Coptic Cairo

St George's Church & Monastery

The Hanging Church

After a cooked breakfast of pork sausages and bacon which Tom has been craving for, Ahmed picks us up to drive us to Coptic Cairo where we wander around the Coptic church of St Georges, the nunnery, a synagogue, graveyards and eventually the cavern church (St Sergius & St Bacchus) where the holy family are supposed to have found refuge after their flight from King Herod. I can't help feeling a little sad that I can't share this experience with my mum and dad, they would have been so interested.

Dave & Tom in contemplation

We leave the Coptic area and I can't help smiling as we've definitely exceeded Dave's rule of only 3 churches in one day.... but as we walk towards the Amr Ibn El Ass Mosque Ahmed has asked us to meet him at we are accosted by a very excited and enthusiastic group of people who insist we join them in their celebrations. Quite frankly we've not got a clue what is going on, only that they are very eager to meet us, the whole hall of children, adults, singers turn round to welcome us and before we know it we're joining in with the dancing, well shuffling awkwardly from foot to foot. This followed by the strangest photo call session ever, I feel like a celebrity and I'm not sure I like it! However, they all seem very happy that we stopped by. Eventually we reach the Mosque where Ahmed is patiently waiting for us and he kindly shows us round the mosque explaining the customs and etiquette to us.

A warm welcome in Cairo

Ahmed drives us to the downtown area of Cairo where he leaves us to wander around the streets, watching people selling mint and lemons in the streets, the tiny shops and the bigger department stores and of course the people. The drive home gives us enough time to decide to go to Festival City tonight to eat. This is a very large Mall with food court attached and fountains just like we've seen in Dubai and like Dubai the fountains dance to music while being illuminated. The meal at Beirut is a Middle Eastern meze, all gorgeous food washed down with lemon mint smoothies.

Amr Ibn El Ass Mosque

Festival City fountains

Now is the time for us to split up, Tom to go to the airport to pick up Rob and Maria, while Dave and I return back to Rehab. This sounds so straight forward on paper, but in practise was so complicated, a taxi that picks someone else up, 2 taxis that don't turn up when booked and finally the one that does picks us up tries to take us to the airport! What should have been a 20 minute ride for us turns into well over an hour. I begin to think the boys and Maria will be home before us. 

First egyptian beer together in a dry City.