egypt’s Cairo / Giza
Egypt’s beating heart W
Even if the main reason for a holiday in Egypt is sun and sea, it would be a huge shame to miss out on some time in one of the world’s oldest cities to visit the incomparable pyramids
ith a population of 20 million and seemingly as many spluttering taxis, motorcycles, donkey carts and horse-drawn caleches jostling for position on the main roads, first impressions of the Arab world’s largest city and one of the most densely populated places on earth can be overwhelming. But within a surprisingly short time the initial impact of Cairo’s teeming streets is replaced by some of the most remarkable sights. There is no other capital city where visitors can experience one of the most magnificent and ancient of civilisations. The beating heart of Egypt, home of the iconic Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza – the only survivor of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World – Cairo assaults the senses with its sights, sounds and experiences. The three main tourist areas are
the modern city centre, Islamic Cairo and Old Cairo, but for most visitors the first stop has to be the Pyramids of Giza, southwest of the city. The best time to visit is in the morning when temperatures are cooler and the pyramids are bathed in early sunlight and at their most atmospheric and photogenic, sometimes shrouded and hidden by an ethereal mist until you get up close. The sheer scale and size of these ancient architectural marvels is breath-taking and the Great Pyramid, or Khufu’s Pyramid, was the world’s tallest structure for more than 43 centuries until the Eiffel Tower topped it in 1889. The two smaller pyramids are Khafre and Menkaure and to the east are the tombs of Pharaoh Khufu’s wives and sisters. Also on the Giza Plateau are the Sphinx and Solar Boat Museum, showing the vessels used to transport pharaohs
to their graves, and every night the entertaining and informative Sound and Light Show, ‘narrated’ by the Sphinx, brings history to life.
The landmark Mena House Oberoi, built as a royal hunting lodge in 1869 and currently undergoing a staged renovation while it remains open, offers a spectacular view of the pyramids and is one of the few Cairo hotels with its own golf course.
A stroll through Egypt’s history A main attraction in modern Cairo is the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, more commonly known as the Egyptian Museum, a bursting treasure trove of fabulous antiquities charting every period of the country’s history. It’s been estimated that if you spent one minute at each exhibit you’d be there for nine months! On a more practical level, three hours is enough to see the highlights
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