The capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa, the name means "the victorious city". It is located on both banks of the River Nile near the head of the river's delta in northern Egypt and has been settled for more than 6000 years, serving as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations. Cairo is known locally as "Misr", the Arabic name for Egypt, because of its centrality in Egyptian life.

Greater Cairo is spread across three of Egypt's administrative governorates. The north eastern part is known as Kaliobia Governorate, while the west bank is part of the governorate of Giza, and the eastern parts and south eastern parts are another governorate known as Cairo, the three parts are known together as greater Cairo. The city is marked by the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and the modern. However, the city also reflects Egypt's growing poverty, and it struggles to cope with problems caused by massive population growth, urban sprawl, and a deteriorating infrastructure.

Cairo

The city of Cairo covers an area of more than 453 sq km (more than 175 sq m), though it is difficult to separate the city from some of its immediate suburbs. Bracketed by the desert to the east, south, and west and bounded by the fertile Nile delta to the north, Cairo sits astride the river, though it spreads farther on the east bank than the west. Cairo also includes several river islands, which play an important role in the life of the city. As the region's principal commercial, administrative, and tourist centre, Cairo contains many cultural institutions, business establishments, governmental offices, universities, and hotels, which together create a dense pattern of constant activity.

Pyramids of Giza

The centre of downtown Cairo is Tahrir Square, located on the east bank. A hub of tourist activity, the vast and open square contains numerous attractions, including the Egyptian Museum, the Arab League headquarters, and the modern Umar Makram Mosque. Extending from north to south along the east bank of the Nile is the Corniche, Cairo's main thoroughfare. Located nearby is the narrow strip of land known as Garden City, one of the city's newer residential areas. In the centre of the city is the river island of Zamalek (also called Jezerah, meaning "the Island"), which contains the upscale residential and commercial neighborhood also known as Zamalek, the Cairo Opera House (founded in 1869), and the Cairo Tower (1961). Three bridges link the island with both banks of the river. The island of Al-Rodah, located to the south, is linked to the mainland by two additional bridges, while another bridge to the north carries road and rail traffic across the Nile.

Check here Cairo night life

Outside the city's central area on the east bank, spanning from the northeast to the southeast, are the neighborhoods of Islamic Cairo. These neighborhoods are known for their narrow streets, crowded markets (bazaars), and hundreds of Mosques, many dating back to the medieval period. South of the Islamic district is Old Cairo, where some of the city's oldest architectural monuments can be found. Old Cairo is the home of Cairo's Coptic Christian community, and the site of the Coptic Museum plus a number of Coptic churches.

The irrigation of Cairo's desert periphery has allowed for the development of suburbs, such as Heliopolis, located to the northeast. Other modern suburbs are interspersed with recently created migrant neighborhoods that accommodate the city's growing population. Industrial areas further crowd the city, restricting its growth. An international airport serves Cairo, situated approximately 24 km (about 15 m) northeast of the city; the Ramses railway station and the bus terminal are located near downtown Cairo.

Cairo is the chief commercial and industrial centre of Egypt. Local industries manufacture cotton textiles, food products, construction supplies, motor vehicles, aircraft, and chemical fertilizers. Iron and steel are produced at the south part just outside the city. Cairo is also a centre for government activities and service industries. Because of the city's warm climate and numerous historical and cultural attractions, tourism plays an important role in its economy. Cairo receives goods shipped on the Nile at the river port, located at the northern end of the city. From Cairo, products are sent by road, railroad, and waterway to the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria and Port Said. The city is connected by train service to other major cities. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Cairo, but it is the only city in the Middle East and Africa that has a subway. A subway system opened in the city in 1987.for the first time carrying about 2 million passengers everyday. Lately a second line has been opened, this linked the old line with the western superb in the west bank (Giza), The third line is still under construction which will connect Cairo airport to the city centre and finish in the busy suburb of Imbaba.

Population

In 1998 Cairo was estimated to have a population of 16 million. The people of Cairo are known as Cairenes; nearly all of them are Egyptians with small number of foreigner. The city is an important centre of the Islamic faith, and Cairenes are predominantly Sunni Muslims; however, the city is also home to a sizable Coptic community, which traces its origins to the Christians who populated Cairo before the arrival of Islam. Cairo's population swells daily as workers flow into the city from the surrounding area, clogging roads and rail lines every morning and evening. Many Cairenes are recent arrivals from villages along the Nile. These rural migrants arrive with few skills or resources, and compound the existing problems of unemployment and scarce housing.

