22.10.2008Курорты Egypt, Cairo
Cairo is a majestic Egyptian city of contrasts. The centuries-old history intertwines here with modern trends. A city – a fairy tale, a city – an antiquity. At it it is a lot of secrets and many names.
Arabs name the Egyptian capital Misr. Under asphalt of its roads lay the Greek-Roman Babylon, ancient Fustat and medieval Katai. When in 967 year Fatimidy have grasped Egypt, they have put in pawn new capital to the north from Fustata and named its Ale-kahira. – «A city of victories». Cairo dynasties Fatimidov name a city from east fairy tale, which UNESCO has included in the List of the world heritage.
But olden time here do not admire, in it simply live! And Alladina – it suits a city of the Ali-woman and draws. Many fairy tales from «One thousand and one night» originate here, in these streets. They were told by vagrant actors before the gathered crowd. And, stopping on the most interesting place, they collected money from listeners before to continue.
Cairo
As history and culture monuments, having visited here it is necessary to visit a mosque, which here nearby 300. Here only the Sajidina-ale-hussejn where one of Islam relics – a head of the great-grandson of prophet Mohammed Hussein is stored, to women to enter into the main mosque of Cairo it will not turn out – restriction there operates. Well, it is necessary to reconcile – traditions of this country are unshakable. But all other mosques are opened for all comers.
Going into the sacred earth of a mosque, it is necessary to be undressed, and leaving – necessarily give to the person who is watching footwear, a small baksheesh. But also excessive generosity to show it is not recommended – more than one Egyptian pound here do not give. Otherwise you risk to become famous as the rich and generous patron of art and then to pass to you will not give! And it is final, visiting Cairo, do not forget to visit in a coffee house «At Fishavi» where here two centuries submit strong Arabian coffee.
It is the most known coffee house in all Cairo. Here in the days the writer, the Nobel prize winner, Nagib Mahfuz sThaied. But even such literary glory has not changed atmosphere of this place. You will not find here any modern features like espresso or kapuchino. Coffee here prepare till now in kanake and on hot sand. Sometimes add a carnation, cardamom or a nutmeg. Besides, it is necessary to specify, you want some which coffee: ahva – strong Arabian, mazbut – average on a fortress, a garden – bitter or zijada – very sweet. And, certainly, to you will necessarily offer here a hookah incomparable, such which can be found only in Egypt. For Arabs it is not simply stupefying tobacco is whole culture of calmness and the regularity, replacing the alcohol forbidden by Islam.
Being on a visit in Cairo it is necessary to visit its well-known market! It exists 600 years and is recognised the greatest in the Near East – its area reaches 5 hectares! And it is final, it is possible to buy here everything, well or nearly so all. Each small street of this consumer paradise specialises on something the. And sellers here – the present polyglots.
But, certainly, first of all Cairo is well-known for the pyramids, most known of which - Heopsa, Hefrena and Mikerina which have settled down on city suburb. Here you will see the Sphinx (in an Arabian way Abu an ale-hol that «the father of horror» means), the largest monolithic sculpture in the world. Its length makes 73 metres, and height - 20 metres. These enormous constructions constructed of many centuries back, and admire to this day travellers with the greatness, accuracy of forms, and also secrets and the legends shrouding these tombs of ancient governors.