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Open only during the day, the
great pyramid of Cheops offers a sound and light show at
night. Although going up the exterior is hazardous and
against the law, the interior is open to the public and for
exploration. Approximately 10 feet high, the entrance is
quite impressive. Be ready for a tiring, uphill climb. When
you reach the top, you'll be able to access the burial
chamber of Khufu, the pyramid’s owner. You are not allowed
to take pictures inside.
Situated near the Great Pyramid is the mysterious Sphinx. It
is just a relaxed walk on a paved adjacent road. Admission
is separate but photography is allowed. The Solar Boat is
another attraction open only during daytime and is the third
most important thing to see on the Giza lot.
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It
contains a well preserved boat belonging to Khufu
himself that you can inspect directly since it is
out in the open. You will be issued protective
slippers that fit over your shoes due to possible
contamination from visitors to the museum.
Located in the capitals downtown area is the
Pharaonic Village. It features a yacht cruise
through many ancient Egyptian locations. Aboard the
Nefertari you can witness how the pharaohs once
lived with each scene re-enacted by actors.
The cruise terminates with several gift shops and
restaurants. There's also the Cleopatra Studio where
visitors can have their photo taken wearing ancient
egyptian costumes. The tour may take up to 3 hours. |
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Cairo’s Opera House, also found downtown offers symphonies,
ballet, and opera from touring international artists. You
would do well to book your tickets ahead online.
A must-see is the Egyptian Museum. This spectacular and
awesome museum is available on every tour, but you may want
to go back to explore it further on your own. General
admission covers all exhibits, with the exception of the
Mummy Room, found on the second floor. Therein rests some of
Egypt's greatest rulers.
For those with kids, Dreamland is an open-air theme park
situated near the pyramids in the 6th of October district.
Rides for all ages are available: roller coasters, bumper
boats and much more. Places to eat vary from sit-down
restaurants to walk-up windows and their several gift shops.
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For those who love to
golf every chance they get, there are plenty of
opportunities for doing so here. But Cairo is the
only place where can you golf at the foot of the
pyramids. Wonderful views are offered at 2 courses
in Giza, one at the Mena House and the other at
Dreamland.
Open air market of Khan el Khalil has been existence
since the 14th century and is still very popular
today. It is made up of independant merchants that
sell everything from fine ornaments to fava beans;
haggling here is a must. This is a great way to
spend the day sampling the Islamic section of Old
Cairo where the air is redolent with spices and
oriental ambience.
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The Egyptian Pancake
House is a great place to have lunch. Their pancakes are
heavily sweetened so make sure you ask that yours have less
sugar if you don’t have a sweet tooth. Just look for the red
neon sign that says “Egyptian Pancakes” inside the Khan.
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