REYES+Leslie

`Leslie's Postcard- Cairo, Egypt Cairo, Egypt

Culture of Egypt Egyptian culture has six thousand years of recorded history. Ancient Egypt was among the earliest civilizations and for millennia, Egypt maintained a strikingly complex and stable culture that influenced later cultures of Europe, the Middle East and other African countries. After the Pharaonic era, Egypt itself came under the influence of Hellenism, Christianity, and Islamic culture. Today, many aspects of Egypt's ancient culture exist in interaction with newer elements, including the influence of modern Western culture, itself with roots in ancient Egypt. Egypt's capital city, Cairo, is Africa's largest city and has been renowned for centuries as a center of learning, culture and commerce. Egypt has the highest number of Nobel Laureates in Africa and the Arab World. Some Egyptian born politicians were or are currently at the helm of major international organizations like Boutros Boutros-Ghali of the United Nations and Mohamed ElBaradei of the IAEA. Egypt is a recognized cultural trend-setter of the Arabic-speaking world, and contemporary Arab culture is heavily influenced by Egyptian literature, music, film and television. Egypt gained a regional leadership role during the 1950s and 1960s, which gave a further enduring boost to the standing of Egyptian culture in the Arab world.

Egypt’s Average temperature and Rainfall **


 * Average Temperature in Cairo ||


 * ||  || **Jan ** ||   || **Feb ** ||   || **Mar ** ||   || **Apr ** ||   || **May ** ||   || **Jun ** ||   || **Jul ** ||   || **Aug ** ||   || **Sep ** ||   || **Oct ** ||   || **Nov ** ||   || **Dec ** ||   || **Year ** ||


 * °C ||  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">13.8 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">15.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">17.4 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">21.4 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">24.7 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">27.3 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">27.9 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">27.9 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">26.3 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">23.7 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">19.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">15.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">21.7 ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">°F ||  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">56.8 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">59.4 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">63.3 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">70.5 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">76.5 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">81.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">82.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">82.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">79.3 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">74.7 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">66.4 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">59.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">71.1 ||


 * Average Rainfall in Cairo ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * ||  || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jan ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Feb ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Mar ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Apr ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jun ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jul ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Aug ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sep ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Oct ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Nov ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Dec ** ||   || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Year ** ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">mm ||  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">5.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">3.8 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">3.7 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.5 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.5 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">5.7 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">24.8 ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">inches ||  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.0 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.1 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">0.2 ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.0 ||

Climate
In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, the climate is a [|desert climate] (BWh according to the system), but often with high humidity due to the river valley's effects. Wind storms can be frequent, bringing [|Saharan dust] into the city during the months of March and April. High temperatures in winter range from 13°C to 19°C, while night-time lows drop to below 8°C, often to 5°C. In summer, the highs rarely surpass 40°C, and lows drop to about 20°C. Rainfall is sparse, but sudden showers do cause harsh flooding. In [|New Cairo], the temperatures often drop below zero during winter. New Cairo's weather is generally cooler than that of Cairo due to its higher altitude.

The first national flag of modern Egypt was established by a Royal Decree in 1923 when Egypt gained conditional independence from Great Britain in 1922. The color was green with a white crescent and three stars in the middle. In 1958, a Presidential Decree established a new flag for the United Arab Republic which comprised a merger of Syria and Egypt. The new flag had three colors: red, white with 2 green stars and black. The flag was rectangular in shape and the width was one-third of its length. In 1972, the Law was amended to change the flag. The stars were removed from the flag and replaced by a golden hawk. In 1984, the hawk was replaced by a golden eagle on the eagle of Saladdin, the Ayubbid Sultan who ruled Egypt and Syria in 12th Century, the same Saladdin of the Crusades. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-no-proof: yes; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msonoproof: yes;">
 * The Flag of Egypt **

**<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Currency Tips for Egypt: **<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style','serif'; font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">The Currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (LE - <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> Livre Egyptienne) <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> and it is divided into 100 piaster. In Arabic it is called __Genaeh__. Here you will find 25 and 50 piaster notes and various sized coins down to the 5 piaster. At present $1 dollar is equivalent to 6.2 Egyptian pounds <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">In Egypt, most of the banks are open from Sunday to Thursday; working hours being 0830 to 1400, though banks at the airports and the major entry ports are open 24 hours daily. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">If you at any point during your tour, you run out of money, and your credit cards are not being accepted, you still can get money wired to you from abroad. In Egypt, there are plenty of Western Union branches; it takes just a few minutes to get any sum of money sent you from abroad. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">TIP Don’t change your $, £ or Euro until you arrive in Egypt – the conversion rate is far better here! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Currency conversion: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * **<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">$1 (US) is 5.5 Egyptian pounds **
 * **<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">£1 (UK) is 8.9 Egyptian pounds **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * **<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">1 Euro is 8.10 Egyptian pounds **
 * __<span style="color: #8c5823; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Currency Converter for 164 Currencies __**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Note: **<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Most of the major credit/debit cards, such as American Express, MasterCard, Visa, all Euro cards and JCB, are widely accepted in various hotels and shops. If you want to use an ATM machine, they mostly accept Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus cards. If you can't find an ATM machine in your vicinity, you can still obtain cash if you go to any of the Misr Bank braches. Banks are unwillingly to accept $100 notes issued before 1992. If you wish to convert your currency, you can use $US, £UK or Euros, as they are accepted in many banks and other places. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

