Cairo Features

Hello Cairo! Following the Easter and Sham El Nessim holidays, this week was always going to be a bit of a struggle. But in true Cairo fashion, the city has come back with a bang, providing the perfect holiday hangover cure. Thursday kicks off with a bang at Cairo Jazz Club, where psychedelic rock group, the Invisible Hands, perform, while more live music comes courtesy of Sarah Essam who will perform at Jazz Mate in Zamalek. Elsewhere, Eslam El Sha'ary brings central Asia to Cairo with a performance of traditional 'eshq' chants at Sufi and El Dammah Theatre welcomes folk group, El Tanboura. Cairo's bars are going all out this weekend, and tonight, Alchemy launches the debut edition of Margarita Fiesta. Meanwhile, DJ Feedo is back at Otium for R&B Night and DJ Migo is at O Bar for another edition of House Arrest, while Roof Bar welcomes DJ Simon for a night of fist-pumping house music. In Maadi, St John's Church launches the 2013 Caravan Festival. Aiming to bridge the Muslim and Copt communities in Egypt, the festival has some weird and wonderful surprises in store. Tonight also sees a number of new exhibitions open to Cairo's art lovers, including Doa Aly's 'Desire, Deceit & Difficult Deliveries' at Townhouse Gallery. Friday starts early – at 6AM to be precise – with the biggest event of the weekend, Cairo's Half Marathon, which will be invading the streets of Heliopolis. Elsewhere, the Four Seasons Nile Plaza's Graffiti gears up for another Rock 'n' Roll Brunch, while perennial open-mic event, Mashrou3 Al Mareekh returns to Darb 1718. The day's live music highlight comes at El Sawy Culturewheel, where Cairokee strut their stuff. Meanwhile, DJ Feedo makes a second appearance this weekend at O Bar for another R&B Night, while Amici Heliopolis does its best impression of a Beirut nightclub with Lebanese Friday Nights. It's a busy day for Graffiti, too; after the brunch-mess is cleaned up, the eclectic nightclub has only a few hours to prepare for the musical stylings of DJ Roro. Speaking of which, Cairo Jazz Club boasts an impressive line-up, as Cairo's premier female DJ, Mayounah, joins cheeky DJ duo, Misty and Hafez for a night of big bass and heavy beats. Never one to be left out of the fun, Tamarai hosts 'all-white' party, Fallen Angels, while 100Copies Music Space hosts performances by electronic band, Cellar Door, and solo artist, Gast. Amici Heliopolis will help you ease into Saturday with another Breakfast (And Booze), before transforming into a Grecian paradise for Greek Night. Elsewhere on Cairo's non-stop nightlife scene, Deals 2 welcomes one and all for Karaoke Night and DJs, Onsy and Nataly, provide the entertainment at Graffiti, while Cairo Jazz Club serves up a night of live music, with local bands, Uss w Laz2, City Band and Malaleem, all performing. The Caravan Festival continues at St John's Church with a screening of Egyptian film, 'Winter of Discontent' and an appearance from star actor, Amr Waked. There are more exhibition openings tonight, with Al Masar Gallery opening its doors for Ahmed Farid's 'Urban Diversity' and Riham El Sadany's 'Blue Passion' debuting at Cala Art Gallery. That's not the only new art in Cairo; this last week has seen several noteworthy exhibitions launching, including Shaimaa Sobhy's 'Hybrid' at Gallery Misr and Hala Elkoussy's 'Journey Around My Living Room' at Mashrabia Gallery. This is just a sneak-peek of the events that wait you – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more. Have a great weekend!

