Day 11: Cancelled Tour of City of Dead, Lunch at Al Azhar Park, Visited Star Mall and Overnight Train to Luxor
Late start, Friday prayers. Went to the City of the Dead, but were turned away by guards who said it was unwise to have tourists in there because some had been harrassed. Not sure what the story is but the City of the Dead is the home of the poorest of the poor. The Kufka tradition of building house-like tombs with rooms has resulted in the homeless moving into them.
We went briefly back to Khan to get Edward Junior to put a hanging loop on the double ducks pendant. Bought a pretty scarf on the way in. Edward Junior couldn't get the necklace to balance out with adding the ducks to the scarab and cat I usually wear. So he added spacers and took off the end to thread the duck directly on the leather thong, still not right so we added a little ankh to balance the cat. And then he gave me the extra pieces as a gift!
Return to Edward Juniors Silver Jewelery Shop to get extra pieces for my necklace.
Silver Necklace with added spacers and Ankh
Then we went to the new Al-Azhar Park where they discovered part of Saladin's wall buried under the rubble. Also we saw the Roman aquaduct that is being restored.
Saladin's Medieval Wall - Excavated When Park was Landscaped
We had a late lunch on the lawn and made our way to the train to Luxor.
Lunch on the Lawn at Al Azhar Park
View from the Al Azhar Park to the Citadel
We stopped by Star Mall and took a look at this latest addition to the shopping scene in Cairo. Very modern, could have been anywhere in the world. Eman and I had coffee and desert while Hossam took a look inside one of the stores.
Al-Azhar Park video (5MB)
Caught the train to Luxor. I love riding on the Wagon Lit overnight trains in Egypt. I am not sure why, I just do, so I always request them when I arrange a tour.
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