Cairo Capers

- Arrived in Cairo yesterday morning 12th September after 24 hours of moving. Flew on the new A380 - great aircraft very quiet and spacious.

Arrived Cairo in the very early hours on the last day of the feast following Ramadan - it was a beautiful pink hazy dawn and the traffic was surprisingly sparse as we drove through into Cairo. In true Melbournian style we had the driver pull over and we ordered a couple of take away lattes for the journey.

After getting to our hotel and freshening up - we headed into Old Cairo - the original part of the capital. Our first stop was the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, who was the original founder of the modern Egyptian monarchy. Originally covered in alabaster the Mosque was beautiful inside and out - and the Egyptian have a particular pride and reverence for it.

Then into the ever narrowing streets and by ways until we entered the heart of old Cairo. This is all on foot as we enter a maze of lanes and gated doors dating back more than 2000 years. We visit the Coptic Christian church of St Sargius established in 859 AD - where its said that the Holy family hid in a crypt after fleeing. 

A short walk away was the Synagogue of Ben Esra, According to lore - the Synagogue was established on the ruins of the palace of Ramases II - the Pharoah who had adopted Moses.

Final site was the Hanging Church - another Christian church that was built over the top of a Roman citadel and in some places actually seems to hang. All in all Cairo is an ancient city that has been at the cross roads of Religion and Empires, and has built on top of itself over its history.

After that Julie and I went to a grocery market and had a ball deciphering all the different chip packets etc. On the walk back to the hotel I spotted an outdoor Kebab parlor with the rotisserie over coals and couldn't resist one - delicious. All the while Julie was practicing her Arabic with the locals.

Back at the hotel we relaxed by the pool reading, with a few beers and a few swims - All in a BIG first day, tomorrow its of to Giza and the Great Pyramids.

Salam Julie & Jamie