The A.P.E centre is a must go to place in Cairo! I will return, hopefully with my class in tow, later in the year. The work that the women do there is exceptional and makes my heart warm to see that some of the rubbish that is created in Cairo is put to good use. The centre not only teaches the girls and women skills but also pays them for their work. The more people that buy their wonderful crafts, the more work the centre can do.
The City of the Dead surrounds the base of the Citadel area. The city has its own shops, schools, mosques. There are thousands of people living in the city who are responsible for looking after the mastaba that make up the area. We were lucky to meet a family who lived there and a local silk spinner. I say lucky because these people were so welcoming and friendly towards us. We would not have had such an opportunity if we had gone on our own.
The Manial Palace was built by the grandson of "the" Mohamed Ali who built the citadel. It doesn't look much from the outside but once you are within those walls it's another world. Apparently Club Med had set up a hotel within the grounds but luckily someone saw some sense and eventually it became what the prince had wanted it to be - a museum.
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| Mokattam Mountain - the winter cave church |
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| Mamluk Mosque in the City of the Dead |
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| Stained glass and tiles featured in the domes |
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| A silk thread spinner |
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| Inside one of the many mastaba in the city |
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| Entrance to the Mohamed Ali Palace on Manial Island |
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| Window overlooking the gardens |
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| The tower between the reception hall and the mosque |
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| Thousands of tiles featured throughout his private residence |
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| The throne room |
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| French influence |
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| View over Garbage City from Mokattam Mountain cave churches |
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| Purchases from the Recycle Centre made from tear tabs and coffee pods. |
Watch this space.
