The Cairo factor....

The ‘Mother of All Cities’, Cairo offers its visitors some of the most unforgettable charms of the world. The magnificent pyramids at Giza and the awe-inspiring sphinx capture the imagination. Colourful history lessons come alive at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities where one gets to behold the much acclaimed Tutankhamen gold in the Tutankhamen galleries and the mummified pharaohs in the Royal Mummy Room. The grand Hanging Church dazzles with architectural brilliance. Another major crowd puller is the ‘City of the Dead’, a humongous burial site.

The shopping experience at the Khan al-Khalili bazaar is unparalleled. Here, one may share coffee with the local merchants and indulge in spicy local gossip or engage in robust bargaining to pick tremendous deals. Check out divine healing at Bab Zuwayla’s southern gate. Inside the gate, one may do well to climb the looming minarets of the Mosque of el-Muayyad and take in a bird’s eye view of the city.

Cairo also has Memphis, supposedly the world’s first royal city. There are lots of picturesque areas like Old Cairo, Coptic Quarter, and Islamic Cairo, which together with the commanding citadel, give a museum like appearance.

Cairo vacations mean treating your eyes to such sightseeing wonders during the day and watching gyrating belly dancing during the night. Sounds interesting? Call your travel agent to locate cheap flights to Cairo for a memorable vacation.

Dreaming Egypt

Egypt, the ‘land of the pharaohs’, makes for a dreamlike vacation. Assail your senses with a trip to the much celebrated Giza pyramids and the Sphinx. The haunting Egypt Museum overwhelms with its myriad treasures, most notably the Tutankhamen memorabilia and the mummies of the 11 most powerful pharaohs. One may go on a long hike up the iron clad Mt. Sinai and be rewarded with the beauty of a glorious desert sun rise. Stealing glimpses of Berber and Bedouin lifestyles is possible by taking a camel safari to one of the six Western Desert oases. A captivating sight of rock formations worn dazzling white by howling winds greets the visitor at the White Desert.

The Valley of the Kings, the resting place of kings, queens, and nobles, is another famed attraction. Another equal, if not more intriguing spot is the immense necropolis called ‘City of the Dead’. Spend a morning exploring the mesmerising Temple of Karnak in the picturesque Luxor, a city richly steeped in the cultural legacy of the pharaohs. Head to the serene town of Aswan to catch the last remaining traces of Nubian culture. A French colonial ambience can be recaptured at Alexandria, where nineteenth century architecture and patisseries dot the city.

Gourmets can gorge on the best of Middle Eastern and International culinary delights. Egypt is at its liveliest during the night, when fun and frolic spills out on the streets and does not stay confined to discos and night clubs. With more and more flights to Egypt being offered from all major UK airports, reaching this exotic destination is getting simpler by the day.