An Excursion in Cairo Egypt

I went to Cairo in Egypt for one day by flying from Paphos to Cairo in August 2008 when I lived in Cyprus. I lived in Cyprus for four years.

When a friend visited me in Cyprus, she wanted to take a trip to Cairo and go sightseeing. So we decided to do it and I can tell you, as two women on their own, visiting Cairo was a brave thing to do.

I booked the trip on the internet and it cost me 384 euros per person. The air trip was a good flight and it included food. It took one hour.

The day was packed with lots of things to do. We arrived in Cairo and were quickly transported to a coach, which took us to our first destination - the Citadel of Saladin.

The coach drove through Heliopolis, an elite residential suburb of Cairo our professional guide pointed out places of interest and introduced us to the long history and rich culture of Egypt 'en route' to our first highlight, a mosque called Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali. We spent some time here inside the mosque walking around it.

The Pyramids of Giza

Our next stop was the Pyramids of Giza and the Mighty Sphinx. Our coach guide gave us some vital information, such as don't take your belongings when walking around. Take as little as possible because you will be stopped along the way and asked to buy souvenirs. The rush of this is honestly something I didn't expect and two women on their own did play on most of these people selling items.

We walked around the pyramids and paid two euros to get inside one of them, which was indeed very squashy and tight when walking down the steps. It's dark inside and during August the heat was unbearable. If you hate being claustrophobic then don't bother going inside the pyramids. There is only a tomb at the bottom once inside. I did it for the experience because I wanted to know what it would feel like, once I was inside it.

However, beware, because as you are climbing down the steps of this pyramid, if you are carrying a handbag then make sure you have one that has long straps that can securely be attached around your shoulders. I say this because someone behind me tried to take my purse out of my handbag as I was going downwards into the pyramid. Many pickpockets surround this area.

It was also very dusty and hot when walking around the pyramids as in August it's always about 40 centigrade. The reason why I was in Cairo at this time was only because my friend had visited while I lived in Cyprus. So, if you have a choice go during a cooler month.

I wouldn't recommend anyone do this in August. If you are here at this time of year, then I suggest you drink plenty of water at regular intervals whilst touring each site.

Five-star hotels

After this, we went to a five-star hotel called the Meridan hotel where we sat and had a four-course lunch. The food was excellent. Some excellent Egyptian spreads were laid out for us. It was a blessing to be inside an air-conditioned hotel. The heat outside had got humid and sticky by this time and we were glad for the stop inside this beautiful hotel. The luxury of being inside the air-conditioned dining room was a wonderful feeling since it was so humid outside.

Papyrus Institute

Afterward, we visited the Papyrus Institute and shopping at the oriental bazaar, where I bought an Egyptian 18-carat gold chain and pendant with my name written on it in Egyptian. I also bought an Egyptian painting scroll with my name written on it in Egyptian. This place was air-conditioned, so it was a luxury to be able to walk around and enjoy the cool air for a while.

Cruise on the Nile

The next trip was the Cruise on the Nile with the folkloric presentation, belly dancing, cold sandwiches, cookies, coffee/tea, and a complimentary glass of champagne. This was the best part of the day as we cruised down the Nile while eating, drinking, and watching the entertainment. After eating, we went out onto the deck and took some pictures of the Nile.

The end of the trip

At the end of the trip, we went to Cairo airport and traveled by air to Paphos. We had snacks on the plane which was included in our travel.

I recommend a day trip to Cairo from Cyprus, as it is a busy trip with lots to do. If you are on holiday in Cyprus during the high season, then please keep in mind that the weather can be much hotter in Cairo. It's a popular trip with most tourists that visit Cyprus and it's quickly booked up, as flights for one day only leave Paphos Tuesdays and Fridays. The best time to visit Cairo is in the month of April when the heat is more bearable or between November to March but bear in mind that at this time of year there may be only one flight a week from Cyprus going to Cairo.

This article is also published on Medium.com

©️ Denise Larkin 2021. All Rights Reserved.