Cairo
2025
Cairo is Egypt’s sprawling capital, part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world. Its magnitude is reflected in its congested and chaotic traffic, where rules are frequently ignored and one must master a general sense of survival to navigate through it. Located strategically along the Nile River, Cairo served as a settlement and focal point for various ancient and historical civilizations for centuries, and has become a longstanding center of political and cultural life. Cairo is known as "the city of a thousand minarets" for its predominant Islamic culture and architecture. No matter which direction you look, you can always spot a mosque on the horizon. The city vibrates five times a day to electrically amplified adhans, the Islamic calls to prayer, through outdoor loudspeakers mounted on each minaret. Its iconic landmarks like the monumental Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world's largest archaeological museum, coupled with its bustling Khan el-Khalili bazaar and the streets of Historic Cairo, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, altogether create a captivating experience for visitors. Cairo is a city I will hardly forget, for every unbelievable situation I witnessed, every new sound that wove its way into my ears, and every new flavor that flooded my mouth.