Cairo is calling

Abu Alhoul.

For the past five years all we’ve heard about Egypt are the difficult political turmoils that have struck our beloved neighbor, but one thing can never change, the beauty of this country and its people. I’ve loved Cairo from a very young age and that love only grew stronger with the years to come. Cairo has its own essence, it has its own vibe not many will understand unless they visit this magnificent city again and again.
For hundreds of years, Cairo has been the epicenter for politicians, poets, playwrights, artists, writers, inventors, intellectuals and people interested in everything and nothing at all. An important city in the evolution of the Islamic civilization, founded by Jawhar Al-Siqilli, the city had so much potential that it became what it is today, a vibrant and sprawling metropolis with a joyful and content society always accepting the new and old in ways only Cairo can do. For years, Cairo has been the heartbeat of the Middle East, hundreds of our country’s young men and women flocked to its universities seeking the best that their education can give. We’ve welcomed their professors, their teachers, their experience and with that, the country grew with the help of Egyptians and our friendly Arab neighbors, eager to give as we were eager to receive. It’s that giving that captures the heart of all who visit, it’s mesmerizing and you can’t help but go back. It’s clear that my love for the city runs deep in my veins.
Even with all the turmoil, the artistry and allure of the city remains. The heart of Cairo is always best for your hotel stay, it’s literally a stone’s throw from all that is interesting, museums, Tahrir Square, great cafes, old Cairo, new and hip restaurants overlooking the Nile that cater to every taste, beautiful old buildings engulfed in the maze that is the streets in the heart of the city. Khan El-Khalili bazaar is always a great start to any visit. Considered one of the oldest bazaars in the world, the 500 year old bazaar was and still is a prime location for trade and selling of goods from gold and diamonds to magnificent wood work home decor, from tourist trinkets to brass or bronze chandeliers.
The place is buzzing with life all day and night long especially during prayers where the Hussain Mosque is located on the grounds. Khan Al-Khalili still holds many of the Ottoman relics.
In addition to the shops in the area, there are several traditional coffee shops serving coffee and tea alongside the shisha, the most famous and oldest of these coffeehouses is the Fishawi coffee house. During the cool evenings, the place is packed and the tunes of an oud player can be heard around. The great poet Naguib Mahfouz was said to frequently visit the coffee shop in the 1960’s, a cup of fresh green tea always there to welcome him. As you stroll through the narrow alleyways that make up the bazaar, the structural integrity of the souk is surprisingly still strong and designed in a way that withstood time and nature’s influences. Once you’ve done strolling the alleyways and sipping on your tea, head down to Shari’a Al-Muizz (Al-Muizz street named after the Fatimid Caliphate Mu’izz el Deen Illah), considered one of the oldest and best open air museums with an abundance of medieval and islamic architectural structures. The area went through an extensive renovation project bringing back its previous glory. The street is about a kilometer long, it’s as if you’re walking back in time as many dynasties have helped build the structures seen today.
The Nile at night comes alive, there are simply way too many places to visit. The Nile’s banks are dotted with some of the best cafes/restaurants located atop moored boats. It’s best to make reservations before heading out to make sure a table is provided, since it’s usually crowded all week long. Blue Nile, Maxim and Nile City boats provide some of the best entertainment for many years now, the restaurants are crowded and the place is buzzing as guests listen to in-house performers singing from the latest hits to the classics by Um Kalthoum, Abdulhaleem Hafiz and Farid Al-Atrash. Cairo the nocturnal city is just alive at night as it is by day. The Kempinski Nile’s “The Roof” has a spectacular view over the Nile on it’s 11th floor roof top terrace, a great lounge to relax and enjoy the cool breeze especially during the warmer months.
There is an abundance of areas to relax all along the Nile River. Platform, the name describes itself, is located in Maadi. It is a large platform aloft the Nile with a wide selection of cafes and restaurants to suit any taste. There’s Mazaaj, an Arabic fusion lounge with two levels, adorned with oriental decor and a mix of Egyptian/Arabic cuisine. Sequoia in Zamalek is an elegant and trendy open-air restaurant also overlooking a 180 degree view of the Nile, so sit back and relax with friends as music blasts from traditional felukas zigzagging the river. You might even catch a wedding on a boat. Hey, it’s Cairo, expect the unexpected. For a more relaxed vibe, After 8 is the place to be. True it might look like a dungeon but it’s a refreshing scene filled with young Caireans listening to the tunes and drum beats of “Wust El Balad,” one of Egypt’s iconic young bands. There are also performances by Sahara, Bashir and Salalem, and oh there’s a karaoke night every Saturday. Come on now, who doesn’t love karaoke!
After a night out, brunch is always a great start to the day. Egyptian gastronomy is one of the richest and best cuisines in the world and many of the best dishes of Cairo can be obtained everywhere in the city from street vendors selling rich falafel sandwiches to elegant 5-star hotels serving Eggs Benedict over smoked salmon and dil sauce. There’s Nile 49, a unique restaurant with a different set of menus every day, the Feteer Meshaltet is ah-mazing! La Pietra, located in Mohandiseen, is always a favorite among its patrons, a mix of young and old people flock to the small restaurant chatting away or playing backgammon. La Pietra opens its doors from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Lastly, Left Bank, the adjoining restaurant to Sequoia in Zamalek, is a great restaurant with a menu full of the best that brunch can offer. The atmosphere is large, airy and bright, buzzing with families and friends giving the ambiance a cozy feel. Brunch is always a good decision to start your day in this enchanting city.
After brunch, head down to the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square. The museum has over 120,000 items of ancient Egyptian antiquities on display. The extensive collection includes items from the numerous dynasties that ruled Egypt, you can find papyrus in several languages such as Greek, Latin, Ancient Egyptian and Arabic. The most special display has to be the the intact mummy of Tutankhamun and Psusennes the First, with materials from the intact tombs of these two special mummies too. There are other mummies from “The New Kingdom” and many artifacts from Valley of Kings as well as the infamous heavily guarded Gold Mask of Tutankhamum composed of 11kg solid gold.
After a day of sightseeing, the Cairo Opera House or Dar El Opera El-Masreyya, the main performing arts venue in the city, provides a vast number of performances, so better check with the concierge before buying tickets. Performances in the Great Hall vary but ever so often local singers come and bring a nostalgic vibe as they sing old Um Kalthoum songs, orchestras performing the best of Andrea Bocelli or Frank Sinatra. Ticket prices start at 50 to 100 Egyptian pounds.
No trip is ever complete without visiting the ancient Pyramids of Giza and of course Abu Alhol. Many tours are provided at the concierge desks but to truly grasp the greatness is to go horseback riding just around sunrise. Trek guides will take you through the deserts surrounding the area ending at the foot of the great pyramid Khufu along with Kharfa’a and Munqara’a, the last of the ancient pyramids that are still intact.
Cairo is also called Um el-Donya which means mother of Earth. You’ll rarely find an unfriendly face in the city of millions. The ancient city is a mixture of intelligent and strong minded youths wanting nothing but the best for their country and old intellectuals reminiscing over the years of past rulers and how the country was once great but they are also optimistic about the future. You’ll find the poor and the wealthy, you’ll find the young and the old and you’ll always find a friendly face. This is Cairo, Um el-Donya.

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