Travel Log | Exploring Cairo, Egypt: A Journey by RusstyArt

Cairo is the sprawling capital of Egypt, located on the river Nile in northeast Africa. It's a mesmerizing blend of ancient wonders and modern culture, that takes hold of you and transports you to another time.

Google Maps: Cairo, Egypt

Should I Even Be Here?

I was very apprehensive about going to Egypt, because it was not long after the so called Arab Spring, and the deposition of President Hosni Mubarak.

And from the moment I landed in Cairo, I knew I was right. I arrived after a long flight around 1am, only to find that the rooftop bar was closed. And when it did open, I discovered that it didn't serve alcohol.

So maybe I was being a little dramatic, but then, there was gunfire not long after I went to my room. I was freaked out.... and the bar was closed!

Turns out it was a nearby wedding.

The Sights

In the end, I thought I might be "more comfortable" (less of a baby) with a guide. So, I located a guide, who over the course of 3 days took me to all the major sites of Cairo, including (obviously) the Pyramids of Giza and Dahshur, and the ancient city of Memphis.

Related Gallery Works

Giza is amazing, no question. There something about being around all that history. I really did have to stop and pinch myself. What I did find surprising, is how "suburban" the area around the pyramids is. From certain angles you can see KFC in the background. Finger Lickin' Good!

Saqqara

Tombs and remains found at Saqqara date back over 5000 years, and it's the location for the oldest known stone building complex. It's a spellbinding assortment of tombs and ruins, much of which had been buried in sand until the 19th century, which includes:

Tomb of Kagemni
Pyramid of Djoser or Step Pyramid
Hypostyle Hall & Entrance Colonnade
Mastaba of Ti

The vast necropolis, covering an area of around 10 km2, is the largest archaeological site in Egypt, and easily requires a half day to fully explore. Walking among the ruins gives you a real sense of walking through history.

Memphis

The ancient city of Memphis, or what remains of it, is displayed in the form of an open-air museum. Over time a many of the more significant items have been pillaged or re-located to the Egyptian Museum. Of those remaining, highlights include the 10m long (as it's lying down) Colossus of Ramesses II, and the Alabaster Sphinx monolith.

Memphis for me, seemed to be the poorer cousin to everything I had already seen. Maybe I should have started here. But don't get me wrong, there is an absolute treasure trove of artefacts here for history buffs and die-hard fans.