Cairo: A Surviving Wonder of the Ancient World

Cairo (al-qahrah) is the most populated city in the African continent and the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.

Being the administration capital of Egypt Cairo offers many interesting and historic places to see and visit. Cairo is full of life and keeps on the go 24 hours each and every day. It is alive with the noise of honking horns, merchants selling their wares and children playing in the streets.

During the day a visitor just has to go and see one of the many pyramids that are close by such as the Great Pyramids of Giza which are situated on the edge of the city. Before the Battle of Giza, Napoleon Bonaparte told his soldiers that " From atop these pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you."

As well as the pyramids there are many ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches and Muslim monuments to see such as El-Aqmar mosque (the Gray Mosque) and the Amir Taz Palace.

Of course no visit would be complete without a trip to the Egyptian Museum which can be found at Tahrir Square. This museum has 107 halls housing huge statues, small statues, jewels, Tutankhamen treasure and the mummies. There is also a large library and a photography section.

Cairo also offers a great cultural experience which includes art galleries and music halls such a The Cairo Opera House. The Cairo Opera House is a 7 storey building situated at the Gezira Exhibition grounds and is equipped with the most supplicated audio-visual system.

For the shoppers amongst us Cairo offers an amazing selection of shopping opportunities. One place to visit would be the Khan el-Khalili Souk which is a bazaar that has remained almost the same since the 14^th century. Or you could shop at one of the many air conditioned shopping malls which have on offer all the latest fashions. Some really good buys in Cairo include; spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, bras and copperware, leatherwork, glass and ceramics.

Should you enjoy a busy and fun packed nightlife, Cairo offers over 40 night clubs, 15 discos and 16 casinos.

The Egyptian currency is the Egyptian pound but US Dollars and Euros are frequently exchanged.

The official language is Arabic with an Egyptian dialect but not to worry a high percentage of the educated population speak English.

One of the downsides to visiting Cairo is the fact that Cairo has one of the world's highest air pollution levels due to the factories and motor vehicles. And another downside is the fact that Cairo is plagued by many illnesses from bacterial infection, viruses and parasite infections.

But don't be put off there are precautions that can be taken. Firstly go visit your Doctor and get the required inoculations. These would include Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Plus a Polio and Tetanus boost.

On a practical note, never drink the tap water (including having ice cubes in your drinks), only eat fruits and veggies that have been peeled or cooked, only eat food that is piping hot and avoid unpasteurized milk including ice-cream that has been made from unpasteurized milk.

It is also a good idea to take antibiotics and anti-diarrhael remedies and start these at the fist sign of a loose stool.

So go enjoy and stay healthy

Source

www.cairotourist.com