On my recent trip to Egypt, I had the opportunity to explore the history and culture of Pharaonic Egypt at several of the country’s incredible attractions, such as the pyramids at the royal necropolis at Dahshur, the new Grand Egyptian Museum Conservation Center and the many temples in Luxor. On my last day, I had the pleasure of getting to know modern day Egypt while also learning about its Islamic history at Khan el-Khalili, the country’s most famous and colorful market. Built in the 14^th century, the market is open from early morning to sundown, featuring an expansive array of street vendors selling crafts, jewelry, clothing, spices and food, and a number of cafes. In addition to providing a thriving center of commerce, where shoppers have haggled over prices with merchants since the Middle Ages, the market offers a chance for visitors to learn about Islamic Cairo, with the two great mosques of Saiyidna Hussein and Al-Azhar located nearby. My group spent several hours in the afternoon wandering the market’s labyrinth of vibrant walkways and passages. We were able to witness day-to-day Egyptian life and feel the exciting buzz of the city while shopping for beautiful copper souvenirs, colorful rugs and soft scarves. We marveled at its incredibly high concentration of examples of Islamic architecture, including the two mosques, as well as beautiful building facades. As it is currently Ramadan, the market was fairly calm when we visited in the afternoon, with many Egyptians at home resting rather than out in the streets. The experience was one of my favorite excursions, and I highly recommend taking the time to explore Khan el-Khalili to anyone visiting Cairo. — Monique Barrett, eFlyer editor/associate editor