Cairo - The Citadel & Old Islamic Cairo
We started our tour of the old Islamic section of Cairo at the Citadel, a 12th century fort that that overlooks Cairo. Inside is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, (not the boxer) whose alabaster walls and columns support an amazing patterned ceiling over a huge open worship space. In the courtyard of the Mosque are the Fountain of Absolution and a clock that was given to the Egyptian government in exchange for the obelisk that now sits in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The clock arrived broken, was installed and never fixed. Our Egyptologist thought this was a bad deal and said “Egypt is a nation of idiots for trading priceless artifacts for broken clocks”.
Then onto a walking tour which ended in the Khan El Khalili bazaar. This bazaar dates back to the 14th Century and extends for blocks of narrow winding streets selling all manner of items from clothing, spices, nuts, plates, tobacco water pipes, scented oils, gold and silver jewelry as well as other items of daily need. While it is a tourist stop, it is also a “working” bazaar where most Egyptians shop.
Read MoreThen onto a walking tour which ended in the Khan El Khalili bazaar. This bazaar dates back to the 14th Century and extends for blocks of narrow winding streets selling all manner of items from clothing, spices, nuts, plates, tobacco water pipes, scented oils, gold and silver jewelry as well as other items of daily need. While it is a tourist stop, it is also a “working” bazaar where most Egyptians shop.
