General Information

Egypt time zone is GMT+02.00. This means that, for instance, the time is 10:00 am in Egypt when it is 8:00 am GMT. Summer daylight saving time is in effect May 1 through September 30. Weekends are on Friday, not on Sunday. Some streets are closed on Friday for the Moslem's prayer. Most stores and currency exchange locations are open 7 days a week, but most banks are closed Friday and Saturday. Travel agencies and airline offices may close on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on the management. Most stores and some businesses close on Sunday, not Friday.

Food
The Egyptian kitchen is renowned for its tasty dishes. Elegant restaurants in major hotels, and elsewhere, offer delicious oriental selections such as Kofta (ground meatballs), Kebab (grilled meat), Mulukhia (green soup), Tahina (tahini) Salad, Hamam Mahshi (stuffed pigeon), Baba Ghannoug (tahini and eggplant), Mixed Green Salad, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Foul and Falafel (cooked and fried beans), and Kusheri (rice and lentils mix). Use of bottled water is highly recommended.

Electronics
The electric current voltage is 220 Volts, with European-style plugs. For TV broadcasting, Egypt uses MESECAM which is a derivative of the SECAM standard. Usually, VCRs sold in countries using MESECAM can also play tapes recorded in the PAL standard. All of these standards, however, are incompatible with the US standard (NTSC).

Health
Pharmacies are scattered around the city, and many are open 24 hours a day. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacies sell perfume and cosmetics during regular working hours.

Ancient Egyptian Monuments in Cairo

Memphis and Saqqara:
Memphis, the oldest capital of Egypt, was built by King Menes, and lies 24 kms south-west of Cairo. The colossal statue of Ramses II is exhibited in the museum. This is the most beautiful representation of Ramses II. lt is made of fine-grained limestone, 13 meters long, and weighs 120 tons. Also in Memphis are the Temple for Embalming the Sacred Apis Bull Saqqara is the oldest Ancient Egyptian cemetery. lt lies on a desert plateau, south-west of Cairo. Above rises the Step-Pyramid and mortuary compound, built by the engineer lmhotep for King Zoser. It is composed of six receding mastabas on top of each other. The Pyramid measures 123.5 by 107 m at the base and about 59 m in height.

The Pyramids of Giza:
The Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs to preserve the bodies of their dead kings, especially that they believed in resurrection and immortality, The Pyramids of Giza lie at the western edge of Greater Cairo, about 10 kms from downtown, and comprise

The Great Pyramid:
The most famous structure in the world and the only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built by King Khufu (Cheops) of the IV Dynasty around 2650 BC. lts height now is 137 m (original height: 146 m). Almost 2.5 million blocks of stone were put into building this pyramid. All this, however, dwindles when compared to the precision and astounding ability of the ancient Egyptian in building this pyramid.

The Solar Boats of Khufu
The Sphinx
The Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square)

Christian Coptic Monuments in Cairo

The Churches:
Most of the ancient Coptic churches are located in the Old section of the city, near the ruins of the Fortress of Babylon.

Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging) Church:
Constructed around the 4th or 5th Century.

Church of Abu Sergah (St Sergius):
Dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century, the basilica is built on the cave in which the Holy Family is believed to have stayed when they came to Egypt.

Church of Sitt Barbara (Ste Barbara):
Founded in the 5th Century and still retains its wooden door, a magnificent example of fine Coptic art.

Church of Abu Mina (St Mena):
Located in the Old City, the Church was built in the 6th Century.

Church of Abu Sefein (St Macarius):
Built in the 6th Century AD, the Church is located in one ot the most ancient areas of Old Cairo. Among its prominent relics is the crypt of St Barsoum Al-Arian.

Church of Abu Sefein (St Macarius):
Built in the 6th Century AD, the Church is located in one ot the most ancient areas of Old Cairo. Among its prominent relics is the crypt of St Barsoum Al-Arian.

Church of Al-Adra (The Virgin):
Dating back to the 8th Century, this church contains some precious icons and has three "haykals" behind ivory-inlaid wooden screens.

Church of the Virgin in Zaytoun :
The Zaytoun church gained special significance after people reported the Apparition of the Virgin above one of its dome.

Church of Mari Guirguis (St George):
Built on the ruins of an ancient church, the church of St George has a unique hall dating to the 13th Century AD. It was named after St George, a victim of early Roman persecution.

The Cathedral of Al-Qiddis Morcos (St Mark) :
This, the largest church in Africa, The remains of St Mark, the first to preach Christianity in Egypt.

Islamic Monuments in Cairo

Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas (Al-Fustat):
lt was the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa.lt is simple in design and contains architecture elements from different periods.

Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun :
This is the third "large mosque" (gamee) built in Egypt. It is characterized by its spacious hall (saha), its unique spiral minaret and a large collection of gypsum decoration.

Mosque of Sultan Hassan :
Located at the end of Al-Qalaa (Citadel) Street, it was founded by Al-Nasser Hassan Bin-Mohammed Bin-Qalawon, a Mamelouk ruler, as a mosque and a school accomodating the four main sects (madhhabs) of Sunnism.