20th Anniversary Dream Trip Contest

Great Travel Moment

The balcony of the Muhammad Ali mosque in Cairo was the highest point in the city, and once there, you felt like you could breathe real air for the first time. Unlike the rest of Cairo, the place was quiet and serene, and the essence of religion and faith emanated from every brick. I walked over to the edge, and watched as the sun began to set over the polluted city. What did this city look like thousands of years ago when the empire existed? As I pondered this question, I saw what looked like tiny pinpricks in the distance. Squinting my eyes, I realized I was looking at the ancient pyramids of Giza. It looked like a painting. Not even the smog or the many buildings could hide them.