The curtains in our room are light blocking, so when I awoke, it was in complete darkness. Heading to the bathroom, I glanced at my phone and saw that it was 3PM … what?!?
After showering, I peeked through the curtains to confirm it was bright afternoon sunshine outside. Making sufficient noise that stirred Gypsy awake, we made a plan to find food within an hour.
After showering, I peeked through the curtains to confirm it was bright afternoon sunshine outside. Making sufficient noise that stirred Gypsy awake, we made a plan to find food within an hour.
Inquiring at the front desk, we were given directions to the 139 Restaurant for a bite to eat. It was now 4PM. After stepping outdoors, I quickly realized how similar temperatures were to back home and returned to our room for a lightweight coat. On the way to the restaurant, we stopped to photograph the Great Pyramid (left) just beyond the hotel. Unbelievable ... it looked like a painted scrim from a movie set! | |
Sufficiently warm, we sat at a table on the restaurant's patio. Nearby others from our group, two of whom we met on the shuttle to the hotel last night. Thinking we would eat dinner later in the evening, I ordered a tasty chicken and mushroom soup, while Gypsy ordered Frakh Sharkaseya (chicken gently simmered in a walnut sauce and served on a bed of rice). Peckish, we also order a selection of mezzah that included baba ghannouj, hummus, tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves and other savories along with freshly made naan. During our meal we learned there were both Indian and Italian restaurants on the Mena House grounds. Hm-m-m, maybe Indian tomorrow night?
After thoroughly satiating ourselves, we wandered the grounds and explored an older building of Mena House.
After thoroughly satiating ourselves, we wandered the grounds and explored an older building of Mena House.
HISTORY OF MENA HOUSE
In the late 19th-century, Cairo was a playground of Europe. The property known as the Mena House was originally built, in 1869, as a hunting lodge for the Egyptian Khedive Isma’il Pasha. For political reasons, the property was sold to Frederick and Jessie Head as their private residence (1883). Two years later it was sold again. This time to an English couple who began construction on a hotel that opened it to the public (1886) as The Mena House — named after the founding father of the first Egyptian dynasty, Mena or King Menes.
By 1890, the hotel boasted Egypt’s first swimming pool and announced that it would remain open year round. During WWI, the hotel was requisitioned by Australian troops and occupied again by Australians in 1939. Towards the end of the war, it was converted to a hospital for wounded Australian troops.
In November 1943, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and General Chiang Kai-Shek met at Mena House held the Big Three conference and announced the independence of the Korean Peninsula.
In December 1977, the Mena House was where Egyptian and Israeli leaders, along with representatives from the US and UN) sat down together in a quest for a peace settlement. The result of the Mena House Conference led to the Camp David Agreement, which restored Egypt’s sovereignty over the Sinai peninsula.
Throughout the years many famous people have stayed at Mena House.
By 1890, the hotel boasted Egypt’s first swimming pool and announced that it would remain open year round. During WWI, the hotel was requisitioned by Australian troops and occupied again by Australians in 1939. Towards the end of the war, it was converted to a hospital for wounded Australian troops.
In November 1943, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and General Chiang Kai-Shek met at Mena House held the Big Three conference and announced the independence of the Korean Peninsula.
In December 1977, the Mena House was where Egyptian and Israeli leaders, along with representatives from the US and UN) sat down together in a quest for a peace settlement. The result of the Mena House Conference led to the Camp David Agreement, which restored Egypt’s sovereignty over the Sinai peninsula.
Throughout the years many famous people have stayed at Mena House.
Back in our room, we talked over hot cups of tea, and read before turning off the lights.