|
Sunday, Day 1: New York to Cairo
Monday, Day 2: Cairo
Cairo has long been the hub not only for Egypt but also for the whole world. It seems never to lose its sense of history—only to add it to it—and still boasts 12th-century fortifications alongside modern opera houses and shopping malls. Camels and street bazaars add texture to this center for government and education.
Arrival and casual dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday, Day 3: Cairo
Program briefing: Discuss the political and cultural diversity of Egypt and receive further information on the delegation
Professional Overview: Status and delivery of family medicine in Egypt
Professional program focusing on:
- Medical education in Egypt
Guest program:
Guests will experience Egypt’s long and rich history during a visit to the city of Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara. At Sakkara, you will see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first freestanding stone structure in the world. Your Egyptologist guide will show you some tombs belonging to the nobles of the past. The tombs’ walls display the beauty and excellence of ancient Egyptian art, as well as providing insight into the daily life of the time. At Memphis, you will see the capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. The place is thickly surrounded by lush palm groves and bushes, isolating the site of the old city from modern civilization.
Wednesday, Day 4: Cairo
Professional program focusing on:
- Medical practice in Egypt
Guest program:
This morning explore some of Cairo’s most noteworthy places of worship. The Church of St. Sergius represents the early Coptic style and is reportedly built on the site where Mary, Joseph, and the infant Christ rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. You will also see the Church of St. Barbara, dedicated to an 11th-century Egyptian martyr, and the Synagogue of Ben Ezra, which houses the “Geniza Documents,” an unparalleled source of information about life of the Jews in Egypt’s past.
This afternoon delegates and guests will have an unforgettable visit to the
Great Pyramids of Giza. The only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, they rank among the world’s greatest tourist attractions and never lose their ability to inspire visitors. Enter the temple of the mysterious
Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend and mystery. Your Egyptologist will enthrall you with the tales told of this fascinating figure.
Please Note: The terrain in this area is sandy and rocky. There is a security area prior to getting up to the pyramids themselves, and you have to walk up a sandy, rocky hillside.
Thursday, Day 5: Cairo to Alexandria
Depart this morning for the drive along the desert highway to Alexandria, the ancient queen of the Mediterranean. The city betrays the influence of Greece and Rome, and continues to keep Egypt in the center of European trade. The breathtaking new library honors Alexandria’s early role as a beacon of education.
Afternoon Professional program focusing on:
Guest program:
After lunch guests will explore the Alexandria Library and Museum. The Bibliotheca Alexandria is not only a library, but also an integrated cultural complex, with libraries, museums, exhibition areas, educational centers, and an international conference center. It is built on the site where Ptolemy I is believed to have founded the old Library of Alexandra, the largest of all antiquity.
Friday, Day 6: Alexandria
Delegates and guests will explore the incredible sites including the second-century
Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa, the largest Roman burial site discovered in Egypt to date; the
Roman Amphitheater, discovered only quite recently; and the
Alexandria National Museum, housing a collection of thousands of items spanning from the Pharaonic Era through Greco-Roman times.
Saturday, Day 7: Alexandria to Cairo
Professional program focusing on:
- Impact of culture and history on medical practice in Egypt
Guest program:
After breakfast guests will visit the Montazah Gardens to explore the palace gardens and stop at the 15th-century Qait Bay Fortress, which overlooks the entrance to the Eastern Harbor of the Mediterranean.
Delegates and guests will return to Cairo this afternoon and check back into your hotel in Cairo. This evening enjoy a visit to
Khan el-Khalili Market. Goods from all over the world are for sale in this marketplace that is touted as the largest in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. Wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets to explore workshops, stalls, and sellers of many items. Bargaining is a must!
Sunday Day 8: Cairo
Professional program focusing on:
- Impact of infectious diseases on health in Egypt
Guest program:
Today guests will explore Islamic Cairo with a visit to an ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched on a hill above the city, originally built by Salah El-Din in 1176 to fortify the city against the crusaders. Today the citadel is a complex of four mosques and four museums, including the graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque, which became the site of the great Ottoman ruler’s tomb.
This afternoon, delegates and guests will enjoy a tour of the
Egyptian National Museum, an extraordinary treasure-house of ancient Egyptian monuments.
Share your memories and experiences with fellow delegates at your farewell banquet.
Monday, Day 9: Depart for New York
|