During a short trip to Cairo, I did two long drives for meetings in Suez and Alexandria. We returned the same day on both occasions. Last time, I managed to drive around Alexandria – to at least see it having done the drive. This time, I had a chance to see the Suez Canal, for about ten minutes, after our meeting. Ships are kept at either end and released in groups. We were lucky to arrive at a time when ships were sailing past.
I couldn’t resist this last post about Egypt. I stayed at the Marriott in Cairo. This may not sound interesting, but this hotel has a building with an interesting history. I took some shots of the original building of the palace.
When I was in Egypt, we drove to Alexandria for a meeting. My host was kind enough to drive me through the town and on the corniche. The meeting was near the harbour and I really didn’t want to be so close and not see this old city.
If Chicago is the windy city, and Paris the city of love, then Cairo has got to be the city of contrast. Every extreme of anything in life is all around. You see it live as you walk the streets and drive through this huge, bustling and sprawling metropolis. On the same street corner you will find the latest luxury cars, a ‘thing’ that can barely be called a car and a donkey-drawn-carriage selling vegetables. This doesn’t even begin to describe the extremes one sees in this place.
I am in Cairo on a short business trip. So far all I managed is a late afternoon walk. I thought the second day would give me some more time to catch up with the city – my last visit here was a few years ago – but I just learned that my second meeting will be in Alexandria…
I hope to be able to get a few shots of here and ‘zair’…
The second (and final) selection of matchboxes. Mostly of hotels, and roughly grouped into continents. Some of the matches missed out in the first post (EAT) were added here and there…
The Bellagio (Las Vegas-USA), Sacred Sea Room (Las Vegas-USA), Aladdin (Las Vegas-USA), Luxor (Las Vegas-USA), MGM Grand (Las Vegas-USA), Stratosphere Tower (Las Vegas-USA), Best Western (New York-USA), The Doral (Miami-USA), Pacific Time (Miami-USA) & again Luxor (Las Vegas-USA).
Sooooo…
After many arguments with airport/hotel/car rental staff, I managed to get to one of the most amazing places on Earth. I wish it was easier.
It’s great to be in a spot with this concentration of ancient history.
btw the guy with the camel was really nice. Fair is fair.
Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiwwwa.
 | Marzouq on Getting High |
| Marzouq on Al Hamra |
| Marzouq on Reclaimed Land |
| Marzouq on In the Right Place at the Flig… |
| Marzouq on iTelephone |
