I went on a Walkabout with another teacher from the school. We decided not to use GPS, but rather our general sense of location. Took the metro downtown and then headed east to Ibn Tulun Mosque (my favorite to visit!). Then a walk down a couple streets to the massive Sultan Hussan (not sure of spelling) Mosque and School. Arrived during a ceremony or celebration at the mosque for someone who has a tomb (though not buried within) inside the mosque. The school side was massive as well and in session. After a quick koshari and we were off to the southern gates of the Khan (market place). The walk through the street was a sight in itself. Then my colleague wanted to visit the glass blowers located within the City of the Dead (the Islamic cemetery in which people live and run businesses.) A little walking and some asking and then we had to pull out the cell phone for a Google search. Flagged a taxi, called the place, handed the phone over to the driver and 20 minutes later we were in the City of the Dead watching a guy blow glass. Anything really is possible around here. Some shopping there and we were headed home.
between two walls of Ibn Tulun
Hallway of lines and arches
Hallyway
Citadel from courtyard of Ibn Tulun
Hallway in Ibn
Citadel
towers and minarets
inside
inside
The green area is where the tomb is
Tomb of Shah of Iran
window
decoration
Heading to class
Inside the school
Citadel through Sultan Hussam
market street
mint
garlic
meat
Southern Gate: Bab Zwela
overlooking another part of the City of the Dead
glass blowing
glass blowing
Garlic carts and boys posing
The next day, several of us hired a driver to take us the "Friday Market". We anticipated a very crowded marketplace. One which we have seen from the distance, but never within. What it turned out to be was a massive market place of used/broken goods/parts ... again next to and within the City of the Dead. After the market, we went up to the ridge (Mokotom) to view the city and were able to see the pyramids: Giza and Saqqara. A rare site! To close out this day of wandering, we went to lunch inside Al Azar Park, the largest greenest place in Cairo.
How's this sofa?
heading down the tracks to find a street ...
tossing computer boards ... everything is organized
incredible quantity of stuff
Amy heading back to see a door
lights
All the stuff is separated and organized into "types"
shopping
sewing machines
Inside City of the Dead, those are family plots on either side of the road
Selfie time!
View of Cairo from Mokotom, Giza pyramids in center. Sorry, didn't have good camera.
View of Citadel overlooking Al Azar Park from restaurant in Al Azar.
The final outing of the weekend was last night. I went down to the Khan with a friend for a quick wander. We went into the spice market and a couple of shops. Then crossed under the main street and headed into Al Azar Mosque, the academic center. Behind and around the corner was a terrific plaza or piazza where many people were smoking Sheesha, drinking tea, and snacking. We sit and enjoy a bit of tea and fateer/fatire.
Inside Al Azar Mosque/School
Inside Al Azar Mosque/School
The plaza
