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Cairo Travel GuideINTRODUCTION Known as "the Triumphant City," Cairo is the largest city in the Middle East and in Africa. It's capital, Egypt, has Egyptian pyramids such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, located on the edge of the city, ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and the Egyptian Antiquities Museum.  HISTORY Although Egypt is located in North Africa, its Sinai Peninsula forms a land bridge to Asia, and it is also bordered by Israel. Known for its natural beauty, Egypt is home to great destinations such as the Sahara Desert and the Nile River. Most of its 75 million inhabitants live near the Nile River, or in cities like Luxor, which houses some of the country's most sacred and ancient artifacts, such as the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is steeped in history. Evidence of human life is found here since the Paleolitihic era and dynasties were formed since about 6000 B.C. Around 3150 BC King Menes unified a kingdom here, and a series of dynasties followed. Egypt has long since gone through a political coming of age, ruled first by pharoahs and dynasties and then by Greeks and Romans who ruled the land for thousands of years. It is now a republic, under President Mohamed Hasni Mubarak who has been in power since 1981. Religiously, the country is largely Islamic, home to both Sufi and Sunni muslims. Calls to prayer can be heard in most of Egypt five times a day. A christian population also exists here, and although the country was at once largely Jewish, many left after the Six-Day-War with Israel in 1967. After the creation of the Suez Canal, Egypt has become a full-fledged trading center, and their economy depends largely on tourism and trading. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Egyptian currency is the LE, the Egyptian pound, and $1 is equivelent to 6.2 Egyptian pounds. The exchange rate right now is strong, and a little bit can truly go a long way here. European pounds are also accepted, as are credit cards at most places in major towns. Bus systems (like the Upper Egypt Bus company) cover much of Egypt, and are largely based in Cairo. If you are traveling in Egypt it's a good idea to bring an electrical converter for electronics, just to be safe. If you are traveling to a site, always know where you are going and how much it will cost upfront, to make sure you lessen the risk of a scam. Same thing goes for taxis. If you're staying at a hotel, ask them to call you a taxi with a company they trust. Since the country is heavily Islamic, wearing revealing clothing or demonstrating acts of public affection is frowned upon and homosexuality is actually illegal. Be wary of drinking the tap water, as bottled water is inexpensive. As with travel to any foreign destination, make sure you let someone know where you are going at all time in case you run into trouble, and bring the correct clothing to make sure you are prepared in case the weather changes unexpectedly. ATTRACTIONS El-Gawhara El-Lala Mosque - The El-Gawhara El-Lala Mosque built in 1430 is considered a small Mosque. The Amir Taz Palace in Cairo - The Amir Taz Palace, also know as ‘Dar’ Taz meaning the home of Taz is one of the most popular Mamluk Palaces in Cairo. Abydos - sitting on the bank of the Nile. It is famous for its cemeteries and tombs discovered in 1895 of the kings of the first two dynasties. Agilika Island - This island houses the Temple and relics of Philae island that was submerged by the waters of the High Dam. An amazing place to visit and steeped in history. Al-Mizawaka Tombs - Dakhla Oasis is a collection of fourteen different settlements. The Coptic Museum - the Coptic Museum in 1910 AD. Displaying monuments of the period in order to easily trace the history of Christianity in Egypt. RESTAURANTS LODGING PERSONAL STORIES 
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