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Hello Cairo! As we move into the long, glorious Easter/Sham El Nessim weekend, those of us left in Cairo may be dreading the inevitable beach-withdrawal symptoms. Fear not, though; the city hasn't slowed down – not even a little bit. Thursday sees Bikya make a welcome return to the events calendar; the Maadi branch of the popular bookshop welcomes music lovers for Acoustic Night, featuring the considerable talents of Kamal Tabikha and Ryan Klawitte, as well as Wild Card. Meanwhile, Cairo's authority on urban music, DJ Feedo, is at Otium in Zamalek for R&B Night, DJ Junior returns to Y Lounge on the Giza Corniche, while DJ Wahba and DJ Amr Mohey are this week's guest at O Bar's House Arrest. There's more live music with El Sawy Culturewheel hosting the third edition of Walls of Death – a veritable carnival of live metal rock. Elsewhere, Ahmed Harfoush performs live at Saigon Restaurant & Lounge at the Fairmont Nile City, jazz legend, Yehia Khalil, is at Cairo Opera House and the feisty Maii Waleed opens at El Genaina Theatre for Jordanian band, Akher Zapheer. Start your Friday with a feast at Graffiti, as the Four Seasons Nile Plaza's newest addition hosts another Rock 'n' Roll Brunch, before DJ Roro  and a special tabla performance provide the evening's entertainment. At Cairo Jazz Club, DJ Madlou and DJ Amr Hosny spin back-to-back, Otium gears up for Epic White Sensation, while DJ Feedo and DJ Hook team-up for R&B Night at O Bar. Elsewhere, DJs Honda, Samio and Momo are the guests for Y Lounge's Deep & Progressive House Night, Heliopolis club, Roof Bar, welcomes back DJ Zizo. Away from the nightlife scene, Balcon Lounge is screening 'Django Unchained' and El Sakia Puppet Theatre performs at El Sawy Culturewheel. Saturday afternoon begins in Zamelek, where Nūn Center opens its doors for another Farmers Market.  The luxury of the Easter holidays means you should definitely go mental at Almaz's Sizzling Saturdays, Lebanese Love at Bamboo or Karaoke Night at Deals 2. Amici Zamalek offers a more laidback evening with Wine & Fondue Night, while its Heliopolis counterpart hosts another end-of-week Greek Night. Though many of your friends and colleagues may have deserted you, this weekend is your chance to really enjoy the city – it's easy. Have a great weekend!

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Not only is this weekend the excuse we've been waiting for to divulge in hundreds of Easter eggs, but it's Sham El Nessim and the perfect excuse for a break! Whether you're planning on travelling further afield, or staying in the city, hotels and resorts all over the country are competing for the tourism by offering special rates and packages. We've compiled a list of hotels and their rates, but with so many beautiful destinations around Egypt, the tricky part will be down to you – deciding on which one to go for.   Cairo For the majority of the time, we're usually too busy running around like headless chickens to appreciate Cairo and all it has to offer. Shut yourself off from the world with a city escape in one of the many luxurious hotels in town. Known for its wonderful Nile views, Sofitel El Gezirah are offering the third night free if you book just two, at $199 for a double room this includes breakfast and taxes. Sleep well in the knowledge that retail therapy at Citystars shopping mall is literally a corridor away from the Intercontinental Citystars Hotel, where they're offering rooms from $220 a night. The Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers is offering two nights, breakfast and a complimentary Easter brunch for two persons at 2400LE. Children between 6 and 12 years go for free when sharing their parent's room, and even get a 50% discount on their meals. They're even throwing in free parking – what a bargain! A double room at the Kempinski Nile will set you back 762LE per person, but you will be upgraded to a suite, get breakfast and Easter brunch, and be granted free use of their lavish spa facilities including a 30-minute massage. One night in a superior room at the esteemed Four Seasons First Residence, for two including brunch, is 1650LE. Ain Sokhna: Of course, only an hour's drive from the busy streets is the Red Sea and, more specifically, Ain Sokhna. Unfortunately many hotels in this area sell out well before the holidays; however, most hotels will offer day use of their beach and pool facilities although we'd always recommend calling in advance. Hurghada: Flying from Cairo to Hurghada takes just over an hour and offers both beach and city breaks, and is a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world. The pristine Hurggada Marriott Beach Resort sports its own private beach and has rooms available from 890LE. Around 25km from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Hurghada, the Jaz Bluemarine hotel are offering rooms from 1548LE, all inclusive. Right in the centre of Hurghada, you can bag rooms at the Pyramisa Blue Lagoon Resort from 449LE per night.  El Gouna: Just outside of Hurghada sits the beautiful, quaint town of El Gouna. Because of El Gouna's popularity, many of the hotels are either fully booked or more expensive than usual – but we know what they say – you get what you pay for. Bookings at their newest six star boutique hotel, La Maison Bleue, are only available through direct contact with the hotel and is likely to be more than fairly pricey. A twin room at Mövenpick Resort can be booked for around 2500LE, whilst rooms at the Sheraton Miramar are now priced at over 5000LE for two people. Captain's Inn offer somewhat of a relief with rooms costing between 230LE per night and 800LE during peak times. Because these are media rates, make sure you quote the words 'Facebook' or 'Twitter' when you book. Soma Bay: Just 45km south of Hurghada, dubbed as 'Egypt's best kept secret' is Soma Bay – the perfect location for total relaxation. If you're lucky enough to either be an Egyptian, or a foreign resident, the Kempinski is offering double lagoon view rooms for 700LE per person, per night, including a breakfast and dinner buffet. There'll also be Easter day entertainment in the form of face-painting, egg hunts and acrobatics – not just for the kids! The sumptuous La Residence des Cascades isoffering rooms for between $80 and $130 on a bed and breakfast basis, whilst the Sheraton are advertising rooms from 1150LE per night, including breakfast. Sharm El Sheikh: Drawing in the younger generations, Sharm El Sheikh is just an hour away from Cairo (by plane) and offers up a multitude of activities, suitable for whatever kind of holiday you're looking for. Novotel has a limited number of rooms from 1000LE per night, Hilton Sharks Bay has rooms from 685LE, whilst the Radisson Blu has a few from 500LE. Siitting in an estate of landscaped gardens, the Maritim Royal Peninsula Hotel and Resort seems cheap at a little, at just above 400LE per person. Dahab: The traveller in us often urges us towards the serene settings of Dahab. If you're looking for luxury, Le Meridien can deliver a single room for 970LE and a double for 1110LE. If you're looking for cosy, then just 200 metres from the beach, the Yasmina Hotel has rooms upwards of 120LE, whilst backpacker's paradise, Bishbishi Garden Village, can sort you out with a standard room for just €5 a night.  