Cairo – Information
Entertainment
During Ramadan and during Muslim holidays throughout Egypt, and in Cairo especially, it is forbidden to drink alcohol in public places. You can only get alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants around the hotel. Some bars are sometimes hard to distinguish from nightclubs: such places should be avoided by tourists with a wide tuck.
Music
People who like to dance should look for a disco, but avoid the nightclub, where you can only watch the band's performances. Contemporary Egyptian pop and folk music is most often played in ordinary local discos. The nightclubs are dominated by oriental dance music from the years 40. i 50. XX w.
Raqs sharqi belly dance (Eastern dance”, Oriental dance”) in the version for tourists it comes down to the popular belly dance (belly dance), considered the pinnacle of exoticism. This dance was mainly performed by women, though attempts were made to teach him to the eunuchs. Its characteristic elements are special hip movements, belly, breasts and expressive gestures. The former modest costumes of the dancers differed significantly from the present ones, often very bold and richly decorated. Artists use a lot of props, such as: canes, swords, candlesticks, percussion and voile elements.
Raqs sharq probably came from ancient Egypt, where it was performed in honor of the goddess Isis. This is also where his different styles developed, like the classic cabaret style (municipality, site), that is, dancing with a cane (arab. raqs al assaya), dancing with a candlestick (arab. raqs al shamadari), malaya leff, hagalla. Each dancer moves according to an individual sense of rhythm and character.
Attractions for children
People with young children can take a camel ride, swim on the felucca, watch the light and sound show” or take a trip to the Aquarium Grotto
• Zamalik, szari Galabaja; codz. 8.30-17.00; 1EGR – aquarium in the park, where you can almost admire 200 tropical fish species. Another place just right for the little ones is the Cairo Zoo in Giza
• Giza Zoo; codz. 9.00-17.00; 1 EGP. where – if you are lucky – you can participate in feeding the animals,
• Dr. Ragab's Phiaran Village is highly recommendable
• Pharaoh's Village of Dr. Ragab tel.02/5718675; Ai-Bahr 3 – Corniche, szari al-azam; Jacobs Isiand, on the west bank of the Nile; 9.00-21.00; 65 EGP
Souvenirs
Lots of shops in Cairo, and especially at Khan al-Khalili, is focused on selling souvenirs for tourists. These are usually kitschy works of the so-called. pharaonic art, busts of Nefertiti and printed T-shirts. There are also pyramids, scarab, statues of deities and "papyri”, most often from banana leaves (just crumple them: if they do not straighten or crack – they are fakes). Only then is it allowed to export real antiques from Egypt, when you have a permit from the Antiquities Inspectorate.
Jewelery in the East is a traditional way of investing capital. The price of jewelery usually depends on their weight and metal, from which they are made (should be stamped with a proof). The goldsmith's workshops are concentrated in the city center, near the Midan Opera. Suk as-sagha (Goldsmiths' Souk) is located at Khan al-Khalili. There are some good silver shops in wikala al-Gawarhergia. Popular souvenirs are silver cartouches with a hieroglyphic notation of a person's name.
Shawls and scarves with fringes are great souvenirs.
Handmade glass is beautiful, but also very delicate, like ceramics, which can be purchased in the outskirts of Maadi.
Spices and perfumes are one of the most purchased souvenirs.
Perfumes have been made in Egypt for millennia, fragrance oils and essences. Extracts are sold by ounces, to obtain a perfume when diluted with alcohol and water (1:9), toilet water (1:20) and cologne (1:30).
Traditional musical instruments are an interesting gift, like tabab (viol), nails (obój), out (lutnia), naj (speaks), law (dulcimer), table (drum) and the tambourines riq and duf, they are sold in several shops at Qalaa Sharia (towards the Museum of Islamic Art).