Day one we arrived in Cairo after a long flight from JFK New York.
> Train from Cairo to Alexandria
After breakfast we traveled by train to Alexandria. The Cairo train station was a teaming with people coming into Cairo for the day and people heading out to the suburbs. Time from Cairo to Alexandria is about 1 hour.
We visited the village of Rashid - also known as Rosetta since the Rosetta Stone tablet was found by French engineers in the St Jullian fort. The Rosetta Stone was the key to deciphering Egyptian Hieroglyphics.
Alexandria is a modern bustling noisy seaport city with a sort of old world charm. The weather was beautiful and by 11am there wasn't a spot to be had on the beach.
Back to Cairo. Along the way we stopped at the El Alamein battlefield memorial. It was at El Alamein that Montgomery and Rommel duked it out in 1942.
The Great Pyramids at Giza. This is why people come to Egypt. Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops. The pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Tomb of Ptah Hotep. He was the city administrator during the late 25th century BC. He is credited with authoring The Instruction of Ptahhotep, an early piece of Egyptian "wisdom literature" meant to instruct young men in appropriate behavior. example: "If he who listens, listens fully, then he who listens becomes he who understands."
> Pyramids Light and Sound Show
While it was a little hokey the visuals and lasers were projected on the Sphinx and pyramids. It made an interesting visual experience and an interesting evening.
> Wedding of Shaimaa & Mohamed
We returned to the hotel to the wedding of Shaimaa & Mohamed. What an elaborate affair. It was one of the highlights of the trip to see this couple's wedding. The bride was beautiful [and the groom very handsome.] It was a wonderful experience I wish Shaimaa and Mohamed health and long life.
Islamic Cairo is a part of central Cairo noted for its historically important mosques and other Islamic monuments. It is overlooked by the Cairo Citadel. Egypt was conquered by Arab Muslims in 641 AD. Alexandria was then the capital of Egypt. The conquerors chose to establish a new capital on the east bank of the Nile - what is today Cairo.
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