Cairo Journals

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A Jewel on the Nile

A December 2010 trip to Cairo by Prosperine

Quote: Few cities in the world as ancient, mysterious and immense as Cairo, Egypt boasting a population of 21 million. You may be surprised to hear it's quite cosmopolitan and modern as it is a center of tourism. Desperate to escape those winter blahs? Try a long weekend in Cairo

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Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, St. Mary's Church)

Attraction | "A Church Built on a Roman Fortress in Coptic Cairo"

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Built in 6th Century AD the Hanging Church was named as such since it was built on top of an old Roman Fortress which dates back to 3rd Century AD by the Coptics who fled religious persecution to settle in Egypt where they were allowed to practice their religion in peace.

Highly ornate, the intricacies in the woodwork inlaid with ivory on the interior doors of the church are a marvel to behold. The artifacts in the church are noteworthy as well with icons dating back hundreds of years.

As once of the oldest churches in Egypt and a seat of Christianity, this area is under tight security.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 5, 2026

Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, St. Mary's Church)
Shar'a Mari Girgis Street
Cairo, Egypt

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Giza Pyramids and The Sphinx

Attraction | "The Great Pyramids - A Wonder of the World"

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To see the Pyramids in Giza is a driving factor that has millions flock from around the world to this site one hour away from downtown Cairo. Rising from the desert are six (not three) pyramids that once held the tombs of ancient Egyptian leaders. While many will shell out the extra $20 USD to descend into the cavernous rooms that once held a great Pharoah...if you are claustrophobic, do not have a strong heart, have difficulty walking or breathing and are not in great physical condition to be able to descend into a narrow 3'5 to 4ft crawl space without windows or fresh air with limited light...be wary. I had seen many younger children and elderly persons have much difficulty. The path will have traff...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 5, 2026

Giza Pyramids and The Sphinx
Giza Plateau
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

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What to eat in Cairo, Egypt

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So, you want a culinary experience when you are in Cairo, other than hotel food, American fast food or some snack you brought from the airport? There are a number of exotic restaurants from Lebanese to Syrian to Asian to Indian, so many menus will have items from these cultures as well.Here are some foods that you may come across that I have been told are truly Egyptian....Foul Mudammas - (pronounced "fool") is a vegetarian dish of mashed beans served with onion, parsley, chili powder, cumin powder and olive oil. With a consistency of hummus and babagannoush, this dish is eaten for breakfast!Falafel - a patty of ground chickpeas deep fried and coated with sesame see...Read More

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Incessant Traffic and Smog

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Bear in mind that a city that grew to have 21 million inhabitants may not have had the infrastructure to handle the same amount of automobile and motorcycle drivers. While I was told that the train system was safe and fast, there was nothing that could be done to curb the nightmare traffic jams that could make a 1 mile drive up the street take 45 minutes. Best advice: Plan to make an early morning of things in order to get where you need to go on time...there is always traffic, but it seems to double at 8-9am. If you aim to get to the Egyptian Museum, you may want to get there early anyway to avoid the crowds. If you are on a tour that is driving to Giza to see the pyramids, you may want t...Read More

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Fairmont Nile City

Hotel | "On the River Nile"

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Nearly brand new, the Fairmont Cairo Nile City is situated on the banks of the Nile, one of the most well-known rivers of all time. I must say first off that this modern hotel makes one feel safe while security measures are a bit intimidating upon arrival, foreigners traveling here via cab will have a explosive sniffing dog pass by the taxi or car and the trunk checked before continuing up the short steep drive to the hotel's entrance. And as you enter the front door, you will go through what feels like airport security minus the removal of shoes, belts and electronics as you go through the metal detector and bag scanners. Off-putting you may be thinking, but this is all for the safety of the guests and made me feel a bit safer.

The rooms are modern and comfortable. The decor was beautifully appointed and attention had been paid to the details as with all Fairmont hotels. Top notch bath products, a soaking tub and separate glass shower with excellent water pressure, a flat screen television with satellite tv stations, room service, etc. The staff at the hotel is eager to please from the bell hops to the concierge to cleaning staff to various waitstaff and bartenders at all the venues.

The one unnerving thing was that the roof top pool elegant and a cool oasis from the smog of the city below and a nice place to catch some sunshine and a nice breeze several stories above the city...was the kids running around the pool throwing hard rubber balls at walls and splashing wildly and playing in the jacuzzi. This rooftop are is not resort sized and the commotion was a bit disrespectful to other guests, but this is less the problem of the hotel and more the problem of the parents accompanying their children. This pool area has the potential of being a very hip spot if this was factored into it...perhaps after sunset....

While the hotel is a cab ride to nightlife and restaurants (and in Cairo, population 21 million, you couldn't fathom what rush hour traffic is like), the three restaurants and three bars the hotel has on offer are good. The staff is friendly. There is a bank, gym, rooftop pool serving cocktails and food. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 5, 2026

Fairmont Nile City
Nile City Towers, 2005 B, Corniche El Nil
Cairo, Egypt 2466
20 22 461 9494