North Coast: If you're heading up towards the white beaches of the North Coast and want to stay close to the hustle and bustle of Marina, we'd recommend the forever popular Porto Marina, with rooms starting at the 500LE mark. Meanwhile, Golf Porto Marina apartments start at 367LE, based on four people sharing, per night. In a tranquil and picturesque setting a little further up the coast, Jaz Almaza Beach Resort can accommodate beach-goers for around 540LE a night. Luxor & Aswan: Drifting off along the Nile is a daydream at the best of times, however, if you happen to be visiting two of the most historically fascinating areas of Egypt, a nice hotel is likely to be essential.  In Aswan, Basma Hotel isoffering rates of $80 per night, whilst fail-safe rooms at the Mövenpick start at $130 per night. A single room at the Pyramisa Isis Island Resort & Spa is 475LE, whilst a double is 550LE, although these prices aren't guaranteed for foreigners. In Luxor, we'd suggest the Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor or the Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Hotel, starting at 500LE a night. As expected, the renowned Hilton exceeds 1000LE per night but would no doubt be worth the money. Whether you're bound to some last minute booking or already packed in preparation, we urge everyone to stay safe in their travels – and enjoy lots of fun in the sun!

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When we speak of sights in Cairo, our minds rarely move past the antiquities of Ancient Egypt. Though war has played a huge part in Egypt's modern history, many fail to remember that Word War II touched the lives of many Egyptians. The war lasted for six merciless years – from 1939 to 1945 – in which time, millions of lives were lost. In 1940, the Western Desert Campaign begun and the fighting spread to North Africa when Italy, and eventually Germany, invaded Egypt, battling against British and Commonwealth forces and attempting to take control of the Suez Canal. During this battle, thousands of men lost their lives on both sides; countless brothers, fathers, uncles and sons fought to the death in northern and western areas of Egypt. Heliopolis War Cemetery was opened in October 1941 and sits unobtrusively on the quiet Nabil El Wakkard Street. It is one of many war cemeteries across the world commissioned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which was set up in 1917 with the duty of commemorating fallen soldiers of war. In 23,000 locations, across 153 countries, the commission follows the same set of principles for all of their memorials; each of the 1,140,000 headstones (to date) that they are responsible for are engraved with both the soldier's name and regiment, and are permanent and uniform, so no distinction is made on account of a person's army rank – reiterating that all soldiers should be respected equally. Each life lost is precious. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also maintains a deep respect for fallen soldiers' religion. Many graves display the Christian cross, as do some the Star of David. Muslim soldiers are buried together, in the rear left side of the cemetery, in the direction of Mecca. Although not attached to the commission themselves, the commitment, care and dedication of the workers at the Heliopolis cemetery is evident for all to see. Designed by British architect, J. Hubert Worthington, the entrance is adorned with deep pink flowers, draping over the top of an impressive gateway with two pavilions on either side.  The vast lawns at the front and back are well-kept and vibrant, whilst beautiful coloured flowers line the rows of gravestones. Immediately after entering, a large statue displays the words 'their name liveth forever more', adding to the eerie calm inside; the distant sounds of traffic and daily goings-on feel miles away, as you wonder slowly along each row of headstones. Amongst many other nationalities, of the 1,830 graves in Heliopolis' cemetery, 1,092 belong to British soldiers, 226 are South Africans and 138 are New Zealanders. Each headstone is indeed uniform, engraved with not only the fallen soldier's name, their regiment's badge and their age of death, but quite often their job title and a testimonial from their family. The youngest we saw was P.J.McGrath from the Royal West Kent Regiment, aged just 19. One of the eldest was H.A.Thompson; an air gunner from the Green Howards Regiment, aged 37 years. Mr Thompson's wife requested that 'in loving memory of my husband Harry' be engraved on the stone, whilst the mother of 23 year old T.R.Wood wrote 'I have been waiting for you, and now you are waiting for me'. Even those with no known resting place are remembered. The two impressive pavilions at the entrance of the cemetery house the Port Tewfik memorial, paying homage to nearly 4,000 men who died fighting alongside the Indian army during the First World War in Egypt and Palestine. The original memorial was moved after being destroyed in the Israeli-Egyptian combat of the 1970's.  The stone bench areas around the graveyard are not only for sitting and reflecting, but the one at the rear of the burial ground represents the Aden Memorial which was destroyed in 1967. Gravestones have been erected at the rear right side of the cemetery, remembering the bravery of more than 600 Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives in the defence of Aden during the First World War.  Heliopolis War Cemetery is a beautiful, peaceful resting place for hundreds who tragically lost their lives. Here we have another overlooked monument to Egypt's significance in the wider context of world history; one that is as important as any sarcophagus. Entry is free, although it is only open to the public from 7.30AM to 2.30PM. More information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the work they do can be found at www.cwgc.org.

