With so many great destinations to choose from we have made the choice a little easier. We have selected one of the most popular destinations for travel in November.
Cairo
Rarely is a country so completely dominated by a single city. In Egypt, politics, finance, media and popular culture practically do not exist beyond the boundaries of Cairo. Tellingly, in the Egyptian language, the word for Cairo and for Egypt is one and the same: Masr. There is also an alternative and equally telling name for the city, which is Umm al-Dunya or ‘Mother of the World’.
Events and attractions in Cairo
The Sphinx
Majestic and haunting is the only way to describe the Great Sphinx. The monument has a lion’s body and a woman’s head. The Greeks named it for a mythical creature but the Arabs know it as Abu-el-Hol (‘Father of Terror’). It is made of limestone and is 50m long and 22m high.
The Citadel
Within the Citadel complex are the Sultan Al-Nasir Mosque, a Military Museum, the Carriage Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Suleyman Pasha Mosque. Particularly recommended is the Mosque of Mohamed Aly which towers above the other buildings with its multiple domes and two minarets. Inside it is beautifully decorated in alabaster and gold leaf and contains the Tomb of Mohamed Aly Pasha (AD1769-1849), a soldier in the Greek Army who helped rid Egypt of Napoleon’s army.
Cairo Opera House
With two halls (one for dressing up and the other more casual) and an open-air theatre, there is usually some event being staged here. International entertainment in the form of orchestras, ballet and opera are at prices that are a fraction of what they are in London. Some evenings there is also local entertainment in the open-air theatre. Check local newspapers for what’s on.
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