Cairo, the Triumphant City, known officially as Al-Qahirah is one of the world's largest urban areas and capital of the Egypt. Cairo is an ancient city, occupying a site that has been continuously inhabited for more than 3,500 years. The first settlement in the region of present-day Cairo was al-Fustat, founded in 641 as a military encampment by the Arabic commander Amr ibn al As. Soon, all of Egypt was in the hands of the Islamic Arabs.
The weather in Cairo is warm and sunny throughout the year, being especially hot during the summer months. City has only two seasons: approximately eight months of summer and four months of winter. Cairo is very dry, receiving on average of only about a centimetre of rain a year, but it does have high humidity levels in summer. From February to April, a hot sandstorm called a khamsin blows intermittently, although never for more than eight hours at any one time.
Economy of Cairo accounts for almost two thirds of the Egyptian Gross National Product. Sales of weapons, export of petroleum, and Suez Canal tariffs contributes to the sustained economy in Cairo. Textile and food processing are the most prominent industries. Other industries include iron and steel companies and consumer goods. About half of Cairo’s predominantly male labour force works on the assembly lines and in the auxiliary commercial and financial institutions in the expanding formal sector of Cairo’s modern economy. Tourism is the Egypt's largest source of foreign currency and has shown outstanding growth, with record numbers of visitors with 70 % of them from Europe during 2002.
Cairo is the center of almost the entire Egyptian transportation network may it be extensive road network, rail system, subway system or maritime services. The Metro system in Cairo is the only developed metro system in the whole of Africa. There are 2 lines that run along the east bank of the Nile from Helwan in the north to al-Marg in the south, via Tahrir. There is a public bus service, which offers several lines that allow reach almost any zone of the city. There are standard and mini-busses run by the Cairo Transportation Authority (CTA), and there are also “micro-busses” which are run by a private company. The bus and minibus services operating in the city are considered risky for tourists because of overcrowding and the potential for pick pocketing. Cairo has 3 kinds of taxi: service taxis, lack-and-white cabs, and "specials". A new addition to the ubiquitous black and white taxis is the proliferation of limousines all with air-conditioning and usually with functioning front and back seatbelts. Driving in Cairo is not for the faint-hearted as few road rules are adhered to, traffic is heavy at all times and streets are poorly signposted.
Primary education is free and compulsory in Cairo, as elsewhere in Egypt, and university tuition has been free since 1962. Founded in the tenth century, Al-Azhar University, the premier center of religious instruction in the Islamic world, is said to be the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Cairo University, founded in 1908, produces the country's largest number of college graduates and college-educated professionals. Another university is the American University, established in 1919.
Also known as “The City of a Thousand Minarets”, Cairo is a fascinating city full of activity and a centre of culture, both modern and ancient. It is close by almost every Egypt Pyramid, but there are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and of course, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum all either within or nearby the city. Cairo provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House.
The pyramids are the earth’s oldest tourist attraction and the only remainder of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The three largest pyramids located in the valley consist of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the Pyramid of Kafhre and the Pyramid of Menkaura. The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt were built as tombs for Kings (and Queens), and it was the exclusive privilege to have a Pyramid tomb. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is by far the most famous Pyramid in Egypt, the biggest, tallest and most intact. It contains around 1,300,000 blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 tons to 15 tons and is built on a square base with sides measuring about 230m (755ft), covering 13 acres. The Great Pyramid embodies an advanced knowledge of geometry, geodesy (the science of earth measurement), and astronomy.
The Sphinx, known as the Abu al-Hol (Father of Terror), stands in front of the Great Pyramid and is thought to be older than the pyramids themselves. The Great Sphinx is believed to be the most immense stone sculpture in the round ever made by man. It measures 73m long and has a maximum height of 20m.The beard from the sphinx is displayed in the British Museum. The nose was destroyed before the 15th century, and it is now missing.
Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. It has 136,000 items on display, with many more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms. The most famous exhibit at the Cairo Egyptian Museum is the Gold Room that holds the treasures from the Tomb of Tutankhamen on the museum's upper floor. The Royal Mummy Room contains the mummified remains of pharaohs and royal family members, expertly-preserved in temperature-controlled glass units. The exhibition includes the mummies of Ramses III and priests of Amun who succeeded in ruling the southern half of Egypt as priest kings.
Buzzing with the activities of buying and selling, Khan al-Khalili is one of the largest markets in the world. It is situated within Islamic Cairo, a World Heritage Site that attracts travellers and locals alike.
The opera “Aida at Giza” is held annually in front of the Giza Pyramid and since the production incorporates the most technologically advanced sound and lighting systems, is sure to be one of the most impressive and memorable performances you'll ever attend.
Although Cairo is often referred to as a city of contradictions, its culture and history is truly fascinating and has attracted tourists the world over for centuries.
