We have been incredibly lucky to have the resources of AUC to help us get to know our new home. The Faculty Services Committee here arranges the newcomer orientation program and MANY tours and trips around Cairo and Egypt. The Arabic Language Institute (ALI) also arranges tours and trips – however these are primarily for the ALI students, and only secondarily for the “rest of us”.
There is an Arabic Art professor in the ALI who also guides tours on the weekends. She is INCREDIBLE. She is a walking encyclopedia of Egyptian history and Arabic art. We try to sign up for any and all of her tours.
She led a tour to the Citadel of Salah al Din (Saladin). We had been postponing a trip to the Citadel after reading descriptions in Lonely Planet and Rough Guide.
(LP) “Though this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cairo (particularly for Egyptians), it is relatively unimpressive and decidedly overpriced.”
The Citadel is a military fortress and royal city all in one. It has been attacked, partially destroyed, burned, etc. a number of times. After our trip, I believe that one of the reasons that it receives such a poor writeup in the guidebooks is the nearly complete lack of anything that resembles information on the site. Even with a good guidebook, there are a lot of buildings, gates, museums that are completely unmarked. My favorite was the former prison with the mannequin diorama of a prisoner being flogged – lifelike right to the armpit hair!
I really enjoyed the Citadel, but it was due to the vast knowledge of our outstanding guide.
Just a few pictures. Great architecture.