WEBVTT

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Cairo is a fascinating clash
between traditional and modern,

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religious and secular,
East and West.

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While its chaos
can be exasperating,

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it can also be
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 ]
and can feel European.

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Streets, squares,
and grand buildings

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are reminders of the
country's colonial past

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from the 19th
and early 20th centuries.

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The riverfront throbs
with energy --

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stately bridges busy
with traffic,

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fancy riverside restaurants,

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and towering
apartment complexes.

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The Nile is still
the lifeblood of the city,

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sprawling endlessly
on both sides.

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The heart of Cairo
is Tahrir Square.

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

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If there's a demonstration
going on --

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and there have been massive
ones in recent years --

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it's likely here.

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In addition
to its political energy,

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the city's long been
a religious capital.

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♪♪

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Ever since the forces of Islam
swept across North Africa

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from Arabia,
in the 7th century,

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spreading the teachings
of their Prophet Muhammad,

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Cairo has been a leading
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
of a Thousand Minarets.

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Stepping into Al-Hussein Mosque,
like any neighborhood mosque,

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you'll find
a worshipful tranquility.

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It's believed that resting here
invigorates the soul.

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There's more intensity
around the adjacent shrine,

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believed to contain
a sacred relic --

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the head of Al-Husayn ibn Ali,

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a grandson
of the prophet Muhammad.

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In a mosque, men and women
worship separately.

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As praying can be physical,
with lots of bending over,

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

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I find that a respectful tourist

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is welcome to be
a part of the scene.