Back to Cairo, Egypt
Sister wrote entry...
Back to the airport and to Cairo. We went to the Egyptian Museum which houses a huge collection including most of the items from King Tut’s tomb. No picture taking was allowed in the museum. We saw the classic gold masks, sacrophage where his body was kept and the riches along with it.
We visited the tourist bazaar called Khan El Khalaili. This would have been a good place to buy souvenirs with aggressive salesman who you bargain with.
Next was the Citadel where the Mohammad Ali mosque was built. The Citadel was built to protect the area from invasion by the Crusaders around 969-1171. It was never needed as a fortress.
By the way, gas is $1/gallon here. Inside the Citadel there was the beautiful and ornate Mosque of Mohammad Ali. He was an Albanian soldier who came to Egypt in 1805 and declared himself master of Egypt.
We then went to Old Cairo where the churches were built. This area houses the oldest church and synagogue in Egypt from the 9th century. Only 30-50 Jews currently live in Egypt. The St. Sergues church is supposedly built on a site that Mary and Jesus fled to when escaping the Romans.
Tomorrow we head back to Tel Aviv for the day and then fly home late that night for home.
