Miro from Cairo

Since the Fast of the Apostles started this month, we gathered for a family dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - Andrea Mariouteya. Located in New Giza, it is worth the 1-hour drive from Heliopolis!

We started with some refreshing drinks like mint lemonade and local beer and appetisers like cheese sambousek, chicken livers, stuffed vine leaves, and yogurt and cucumber salad. Then we ordered their signature roast chicken served with homemade French fries.

Although it was a hot afternoon, there was a lovely breeze and lots of shade from the trees and umbrellas. Massive respect to the hardworking men and women behind our delicious meal.

If you are visiting the Giza Pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum, or on your way back from the North Coast, this would be a great option for lunch or dinner. There are no reservations and it is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

سؤال بقى هو دة اندريا المريوطية بتاع زمان و لا فرع جديد؟ 🤔

Our next stop in the historic Cairene neighborhood of Khalifa is Al Rifai Mosque.

Located right next door to the Sultan Hassan Mosque and inspired by Mamluk architecture, it was actually built quite recently during the Ottoman dynasty.

It was commissioned by Khedive Ismail in 1869 AD and his mother Hoshiyar spared no expense. Marble from Italy, wood from Lebanon, and gold from Turkey.

The complex has a shrine dedicated to a holy man called Ali Abu Sheibak who was buried in this location in 700 AD. He is descended from the Sufi Imam Ahmed Al Rifai (1119-1182 AD) who still has loyal followers to this day.

It is also the resting place of the Egyptian royal family such as Khedive Ismail and his mother, King Fouad, and King Farouk and his sisters and wives. The last Shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, was also buried there in 1980 AD.

Fun fact: the entire ceiling and several wall motifs are covered in GOLD LEAF!

Another fun fact: Hoshiyar's tomb is larger than her son's the Khedive!!

Yesterday I visited Sultan Hassan, one of Egypt’s largest and most beautiful mosques.

Located in the Qalaa Square in historical Cairo, it was commissioned by Sultan Hassan ibn al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun during the Bahri Mamluk dynasty and it opened to the public in 1363 AD.

It is a complex that includes a mosque and mausoleum. It used to have a "sabeel," which was a free water fountain for the public, four "madrasas" or schools of thought representing the four branches of Sunni Islam, and student lodgings.

It is worth noting that due to an unfortunate accident where one of the minarets fell during construction and killed 300 students, the complex was unfinished.

Sultan Hassan disappeared after the accident and it is rumoured that he was assassinated by the grieving families and was actually not buried in his mausoleum - or anywhere else for that matter!