I decided I wanted to explore the city of Cairo without a guide. This is wandering territory.

I got a taxi from my hotel into the vast city of Cairo.
It’s a city that has stood for more than a thousand years, is one of the biggest cities in Africa. A sprawling city of almost 10 million people and a vastness that needs a lot of days to fully explore. I don’t have a lot of days, but I am going to explore and see as much as I can.

As I got out of the taxi I could almost hear the Arabic voice of the locals saying ‘come walk my streets, welcome to Africa’. I saw the Nile River with the majestic 614 foot Cairo Tower looming overhead. First stop was to get to the top of that tower!

My trip to Cairo Tower threw up a few new experiences.  First, there was a camera tax.  Second, there are two upper levels to the Tower, but only couples are allowed on the upper level.  The first level, where the cafe is, is windowed, with dirty windows, and not great viewing.  The second level is not for single travelers.  Yes, a kind of weird rule, and one I have found that they enforce. Apparently, they think solo travelers might jump off!
They asked my age, and because I had paid the camera tax I was permitted 2 revolutions of the top Tower view, but under security supervision all the way around.    I really loved the view, it was magnificent!

Such nice people here in Cairo too. Several times walking the streets today I heard a voice pop up “Welcome”, and a common greeting inviting me to enjoy their country  After exiting that taxi close to Cairo Tower an older local man came forward to me to ensure I could navigate the Egyptian road safely!  Forty-five minutes later Mohammed, a hotel employee from Novotel, stopped me and asked if he could practice his English.  Nothing else, he just wanted to talk.  You don’t get these interactions without travel adventures.

Next was the Metro, what a special challenge that was then thrown up.  All signs were in Arabic, I had no idea where I wanted to go.  All the Metro Station names don’t mean a thing.  There is an information desk, but he doesn’t speak English. This is Travel Completist heaven.

It would have been good to have more information, but more on that later.  I did get on to the train and some of the names were now in something I could read.  I figured out I was in Dokki, but I had no idea where I wanted to go.

At the info desk,  it sounded like Shubra direction.  I got that bit, and I made it to Atttaba.  I had to change trains from the Red Line to the Green Line, but the direction details got hazy.  I was indeed some degrees closer to where I wanted to go, so the 40 cents had been well spent. I decided to walk to Al Hassan from the Attaba Metro station.  If I had planned a bit better I’m sure it would have been easier, but where is the fun in planning.

As I walked from Attaba to the Al Hassan Mosque I just drank in wonderfulness of historic Cairo. At Al Hassan Mosque another Egyptian was concerned that I was headed the right direction.  I told him I was walking back to Zamalek, he was pleased and impressed with me in the same measure. What a nice man. Al Hassan Mosque is monumental.

I stumbled on another taxi driver Mohammed as I took photos close to the Nile River. It was only at this point I realized I had Google Translate to Arabic saved on my phone.  Via Google, we chatted constantly between the Nile and my hotel.  It was a fun interaction as we talked about the Egyptian President, Mo Salah, Egyptian TV, and Ramadan.

Walking like an Egyptian through historic Old Town and around so many interesting streets is EXACTLY what adventure is about for me. I was in my element.  The weather was fine and grand with clear blue skies and a warm day.  Cairo has a twinkle in its eye, and passion on its streets.  Come for the pyramids, but check Cairo too, it has many jewels, often in people form. There were so many ingredients and characteristics to the day that I couldn’t even begin to fill them all on a page, but it was heaven to wander around this fantastic city with its wonderful people.

I’ve walked six marathons across Belgium, Jordan, Nepal, Qatar and Egypt.  I liked all of these countries, really pleased with the trip I pulled together in the blink of an eye.  If pressed, Nepal would certainly be my favorite one to visit on this travel adventure, but like most times, it’s not the destination but the journey that is the most enjoyable.  The  “journey” involves the people you meet, the food you try, and the adventures that happen along the way.  This was a great adventure!