Home » Egypt » Cycle to the Summit Part 8 - Cairo

Cairo is big, noisy and dirty but we leave it with many fond memories; the city where we met Owy, the forth member of our team, the fun times that we spent at the Dahab Hotel and the great people that we met there, the pyramids, the sights and smells of the Khan al-Khalili market, visits to the Sudanese consulate, the honking of horns, the vibrant market stalls beneath the flyovers and much much more.

Cycle to the Summit Part 8 - Cairo

Toby Hammond
2006-06-25 19:06:04

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airport, we finally got together $400 dollars, which we hope will be enough to get us through the areas without banking facilities.

Nazir

We have much to thank Nazir for. We first bumped into him at the Sudanese consulate and since then he provided us with advice and guidance both on Cairo and on Sudan. He was helpful in speeding Owy's visa application, he took us to a Sudanese house for an evening of fortune telling and ensured that we were not overcharged by those trying to make a quick Egyptian Pound on tourists. In return we helped him celebrate his 30th birthday with a few beers and some birthday cake from the bakery that provided our breakfast most mornings.

Dahab Hotel

The Dahab Hotel acted as our base while in Cairo and the rooftop location made the struggle with the bikes to the 7th floor all worthwhile. We met some great people (Hi to Ahmed, Judd, James, Stuart, Ben, Sebastian, and Paul) and often played pool late into the night. Our regular dining venue was Gazaz, a small, clean and friendly restaurant where the cheap falafel, aubergine and meat sandwiches kept us coming back for more.

General Cairo atmosphere

The markets of Cairo are a must for any visitor and although the more famous Khan al-Khalili was a great experience, one of the best nights for me was spent in Attaba market. We caught the Metro (virtually an exact replica of the French Metro) and emerged into a sea of stalls, people and vehicles. I'm not one for Christmas shopping with crowds, noise and constant jostling. Although Ataba is even more crowded and noisy, somehow the character of the streets and the people make the atmosphere superb. On one occasion in a crowed side street, we saw a great stand-off between a truck packed full of precariously balanced television sets, and a small van coming in the opposite direction. The situation was rather like two bulls with their horns locked in battle, neither wanting to ...