Today was an interesting day. It was good to get a feel for Cairo. Everyone slept in today including myself. After breakfast all but Kendall headed out for our morning tour of one of the oldest mosques, old Jewish synagogue built where it is believed that Moses was found in the bullrushes and taken my Mariam the Pharoah’s sister to raise him as her own. We also went to a couple of old Coptic Eastern Orthodox churches that had arabic looking architecture and designs and doors inlaid with ivory. One of the churches is supposed to be built over the cave where Mary and Joseph came to hide from Harod’s decree after Christ was born to kill the young “King of the Jews”. There is supposed to be a place there where the holy family drank from the well and hid in the cave below. Lots of relics and reminded me of some of the orthodox churches in Israel. The large mosque that we went to is no longer officially used, although they do the prayer calls from there and we were there at twenty till 12 when the Ahmed announced the prayers from the LOUD speaker inside the mosque. It was a beautiful old structure, the second oldest mosque in Egypt built in red bricks, reminding me of the Red Fort of India, in the 9th century. We were able to climb up it’s ancient minaret too and had a good view of the surrounding area and the Citadel and the mosque that sits on the Citadel in the middle of Old Cairo.
We then headed back to the hotel to pick up Kendall who was doing her homework. We had originally planned to go to church here on Sunday but we found out yesterday that they worship on Friday, which is the sabbath for muslims since Sunday is really the start of the school week. So Kendall opted to finish up her homework and then we picked her up and headed to lunch in the old part of town. After we went next door to a perfumery where they make and sell the flower and herbs extracts that they use for perfumes and for herbal remedies. It was actually really fun to try the different oils and essences. She put each oil or essence on each finger and gave us a sheet that had all the oils we were smelling on. Of course at the end we had to purchase some we all were loving the scents. I am pretty sure it was the best I had smelt this whole trip :)
We then headed into the Bazaar area inside the walled city. But first as we were getting dropped off our driver literally hit a man with a small child on his motorcycle!! Holy Moly!! Thank heavens they were all totally ok. We had a security guy riding with us too so they managed the situation and we entered inside the walled part of the city. It was pretty quiet since Sunday is usually quiet and it had gotten pretty late. It was still interesting too to be inside this part of the city and some cool coffee/hooka shops and stores selling a variety of lanterns and then of course tons of trinkets, … I felt like I was the security guard as all these men were eying my girls and saying “you look like Shakira, you are a princess, your eyes are magnificent, …” We had people all day wanting to take pictures of the girls, I had to say no. It just seemed too creepy. Have to say it is easier traveling with Sam and middle aged woman over being with two gorgeous girls that I felt so protective over all day.
It was an interesting day. Everywhere looks like it is under construction since the city is so dirty and covered in dust and loose dirt. Each building has just piles of rocks and dirt and wood scraps on them and roads look like they haven’t been paved in 20 years. Wearing color we stood out even more against the brown background of everything. But the mosque architecture is interesting and pops out against the skyline and makes the horizon line beautiful.
Headed out to dinner at a highly recommended restaurant nearby. They all say it is perfectly safe to walk around where we are at at night, so giving it a whirl. Headed to dinner now.
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