Education And Culture

The most famous educational institution in Cairo is the Al-Azhar University, the oldest in the Islamic world. The institution has grown up around the Al-Azhar Mosque, the oldest Mosque in Cairo. The Fatimid founded both the university and Mosque in 970. Al-Azhar University is an authoritative voice throughout the Islamic world, and its positions on important issues are influential in Egypt and the Arab world. Other institutions of higher education include Cairo University (Founded in1908) and Ain Shams University (1950), which together enrols more than 100,000 students; and the American University in Cairo, founded in 1919, where the children of Egypt's elite mingle with students and faculty from abroad. Egyptian history is displayed and preserved in the city's numerous Museum collections. The Egyptian Museum (Founded in 1902) contains hundreds of thousands of artefacts, including more than 1700 pieces from the collection of Tutankhamen. The Museum of Islamic Arts (1881) contains a vast collection relating to early Islamic civilization, and the Coptic Museum (1910) traces the history of the Coptic community in Egypt. Other Cairo Museums maintain collections relating to more modern themes; these range from the El-Gawhara Palace Museum, built in 1811 in the Ottoman style, to the Mahmoud Khalil Museum, founded in 1963, which contains works by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Peter Paul Rubens, and other European and Egyptian painters of renown.

Spending the holy month of Ramdan in Egypt is different than elsewhere. Other than the rituals practiced during that month, certain social habits of Egyptian Muslims are much different than anywhere else.

Ramadan is a month that follows the lunar calendar, the basis of Islamic (or Hijri) calendar. With an eleven-day difference than the Gregorian, The holiness of this month comes from the fact that it hallmarked the day when the Holy Spirit - Gabriel – started the transmission of God’s message to prophet Mohammad, 14 centuries ago.


The principal ritual during Ramadan is fasting. This entails abandoning eating, drinking, smoking or sinning - even if minor - throughout the whole day, from dawn to sunset. Though the usual daily practice is natural, Muslims prefer to spend more time praying or reading the Quraan, particularly at night.

The daily meals become limited to two, the first of which is the "iftar" which is breaking the fasting that takes place immediately with sunset. The timing of the second meal - "sohour" - is variable according to personal preference, but usually delayed as much as possible until just before dawn. In between "iftar" and "sohour", people are allowed to eat liberally.



What makes this month different in Egypt? Since long time, Egyptians adopted certain social habits during that month, which are not directly related to religion. Officially, the working hours are diminished to allow more time for prayers. People usually sleep very late, sometimes at dawn, after spending long times in mosques. The traditional practice start immediately after sunset, which is announced to people through all mosques by the ritual "azan", or the call for prayers. Long time ago, it became the habit that the government fires a canon, which voice is so loud to be heard everywhere for announcement. Though modern technology has replaced this habit, yet it is still practiced and announced daily on the air on TV. This tradition started during the 16th century, when the canon was fired from the Cairo Citadel over "el-Moqattam" mount, and continued since then.



"Iftar" is a rich meal, which is considered the principal one. Though this includes any type of food, yet the desert almost always include the "konafa" or "qatayef". The former is a cake-like made of wheat, and full of sugar, honey, raisins and different types of nuts. The later is almost the same, but takes the shape of a small circular cake, which is folded to include the nuts and raisins.



With Ramadan being the most joyful month of the whole year, children also have their share of fun. The "fanoos" or lantern, is a must for every kid to have. These are traditionally made of tin and colored glass, with a candle inside. Modern ones are battery operated, but lack the spirit. All mosques and streets during the whole month are full of colored lights in a festival fashion, and in the past, children used to play in the streets with their lanterns, singing "wahawy ya wahawy". This tradition is still practiced, though rarely now in the streets

With the introduction of TV in the 1960’s, the traditions changed again. TV transmission lasts almost 24 hours a day, and the programs include too many new serials and movies. More than half of the serials produced by the Egyptian TV are broadcasted during Ramadan for the first time. The other traditional program is the "fawazeer", which is a daily riddle played in a comic or a musical show. The family is usually gathered around the TV for long hours, if they do not go for prayers. Nuts are consumed as a snack, together with a traditional drink "qamar el-deen" which is made of apricot. Most people prefer to spend at least the first day in an extended family reunion fashion, gathering in the grand parents’ house.



