Sunday in Cairo - last day in Cairo

Well, we checked one more item off our bucket list, and lived to tell about it. I'm not sure who's idea this was, but it wasn't a very good one. Ha! We (Ed, JoAnn, Bill and I), actually crossed a busy street tonight in Cairo, looking for a restaurant and then again on the way back after the restaurant didn't open for another hour and fifteen minutes. Whew! It was scarier than the camel ride, and we WON'T do that again. At least I know that I won't. I almost had to go back and change my pants!
Actually, I'm not sure that this one was really on anyone's bucket list.

Today was our religious day. This morning we visited the Muhammad Ali mosque. (not the boxer) It's a gigantic citadel with domed mosque overlooking the city - the ancient part of the city of Cairo.

It reminded me of St Sophia in Istanbul, which I've also wanted to see since Architectural history class during college.

We had to take off our shoes and cover our shoulders. The inside was just one huge room with many rugs - and lots of groups of tourists. Still, it was impressive.

Next we visited the Rifai Mosque where Egyptian royalty are buried, along with the Shah of Iran, which was an interesting story. I'll have to trust Bill to tell it though because I'll get it wrong if I try. There were several tombs that we visited as well as a mosque gatekeeper who sang one of his prayers for us. It echoed thoughout the room that we were in, and it was beautiful. Mackenzie, you'll be impressed that I left my camera by my side however....I did put it quickly on the little video feature and recorded his singing.

We also visited St Servius Church which is a Coptic Christian Church. The alter is supposedly built over the crypt where Mary, Joseph and Jesus stayed when they fled to Egypt. It reminded me of a church in Mexico.

The Hanging Church was another beautiful Christian church - they call it hanging (although it's really not) because it was built over a tower of the ancient Roman fort.

Finally, we visited the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Our Egyptian guide told us that this started out as a Christian church and was converted to a synagogue although there is only about 300 Jewish left in Cairo at this time. This was supposedly built over the spot in the Nile (which has changed over time) where the baby Moses was found in his basket.

After a delicious Egyptian lunch (of which the highlight was watching the waiters trying to get a cat out of the restaurant),

we spent a little time in the bazaar which was an experience. It was fun and I bargained for a shaw to use as a tablecloth however, I couldn't have spent more time there - it was too intense with hundreds of vendors grabbing you - trying to get the rich Americans to buy their stuff. Intense is an understatement.

However, it was worth it - just to watch Bill....who can't say 'no'. ;)

So tomorrow at 4:30AM we leave (fly) for Aswan. Having read Murder on the Nile - I can hardly wait to see it.

Thanks for the comments everyone, esp Mackenz. Now I can sleep easy and report to JoAnn and everyone that all is well....