Klaus, Dilene, Linda, and I decided to spend an afternoon on Zamalek, one of two islands in the middle of the Nile. It's a beautiful area of Cairo. One of the few really lush, green spaces. The north side of the island contains yuppy neighborhoods with good shopping, hotels, and galleries. The south side contains a number of clubs and Cairo's major art compound (which boasts the opera house and several art museums). The subway comes up right under the Opera House, so this is where we begin our tour.

The modern art museum, which is right next door to the Opera House. Sadly, it is currently under renovation. (Note the Cairo Tower in the background.)

The marble-floored courtyard of the Opera House.

Looking into the courtyard from outside.

A statue in a courtyard of the Opera House.

Yet another pretty view of the Opera House.

The gate leading out of the art complex. Straight ahead is a bridge that cross the Nile and leads into Tahrir Square (the heart of downtown Cairo).

The top of the Cairo Tower.

The bottom of the Cairo Tower.

The view to the south-east. We will now begin a counter-clockwise tour of the view from atop the Cairo Tower.

The mountains east of Cairo. In the distance you can vaguely make out the Citadel.

The restaurant we ate in on our second night in Cairo.

Looking due East across the Nile. The bridge in the right corner of the picture is the one that connects the heart of downtown (Tahrir Square) with the art complex on Zamalek.

The 6th of October Bridge, one of several bridges that crosses the Nile from Zamalek into downtown (all of which are named after famous battle dates). The tall brown building across the river is the Ramses Hilton. The show-boats on this side of the river hold about 2-3 restaurants each. Zamalek has about 5 river-boat restaurant complexes along its eastern shore.

Close-up of the 6th October Bridge.

Looking north. Most of the island is covered by the Gezira Club, one of the wealthiest of Cairo's many private clubs. As you can see from all the green below, the club has pretty expansive grounds. These include fields, spaces for riding horses, tennis courts, pools, etc.

More of the Gezira club and the west coast of Zamalek (across the river is Giza).

Looking west towards Giza. You can't see it here because it's so smoggy, but we could vaguely make out the shapes of the Pyramids in the distance.

The south tip of the island.

A close-up of the art complex that contains the Opera House. Straight ahead is the Modern Art Museum. To the right is the Opera House.

Two more buildings in the art complex. The gate on the left side is the big entrance into the complex. Further to the left of that gate is the bridge that crosses the Nile into downtown Cairo.

The south tip of Zamalek. (Notice the Opera House in the bottom right corner.)

Looking down at the southeast tip of the island. So green! (And so hazy!)