Minarets of Cairo, Egypt
مئذنة
Atop the minarets of Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad, Cairo, Egypt — March 12, 1998
One of my favorite activities in Cairo was minaret climbing. Baksheesh of a few Egyptian pounds would satisfy the gatekeeper whom no sooner would lead the way up an ancient circular staircase inside the minaret. In older mosques, the stairs were worn down from centuries of imam walking up and down for the faithful call to prayer. On top of the minarets, the view of Cairo was always incredible; gone were the hectic noisy streets replaced by romantic and alluring scenes of this mother of all cities. I can’t wait to go back.