0:00:00.000,0:00:03.404
Cairo is a fascinating clash[br]between traditional and modern,

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religious and secular,[br]East and West.

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While its chaos[br]can be exasperating,

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it can also be[br]a rewarding challenge

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for the adventurous traveler.

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♪♪

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Cairo's downtown is modern

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[ Horns blaring ][br]and can feel European.

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Streets, squares,[br]and grand buildings

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are reminders of the[br]country's colonial past

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from the 19th[br]and early 20th centuries.

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The riverfront throbs[br]with energy --

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stately bridges busy[br]with traffic,

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fancy riverside restaurants,

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and towering[br]apartment complexes.

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The Nile is still[br]the lifeblood of the city,

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sprawling endlessly[br]on both sides.

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The heart of Cairo[br]is Tahrir Square.

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It's long been ground zero[br]for the people's spirit.

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If there's a demonstration[br]going on --

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and there have been massive[br]ones in recent years --

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it's likely here.

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In addition[br]to its political energy,

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the city's long been[br]a religious capital.

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♪♪

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Ever since the forces of Islam[br]swept across North Africa

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from Arabia,[br]in the 7th century,

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spreading the teachings[br]of their Prophet Muhammad,

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Cairo has been a leading[br]city of the Muslim world.

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♪♪

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And, today, Cairo's known

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as the City[br]of a Thousand Minarets.

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Stepping into Al-Hussein Mosque,[br]like any neighborhood mosque,

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you'll find[br]a worshipful tranquility.

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It's believed that resting here[br]invigorates the soul.

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There's more intensity[br]around the adjacent shrine,

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believed to contain[br]a sacred relic --

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the head of Al-Husayn ibn Ali,

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a grandson[br]of the prophet Muhammad.

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In a mosque, men and women[br]worship separately.

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As praying can be physical,[br]with lots of bending over,

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it's considered more respectful[br]to allow women their own space.

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I find that a respectful tourist

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is welcome to be[br]a part of the scene.