to many valleys that are connected to the Degla valley.
- The valley has many living organisms including mammals such as: dears, mountain rabbits, and red foxes, rats with feathery tail, oviparous, spiny mouse and bats with small tail, in addition to other types. Also there are insects and about 18 kinds of reptiles.
The national day: sixth of October.
Symbol: El-Azhar Mosque and the Islamic minaret
Egypt Travel informations and tips
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Recently spent 8 days traveling Egypt. Mostly stayed in Sharm El Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sanai Penn. Glorious beaches with crystal blue water and amazing coral reef views. Also traveled to Al Uqsur, Luxor, and Karnak to see the New Kingdom ruins in the south. Did not make it as far south as Aswan, but I hear the further south you move the more of Egypt you see. I also traveled to Cairo, amazing in sights, but confusing in culture unless you have previously read up on Egyptian culture. Cairo is the melting pot of Egypt. I HIGHLY recommend Egypt to any serious traveler.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Here’s a list of things to do depending on the time you have:
-the sphinx and great pyramids of giza
-khan el khalili (one of the oldest markets in the world) in old cairo
-the citadel and mosque of mohammed ali
-city of the dead in old cairo
-a cairo nile dinner cruise at night
-a longer multiday cruise to luxor/aswan along the valley of the kings
-alexandria to see the palace and the new library/museum there
-the cairo museum of antiquities
-sharm el shakh (2nd best scuba diving in the world, only after the great barrier reef by australia)
-old city pubs and clubs in cairo
-shopping shopping shopping
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
This is the tall, thin communications tower that you’ll see when heading to and from downtown on the 6th of October Bridge. The concrete sheathing on the outside of the 187m (614 ft.) edifice is said to represent the lotus flower. It took the Nasser government 5 years to build, starting in 1956, and they say it was meant to show that Egypt was capable of building the Aswan High Dam (which was ultimately only completed with Russian assistance in 1970). There is an elevator to the top, and on a clear day the view of the city is spectacular. Try going just before sunset to get the full range of light. There is also a restaurant and some toilets, neither of which I would recommend.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Cairo tower
This is the tall, thin communications tower that you’ll see when heading to and from downtown on the 6th of October Bridge. The concrete sheathing on the outside of the 187m (614 ft.) edifice is said to represent the lotus flower. It took the Nasser government 5 years to build, starting in 1956, and they say it was meant to show that Egypt was capable of building the Aswan High Dam (which was ultimately only completed with Russian assistance in 1970). There is an elevator to the top, and on a clear day the view of the city is spectacular. Try going just before sunset to get the full range of light. There is also a restaurant and some toilets, neither of which I would recommend.
on Mar 23rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
We went to Cairo to see the Sphinx and the Pyramids. Who knew that shopping would be our most memorable experience?
After we visited the Pyramids in Giza, our guide asked us if we would like to stop at a weaving school. An amateur weaver myself, I jumped at the chance. Our Egyptologist steered us to The Sakkara Carpet School on Monument Street in Giza. It was a holiday, she explained and classes were dismissed, but we could see how hand-woven carpets were made on giant looms.
Inside, one or two students were still around. A young girl showed me the piece she was working on and let me weave a row on her loom.
OUr guide explained that students were taught the weaving craft in the morning and attended school in the afternoon. Otherwise, they would not receive any education at all.Schools in Egypt are not tuition free as they are in the United States.
The owner of the Carpet School greeted us and served us tea; a welcome treat despite the heat. Then he had his staff show us carpets varying in size from 2×3 to immense wall-hangings, all woven in wool in vivid colors. I chose a small rug depicting the coral reef in the Red Sea. My husband requested a larger one showing camels against the great Pyramid. I thought we were through, but the owner insisted in showing us a huge carpet with a view of a caravan of camels against an oasis with palm trees set off by an unbelievably blue sky. The intricate patterns in the camels’ saddle bags made the piece museum quality.
We questioned how we would ever get the rugs back to Pennsylvaia. In a flash, the owner had his minions roll up our three purchases and stuff them in a suitcase on wheels. He said we could ship the bundle on our airline ticket which we did. Now, at home, we delight in unrolling the carpets to show our friends.
Our guide was not finished with us. I had admired the gold cartouch she wore around her neck spelling her name in hieroglyphics. Immediately, I wanted one for our only grandchild. She led us to El Bazaar on 49 Pyramid St. in Giza. Here, we found a jewelry store of immense size featuring gold pieces with soaring prices. The owner showed me a cartouch for my granddaughter. I protested it was way our of my price range. “Do you have anything cheaper,” I asked. He said,” You never say ‘cheaper’, just less expensive. It turned out he had spent most of his adult life in Chicago. He showed me a ring in sterling with gold characters I could afford. I bought it along with a pair of earrings for myself, each one spelling out my name.
To conclude our shopping experience in Cairo and environs, our guide led us downstairs in the same building where we could purchase papyrus scrolls of all sizes and scenes. We chose the Egyptian black cat. With that , we were exhausted and were glad to stop at the five-star Hilton in downtown Ciaro for a magnificent buffet lunch before sightseeing the rest of the afternoon