I am speaking at the IOETI Conference in Egypt this week, and have a day to myself before the conference begins, so am mulling over how to spend the day.
The rest of my trip itinerary already includes:
- A day in Alexandria visiting the Bombay’s Pillar , Catacombs of Komel-Shokafa, Qaitbay Fort, Alexandria Library & Montazah Summer Palace.
- Tours in Cairo visiting the Giza Pyramids, Sakkara Complex ( Zoser Pyramid) & Dinner Cruise on the Nile or Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids.
- Tours in Cairo visiting the Egyptian Musuem, Salah El Din Citadel (Alabster Mosque), Coptic Cairo & Khan EL Khalili.
How would you spend a day to yourself in or around Cario?
~ Erica
David @ Malaysia Asia
Hi Erica, as I have never been to Egypt, I would most probably want to see all the Pyramids and visit the Nile. The other place on my list would be the Egyptian Museum. Have a great conference there and Merry Christmas in advance!
Erica
Thanks David! It is looking like the Conference has kindly organized many such visits for us. Maybe something on the Nile during daylight hours.
Merry Christmas to you too.
jade
I would want to see the pyramids- that has always been a dream of mine!
Erica
Yeah I have to say Jade, they were pretty gosh darn amazing, especially the two we ended up at on our own, minus all the tourists.
lesly
I would spend the whole day at the pyramids. They are amazing. I would love to just look at them and contemplate life.
Erica
They are amazing. I got to go in one. My legs were still burning three days later, thanks to the climb. Can’t imagine what a scary journey that would have been for Archaeologists.
Mark Wiens
As you already mentioned most of the historical attractions around Cairo, I’ll say that I had a great time just walking around downtown, places like Tahrir Square and sampling random street food and drinking lots of fruit coctels and freshly squeezed juices. Be sure to eat lots of falafel and ful beans! Hope you have a great time in Cairo!
Erica
Thanks Mark! Yeah, the wandering and exploring on my own two feet was definitely the part I missed out on on this trip. Although I did get to try freshly squeezed sugar cane juice from Cairo’s original vendor of it.
A_Single_Traveler
Egypt is a wonderful place to visit. We toured there two years ago and hope to put this back on our trip schedule for the future. Trips for single travelers are becoming more and more popular because it can be hard for singles to find people to travel with. Single travel companies coordinate everything for the travelers and allow them to travel the world with first-class accommodations. We even provide a customized packing list for each trip. At SoloMate Travel, we are offering a bunch of upcoming trips for singles including trips to Bali, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, China, Australia, Italy, and Croatia.
Erica
Awesome! I shall have to check those out, as there are certainly places in the World that I’d love to have a travel companion or two. After the third marriage proposal on this trip, I was glad to have the men in our group introducing me as their wife.
Bohemian Trails
The first day I spent in Cairo was New Years Eve 2010 so we went on a leisurely felucca ride and then to a party to celebrate the new year with our friend who lives there.
Erica
Oh what a wonderful experience. I would have loved to have gone on a felucca ride.
Culture-ist
Maybe just act like a local? Take in the culture, people watch and let the day happen…sometimes that leads you to the best experiences!
Erica
I actually did do that that night. Went out with a few locals in fact and even caught an Egyptian Bhatti wedding, belly dancers and all!
will
Don’t miss King Tut’s solid gold death mask at the Museum. Get up at dawn and have the pyramids to yourself as the sun struggles through the Cairo fog. Escape the local hasslers on a felucca ride on the Nile.
Erica Hargreave
I think the only thing I missed there Will was the felucca ride. I guess that means I shall have to return to Egypt!