Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, القاهرة" - Al Qahira” Egypt

By Reham Rassmy

Cairo is the capital of Egypt, and one of the most beautiful cities in the Middle East which is famous for its unique history.

"Jewel of the East", as it is sometimes called, had been established by the Fatimid Commander “Jawhar the Sicilian” on year 969 AD.
When you visit Cairo, especially the Islamic places such as Khan El-Khalili, Al-Hussien, Al-Azhar, you feel like you are living in the old centuries and by the way, our famous late author (Nobel Prize Winner in Literature) Mr. Naguib Mahfouz, used to write his novels while enjoying his stay at Al-Fishawy coffee in Khan El Khalili.
Cairo and Giza are Known as Great Cairo, so when you are in Cairo you can visit the Egyptian Museum (known also as Cairo Museum), Old Islamic & Coptic Cairo, Khan-Khalili, a Nile Cruise at the sunset time, Pharaonic  Village, Azhar park, Whirling Dervishes shows in Saqiet El-Sawy, Cairo Opera House, many great Malls such as Citystars mall in Heliopolis, Tahrir Square off course where the Egyptian Revolution against the former president has occurred in 2011, Media production city in 6th of October, and much more..... are some of the places that are worth a visit when you are in Cairo, to name a few

In Giza you can visit: Great Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur if you have time , Don’t miss going there, it is worth visiting by all means.

A lot of Egyptians enjoy their weekends and vacations in the open air, they love having small boats at the Nile (felouka), enjoying traditional culture in Saqiet El Sawy, and many of them like going to malls where the most and various brands are exists.

Cairo has an extensive road network, rail system, subway system and maritime services.
Road transport is facilitated by personal vehicles, taxi cabs, privately owned public buses and Cairo microbuses. Cairo, specifically Ramses Square, is the centre of almost the entire Egyptian transportation network.
The best time to enjoy Cairo in a good weather is during October to April, so If you are travelling in Summer so Loose and light cotton clothing is absolutely essential. For women it is strongly advisable to dress conservative specially when visiting churches and mosques women should not wear shorts, mini-skirts or tank tops.
Bring shirts that cover your shoulders or T-shirts are fine, cover your legs with long, cotton skirts or jeans. If you follow this formula, it indicates a respect for the culture.

When you are hungry, you have various of traditional and tasty Egyptian fast food that is being served everywhere you go, such as Koshary (rice, lentils, caramelized onions, garlic and chickpeas, pasta and tomato sauce), fava beans (ful medames) and falafel, these are the most famous traditional food that you will find wherever you go. In addition to global restaurant companies, which offer their services everywhere.

Egyptian people are very friendly, helpful, and have a great sense of humor. Most of those people have graduated from universities and many of them speak good English and can communicate with you well if you need some help.
 If you want to visit a country that mixes traditions and modernity, I recommend for you my beloved Egypt, I am sure that this visit will remain in you mind for a very long time.
At the end, we have a famous saying that whoever drinks from the Nile he must get back again.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius

by Aurelija Brazenaite

Vilnius is the biggest city and the capital of Lithuania. Vilnius is located in the Southeast of Lithuania and even two beautiful rivers flow through it. Vilnius is one of the greenest capitals in Europe. More than 40 % of territory is covered with green trees and plants. Vilnius has five Tourism Information Centers. Go there and get your free maps and the best advices.

There are many interesting and attractive sightseeings that must be seen and many activities that you should try. From the Gediminas Castle hill you can admire green and historical Vilnius panorama or an amazing sunset, which all colors in red. If you really enjoy watching town’s panorama, you also should go to the Hill of Three Crosses.

The Old Town with small streets is worthy for tourists attention as well. There are several museums like Museum of Genocide Victims and the Cathedral in the heart of Vilnius. Vilnius is very rich with many churches of different styles and epochs. The most famous is gothic Ona Church. Once you are in Lithuania, do not miss your chance to visit very cozy artists’ district called Uzupis.
Nature lovers will be amazed by beautiful and very green Verkiai and Pavilniai National Parks. Also, there are other beautiful parks such as Sereikiskiai and Vingio.
Couples, singles or families can rent bikes, canoes. Also, you can take long promenades in the most beautiful parks or have some extreme sports like climbing trees.

Vilnius is full of restaurants, cafes and night clubs. If you are searching for places where to eat or have
fun, you will find it without any efforts. You should be aware that only 18 years old or in some places only 21 years old can enter a night club. Do not forget that most of night clubs are opened on weekends.
Lithuanians are friendly, but at first sight it may look contrary, because not everybody likes to speak with strangers, especially in other language. Mostly older people do not know English, but they know Russian language very well. You should ask younger people for advices or other help.

Try to avoid visiting sleeping dorms, dark places and market zones, where you can be robbed and cheated. Also, if possible never allow yourself to be provoked by drunken clubbers. You should know that prostitution is illegal in Lithuania, so be very careful with some women.
Most of Lithuanians are Christians and they do not have any special customs. They celebrate all National and Christian holidays. It is very common to say hello by shaking hands between men. Women kiss each other into cheeks only if they are very good friends.


People living in Vilnius often go to eat in local restaurants or cafes. Most of restaurants bring outdoor furniture for warm seasons. You can sit outside and watch passers-by and admire the town. You should try a cold soup called Saltibarsciai. It is made of kefir, eggs, cucumber, beetroots and onions. It is the best dish for the hot day. Also, do not forget to eat Cepelinai, which main ingredients are potatoes and
minced meat.

Lithuania is very famous for its tasty beer. Try our local live dark or light beer.
If you are a fan of fast food, you can go to McDonald's or Hesburger. Mostly Lithuanians do not eat fast food very often. They prefer cooking at home.

Vilnius has very good public transport infrastructure. Students, young persons and retirees prefer going by bus or by trolley. Working people usually go to work by car. You should be aware that you can stick in traffic after working hours.
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