Oh, Khan el Khalili... Amazing shopping, obviously. Whether you are looking for high-end leather goods, or a simple bag of karkadai, you'll find it here. Knock-offs, rip-offs and one-of-a-kinds, Khan el Khalili is well worth the trip. Even if you just go for some sheesha (sp?), or a sammy, you have to go. We picked up some great presents here and also some gorgeous things for ourselves- I have a silver bracelet from there of which I am especially fond. We also picked up a case of severe contact dermatitis and permanent scars from some Henna we had done by a lovely older woman at Fishawy's Coffee House- buyer beware! Luckily we have a sense of humor, but had it not been the end of our trip, it could have really effed things up for us. Also, there's the scarring... but just another memory of Egypt, right?! Go to Khan el Khalili, shop, smoke, eat, drink tea and Turkish coffee and watch some other jerk get a henna tattoo!

I went to the Naghuib Mahfouz cafe last summer (2008) and had a wonderful lunch. The service was impeccable and afterwards, I was literally taken to the Bedouin Shop which I had been advised was the best place for authentic artifacts. I had asked the owners of the cafe where it was. If you want a little bit of pampering come here. Mahfouz has written wonderful books and if you are staying in Cairo for a while you should read a few to get you in the mood and to help you understand a bit more of the old Cairo. The owner of the Bedouin Shop is a wonderful man - he refashions some artifacts into unique and gorgeous pieces like chandeliers, lamps, etc. Very fairly priced too. Buy yourself and some girlfriends some metal earrings adorned with glass "gems." I can't recommend both of these places enough.

Khan el-Khalili market gets a bad rap for being too "touristy", but it's easy to wander off the main streets and suddenly find yourself in a true cultural experience. Just down the street from the vendors selling cheap trinkets of King Tut are vendors that sell to Egyptians rather than tourists, and you can find anything from cheap jewelry to tradition foods. Small shops selling boiling tea to Egyptian men in traditional garb showcase intense games of backgammon, and children dart in and out of stores laughing and chasing one another. Try not to get too off the beaten path however- the market is HUGE and easy to get lost in!

The Khan el Khalili market area is one place which is not to be missed when you are in Cairo!!! It is a huge market area with shops selling all kinds of souvenirs, artistic stuff, sheeshas, handicrafts, etc. It also has a lot of restaurants and some of them serve some great delicacies like stuffed pigeon, etc. which are worth trying out. Try not to get ripped off in most of these shops since a lot of stuff is just fake and not worth even half the price you pay. Many things are also not even made in Egypt so if you are looking for some authentic stuff then search for the right shops to buy from.

Khan El Khalili is definitely not to be missed when someone in Cairo. You can wonder for hours around in the narrow streets of this huge market, you will feel like going back in time! You can buy here jewelleries, traditional clothes, or just enjoy the smeels, the colours and the sounds of this incredible place, and once you get tired you can get in one of the coffees to have a shisha and a tea, or get in one of the many restaurants to try some of the typical middle east foods.