**<span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Egypt Tourist Attractions ** a) Khan al-Khalili market: Khan al-Khalili is one of the largest markets in the world which attracts both local's and international tourists. This is a great place to but exotic perfume bottles, Arabic clothing and other souvenirs. b) Egyptian Museum of Antiquities: It have over hundred thousand artifacts in 107 halls. The most popular attraction is the Tutankhamun Gallery. c) Other attractions are Pyramids of Giza (mentioned above) and Old Cairo. Other attractions of Egypt include the White Desert, Hurghada and Felucca on the Nile.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1. PYRAMIDS: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> There are more than 80 pyramids in Egypt which were built mostly between 2600 BC and 1500 BC and all are situated close to the Nile river. After the ruler died (or other prominent royal figures like queens), their bodies were wrapped and preserved as a mummy, and placed in the Pyramid. The most popular pyramids are the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx: An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 workers built the Pyramids at Giza over 80 years. Giza also has the largest pyramid also known as "Great Pyramid" which rises an amazing 481 feet.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">2. CAIRO: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> It is the capital of Egypt. Popular attractions of Cairo include:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">3. ABU SIMBEL: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> It was carved out of sandstone cliffs high above the River Nile. The most famous attraction are the four colossal 20m-high statues of Ramses II guarding the entrance. When the waters of Lake Nasser to rise, UNESCO relocated them to a high ground between 1964 and 1968.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">4.KARNAK TEMPLES: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">It is a huge complex comprising of three main temples and many smaller ones, most famous among them is the Temple of Amun. It is estimated that they were built in a time span of 1300 years.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">5: LUXOR TEMPLE: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The modern town of Luxor is the site of the famous city of Thebes,( or the city of a hundred gates). A row of sphinxes line the entrance to Karnak Temple. The most famous section of these temples is a huge all called the Great Hypostyle Hall.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">6: SIWA OASIS: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> The area is famous for its dates and olives, and is one of the most beautiful landscapes and springs in Egypt. It was the most inaccessible oasis until recently. It lies 60 feed below sea level.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">7: NUBIAN MUSEUM OF ASWAN: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">It is designed to house the fantastic collection items unearthed from the archaeological excavations during the Nubia Campaign.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">8. VALLEY OF THE KINGS: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The Valley of the Kings is located on the West Bank of the River Nile in Thebes. There are 62 tombs in the valley. It has two components - the East Valley and the West Valley. It is the East Valley which most tourists visit and in which most of the tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs can be found.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">9: ALEXANDRIA: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> Best places to see are - Pompey's Pillar,Bibliotheca Alexandria, Alexandria National Museum, King Farouk Palace and the Roman Amphitheater.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">10: SHARM EL SHEIKH: **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Best places to see are - Sinai Mountain, Na'ama Bay,Tiran Island, Terrazzina Beach and White Lagoon.

== <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Religion <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> == <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cairo's unique cityscape with its ancient **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; msoansifontsize: 11.0pt; msoasciifontfamily: Cambria; msoasciithemefont: major-latin; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msobidifontweight: bold; msohansifontfamily: Cambria; msohansithemefont: major-latin;">[|mosques] .** Cairo is known as the "city of a thousand minarets" <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country with **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Islam] ** as its state religion. Between 80% and 90% are identified as Muslim. Almost the entire population of Muslims are **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Sunni] **. A significant number of Muslim Egyptians also follow native **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Sufi] <span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|orders] **, and there is a minority of **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Shi'a] .** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is a large minority of **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Christians] ** in Egypt, who make up the remainder of the population (between 10% and 20%). 90% of Egyptian Christians belong to the native <span style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|**Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria**]. Other native Egyptian Christians are adherents of the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Coptic Catholic Church] **, the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Evangelical Church of Egypt] ** and various other **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Protestant] ** denominations. Non-native **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Christian] ** communities are largely found in the urban regions of **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Cairo] ** and **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Alexandria] .** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is also a small, but nonetheless historically significant, non-immigrant **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Bahá'í] ** population of around 2000, and an even smaller community of Jews of about 200, then a tiny number of Egyptians who identify as **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|atheist] ** and **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|agnostic] **. The non-Sunni, non-Coptic communities range in size from several hundreds to a few thousand. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Millions of Egyptians follow the Christian faith as members of the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria] .** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">According to the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|constitution of Egypt] **, any new legislation must at least implicitly agree with <span style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|**Islamic law**] ; however, the constitution bans political parties with a religious agenda. Egypt hosts two major religious institutions**. <span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Al-Azhar University] **, founded in 970 **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|A.D] ** by the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Fatimids] ** as the first Islamic University in Egypt and the main Egyptian Church the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria] ** established in the middle of the 1st century by **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Saint Mark] .** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Religion plays a central role in most Egyptians' lives, The **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Adhan] ** (Islamic call to prayer) that is heard five times a day has the informal effect of regulating the pace of everything from business to media and entertainment. Cairo is famous for its numerous **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|mosque] <span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|minarets] ** and is justifiably dubbed "the city of 1,000 minarets", with a significant number of **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|church towers] .** This religious landscape has been marred by a history of religious extremism, recently witnessing a 2006 judgement of Egypt's **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Supreme Administrative Court] ,** which made a clear legal distinction between "recognized religions" (i.e., Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) and all other religious beliefs. This ruling effectively delegitimizes and forbids practice of all but the three **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Abrahamic religions] **. This judgment had made it necessary for non-Abrahamic religious communities to either commit perjury or be denied Egyptian identification cards (see **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Egyptian identification card controversy] )**, until a 2008 Cairo court case ruled that unrecognized religious minorities may obtain birth certificates and identification documents, so long as they omit their religion on court documents. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In 2002, under the **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Mubarak] ** government, Coptic **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Christmas] ** (January the 7th) was recognized as an official holiday, though **<span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[|Copts] ** complain of being minimally represented in law enforcement, state security and public office, and of being discriminated against in the workforce on the basis of their religion. The Coptic community, as well as several human rights activists and intellectuals, maintain that the number of Christians occupying government posts is not proportional to the number of Copts in Egypt.