Russ&Suzie

Trip Log
2008-10-29 14:59:44 (UTC)

Walking in Cairo with no photographs

These days in Cairo precede connection with the tour which
connection begins tonight with a cocktail party. We're
adapting well to jet lag issues with lots of daylight
exposure and engaging projects between sleeps. Yesterday we
walked from our Conrad Hotel south along the Nile and then
back. I think I mentioned it. Today we took a taxi to the
old city and on the way the camera read that the 8 gigabyte
card was not good. Didn't read on the other camera nor on
the computer here in the business center. So will reformat
(hopefully) and/or use the other card that I brought along.
I was warned that 8 gb means greater instability. So
yesterday's pictures are gone and today we couldn't take
any as we had along only the one camera. Oh well.

So today we traveled by cab to the Al-Mu'izz-Din Allah
starting with Bab Zuweila (or south gate) one of the three
still remaining from medieval times. It featured the place
of executions once. We walked north with some deviations
east to the university areas (oldest university in the
world, from the literature) with many book stalls. WE
frequently came across mosques, mausoleams, museums (we
didn't go in) and many many stores with all manner of goods
from spices and books to metal works, ceramics, games etc.
The only beggars were some small boys saying "dollar?
dollar?" and in general we saw upbeat people busily
engaged. Many water pipes smoked.

After reaching the north wall (Bab Futuh), we saw the old
wall to a greater extent including remnants of a moat, and
then found our way back to the hotel along city streets.
NEar the Railroad station a vast underground of tunnels
helped us cross the street. Saw mercantile sections dealing
with iron/steel, bathroom/porcelain fixtures, and other
specialized sections. The iron works extends to beneath our
hotel where we could see them welding and painting blue
wheelbarrows.

Wonderful walk that delighted Suzie, having read about it
in a New York Times article from Sept 04.




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