After the first few days, people start to go out after "iftar". So many gatherings between families, friends or colleagues take place for the main meal and few hours after. As so many people prefer to spend their time in the old fashioned atmosphere of cafes, many hotels now encourage this. It became a tradition for all 5-star hotels to build a large tent, furnished in the old Arabian decoration, where people enjoy their time listening to old traditional songs and music, recalling memories of the old classical days. "Sheesha" or water-pipes are smoked for fun, which during that month becomes unlimited.

Sports have their share as well. Most clubs arrange minor tournaments, especially for football. Many people from all ages share, even the elders who compete with their peers. It is not unusual to find so many professional football players among those teams of amateurs. The issue is not to win, but to share. In poor districts where no clubs are available, the youth and children can utilize a side street or alley as a football field. Although not encouraged throughout the year, but during Ramadan, people become very tolerant.



The show remains till late at night, and sometimes till the dawn prayers before people sleep. Some cannot stand that long period, and would sleep early to wake up shortly before dawn. In the old days, the tradition was a man named "mesaharaty" to walk down the streets before dawn with a drum. He used to wake up the people through singing and calling their names. The mesaharaty was not paid a fixed salary, but donations, and though this profession became extinct nowadays, yet it is still practiced as a tradition.



It is not considered good manners to show that one is not fasting. Though not illegal, those who do not fast would usually hide to eat, drink or smoke. Christians too share their fellow Moslems in most practices. Some would also fast as a sign of national unity, but those who do not would never eat or drink in public, as a sign of respect to Muslims’ traditions. Alcoholic drinks are abandoned throughout the month, and all bars are closed.



Ramadan in its very nature is a month of mercy & good deeds. It has very spiritual aspects, since a real fasting is not confined to keep from eating & drinking only, but also to abstain from committing sins that Islam prohibited. So, it's not only a matter of food, it is of actions as well. Hence, Muslims try to be more self-restrained & to get more control on their misbehaviors during Ramadan. They alms, prayers & reading Quran. They have to read the whole Quran Book at least once during that month.



Don't be astonished if I said that Christians like and enjoy Ramadan as well - of course not out of religious sense - motivated by the various sorts of food stuffs that Ramadan is distinguished by and that become available in the market only during Ramadan. They are also attracted by the way television celebrates it, since it transmits the best it has over the 24 hours of the day, which is not the case in usual time. They try not to hurt the feelings of Muslims during that month, they do not eat during daytime and even try to share fasting with them.

On the last day of Ramadan, observatories again check for the new moon. The month ends after the 29th or 30th day, for the "eid" or feast to start.

Come with us 2 Discover Egypt ^_^ in  our 2nd tour :Fortress of Shali in Siwa ruins are the result of extremely heavy rains that fell in 1926. The mud bricks which were used to make structures as high as five stories could not withstand the rain. The new town of Siwa was constructed next to the ruins.
Siwa Oasis or Mystic Siwa, which is how I'd like to refer to it


There's something magical and magnetic about this place. There's not a whole lot to do in Siwa, but due to the limited number of tourists who actually venture out here and because of town's relaxing atmosphere it's so easy to just waste away the days hanging out on a rooftop restaurant or outdoor cafe and watch the Berber community do its thing. One of the best things about my trip to Egypt was definitely visiting this off the beaten path desert oasis of a gem and being introduced to its fascinating culture and friendly people.
 Originally, I was intending to stay only three nights. However, after having been bitten by the Siwa bug, I extended my stay to a week. All the other travelers I met in Siwa kept delaying their departure dates too. Three of us had dinner one evening trying to figure out what it was exactly that was keeping us from wanting to leave Siwa. Was there something in the water? Was it the elevation? Was it the palm trees? What the heck was it about Siwa that just wanted us to stay forever??? Anyway, we never did figure out the answer to that question.


It would be hard to miss the jagged ruins of Shali Fortress, the magnificent relic at the center of Siwa’s largest town. According to ancient Siwan scriptures, 40 Siwans built the fortress in 1203 A.D. to protect the community against raiding Bedouin tribes. They used kershef, a mixture of mud, sand and sun-dried salt harvested from the oasis’s salt lakes, combined with palm trunks as ceilings.
 SIWA´S TAXI DRIVERS AND FORTRESS OF SHALI
Finally,If you want to see more and Discover it by your self come and visit Egypt ^_^

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