Cairo, Egypt. This had been a bucket list destination for a very long time and it did not disappoint. We spent a long weekend here, 3 nights in 3 different hotels to make the most of each place we wanted to visit. The late evening arrival made the airport hotel the perfect first stop to get straight to bed after our 5 hour fight and be fully rested for our days ahead.
We had considered hiring a driver for our time here but Uber has a big presence in the country and with prices next to nothing, this was how we opted to get around, but be warned, it’s not for the faint hearted. Keeping in lane is not an idea Egyptians seem familiar with, speed limits are more of a minimum than a maximum and seatbelts are an absolute rarity so the only way to cope is to look away and hope you arrive in one piece, thankfully during our time here we always did, but looking at the scrapes, dents and parts hanging off pretty much every car on the road, It’s hard to believe everyone is so lucky. Our first day was mainly in the capital visiting a lot of cultural and historical sites, the frantic nature of the roads and streets quickly turns to calm and tranquillity as you arrive in one of so many amazing places Cairo has to offer.
Just before the night rolled in we had to get ourselves set and ready for the next big day ahead so we jumped in another “death cab” and made our way over to our second hotel for the night right next to the entrance gate of the main reason you visit Egypt, The Pyramids of Giza. The town in front of the Pyramids complex is a bit rough around the edges and doesn’t have the best reputation but the fact that by 7:45am (officially opens at 8am) we were already inside and walking towards the most amazing spectacles on planet earth completely on our own, it was the best decision we ever made. The last remaining of the old 7 wonders of the world, we were in absolute awe the entire time, walking amongst these ancient giants is an experience that won’t be forgotten.
After an amazing day, we headed back to Cairo for our final night. We had a more relaxed last day (if that’s possible in this hectic city), but it wasn’t without it’s wonder. The Egyptian Museum has an astonishing abundance of ancient artefacts that have been preserved so well it was mind boggling. It must be said that the setting didn’t really do them justice, the layout was muddled, information was sparse and presentation left a lot to be desired but saying that, the collection here speaks for itself and what you find yourself looking at, once you eventually find it, is incredible. This is set to change very soon however with the imminent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum located a bit further from the city and in a direct line of sight to the Pyramids. We visited the new building and although all there was to see for now was the impressive lobby and grand staircase, this is set to be a fantastic showcase of Egypt’s unique treasures and once it finally does open it’s great to have a reason to come back and enjoy the wonders of Egypt all over again.
See all my photos from our trip below.
