AL-AZHAR MOSQUE
There were four of us in town next morning. Abby and Stu wanted to ride camels at the Pyramids. Joanne and I decided on something less exciting and visited the Al-azhar mosque and the Khan-el-Khalili. The mosque is about 1000 years old and has some interesting architecture. The inner courtyard area is white marble. This is a fully functioning mosque and there were a few gatherings in the mosque while we visited. We had a "guide" who barely spoke English show us around. Here are a few pictures of the mosque.
With Joanne at the Al-Azhar Mosque
(Above Left) With Joanne at Fishawi's in the Khan-el-Khalili. Fishawi's is an old coffee house and well known landmark in Cairo. Its been in the same family for about 250 years. The shop has huge, ornate mirrors. The picture above is a bit blurred because the camera flash did not go off. The coffee is strong, and you can sit here and watch the world go by! Hawkers selling wallets, hair clips, and other items wander by. There was a guy who really really wanted to clean my shoes. I refused at first. But each time he came by, Joanne would remind me how I wasnt contributing to the local economy! So I finally broke down and allowed the guy to take my shoes away to be cleaned. I then realised that I hadnt asked him "how much?". I asked a local guy sitting across from us how much he had paid to have his shoes cleaned. He said LE1. But that was an "Egyptian" price, and as a foreigner, it would probably cost me LE5. When the guy brought my shoes back, I gave him LE1, fully expecting an argument. But he seemed satisfied. Only after he walked away did I grasp what had happened. My features and complexion allow me to pass as a "local". The shoe cleaner was deaf and mute, and therefore could not really tell me apart from the locals!
That night, Abby, Stu, Joanne and myself went to dinner to a Thai Restaurant, a short walk from the hotel. We even crossed a main road to get here!! The food was good and we had a good time. Abby and Stu would leave for the airport at about 1:30 am that night.