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Hello Cairo! It's that time of the week again, the one we know you all wait for anxiously, excitedly, eyes all googly with the anticipation of many delights; yup, it is indeed what your deeper being most desires, the reason your heart beats and your soul shines, ladies and gentleman, it's time for the Cairo 360 Weekend Guide! Thursday begins with a bang, as the Plaza Easter Bazar launches for two days of shopping, food and entertainment at Americana Plaza in Sheikh Zayed. But that's not all; tonight, Y Lounge, Yasso or whatever you want to call it, is celebrating its triumphant second anniversary. 'The Alignment', as it has so dramatically been labelled, welcomes DJ duo, Misty and Hafez, as well as DJs, Baher and Ashiba, for a huge night of birthday celebrations. Elsewhere in Cairo's eclectic nightlife scene, Otium welcomes the one and only DJ Feedo for R&B Night and DJ Simon does some roof-raising at Roof Bar, while byGanz warm up for the summer with another edition of Toyboys & Friends at the Clubhouse in Mokattam. Live music is rife, starting at Cairo Jazz Club, where the Karim Hossam Group and Massar Egbari perfrom live. Meanwhile, Algerian Afro-jazz practitioner, Karim Ziad, is joined by the Rami Attalah for a double-header of live music at El Genaina Theatre. D-CAF contributes to the night's live music as the festival hosts a huge night of hip-hop. Local shaabi favourite, Sadat Rap, opens proceedings at Sherazade, before Lebanese rappers, El Rass+MUNMA, take to the stage. Speaking of D-CAF, SMSlingshot continues throughout the weekend till Saturday, bringing art and technology to the streets of Downtown Cairo. Friday sees Tamarai welcome DJ John Jacobsen for Back to Basics and Lebanese Friday Nights returns to Amici Heliopolis, while Otium host DJ Bobo and dancer, Oxana, for a red-hot Ice Party. Elsewhere, DJ Mohasseb brings his unique brand of progressive house to Cairo Jazz Club and the Cadillacs are live at Jazz Mate, while DJ Feedo makes another appearance at another R&B Night – this time at O Bar.  In one of the most interesting events of the weekend, Balcon Lounge in Heliopolis hosts Underground Business; an evening of alternative music courtesy of electronic musicians, Dijit and Go! Save the Hostages!, as well as rappers, Abyusif and Bambam. It's not all clubs and bars, though. The Heliopolis branch of Diwan is hosting a Science Festival for kids and puppetry takes centre stage in 'The Living Newspaper' at Artellewa, while the Ladies Health Alliance will be at Gezira Sporting Club for Train the Cure, offering free consultations and raising awareness of women's health. Meanwhile, 100Copies Music Space invites all to 'The City the Ghost'; a sound instillation that runs throughout the week. Saturday sees another unique event, courtesy of D-CAF, as Goethe Institute launches PreFORMANCE; an online resource that brings art and the digital world together. In Dokki, Alchemy hosts another charity fundraiser, this time for Seket El Salama; an initiative that was created in reaction to the tragic rail accident of last November. Over at Amici Zamalek, lovers of fine-dining can enjoy Wine & Fondue Night, while the Heliopolis branch hosts another edition of Greek Night.  Local music steps into the spotlight at Cairo Jazz Club with rockers, Transistor, and local favourites, Salalem, performing live. Darb 1718 celebrates and promotes community ties with 'Egypt Brings Us Together' – a day of workshops, live music and more – while Beit El Raseef ends a busy week with a performance by Massar Egbari. New art continues to emerge throughout Cairo's galleries, with new openings including Ahmed Khaled's video instillation, 'Kalamonology'. at Ofok Gallery, 'Nostalgia' by Samir Foua at Picasso Art Gallery and 'Om Kalthoum' by local art legend, Georges Bahgoury. This is just a small sample of the weekend; check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more live music, more club nights, more exhibitions and just plain more. Have a great weekend!

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