We spent four nights in Cairo. The main highlight was the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Beyond a walking tour of the centre of Cairo, the only other area we visited was the Citadel.

Cairo is the biggest city in Africa and has all the problems that you can imagine (and more…) for such a large sprawling metropolis.

Built in the 12th century by Saladin, the Citadel houses a number of different buildings, civil, military as well as religious. The Mohammed Ali Mosque stands prominently at the highest point in the Citadel, overlooking Cairo, with – on a (rare) clear day – a panoramic view over the city. Built in the Ottoman baroque rather than Arabic style, which reflected the politics of the early 19th century.

Ann & Jo in the arcade by the side of the mosque.

The marble ablution fountain in the middle of the main courtyard adjoining the mosque.

The clock tower overlooking the main courtyard.

I liked the large circles of delicate lamps.

Looking up to the main dome.

A smaller mosque with fewer visitors: we were just about the only tourists at the time. A very peaceful experience, well worth a visit. Suleyman Pasha was a noted 16th century Ottoman governor of Egypt.

Ann in the mosque, carrying her own shoes in the Prayer Hall