LIVE like a king

Party the night away at the regal Mohamed Ali Palace in Shubra. The palace boasts a beautiful view of a lake and a fountain that, when lit at night, creates an ambiance straight out of the Arabian Nights. Majestic architecture, breathtaking views and enchanting lighting all make for a truly magical experience.

Perfect for a wedding engagement or private party, the gorgeous, recently renovated palace can be yours for LE 40,000 (per 250 people or LE 50,000 for 500). If it’s an outdoor event you want to host, renting the pretty terrace will set you back LE 15,000 per 250 guests or LE 25,000 for 500 invitees.

Mohamed Ali Palace Shubra Tel: 447-3371 / 735-7001

Nestled behind the Zabaleen village, the Moqattam grottos’ natural beauty has been turned into a spiritual wonder for Zabaleen’s Coptic residents. Multiple caves have been converted into worship houses, and the largest, the Church of St. Simon the Tanner (Deir Samaan Kharraz), is more of a limestone stadium than a chapel. Paired with the splendid carved biblical scenes in the surrounding rock faces, the church grounds’ rugged aesthetics are a miracle in themselves. Look out for the signs for the church on the Autostrad heading toward Moqattam, and preferably take a guide if this is your first visit.

Deir Samaan Kharraz Open seven days a week Tel: 2 341-4180 / 2 341-5070 No entrance fee, donations welcomed

Branded as an upscale sushi chain, Makani in Maadi is designed more for a relaxing lunch than an elaborate dinner, offering a wide variety of delicious sandwiches served on soft, hot bread. The chicken curry is messy but outstanding and the blueberry cheesecake exceeds expectations.

Although near the bustling MGM, Makani’s atmosphere is tranquil, almost oasis-like. Gently whirling fans and a canopy of umbrellas above padded bench-style outdoor seating enclosed by a bamboo wall make it feel more like a private patio rather than a restaurant. Whether you’re catching up with a close pal, lounging with a book or people watching (you can peek out through the palm branches and spy on the busy world), Makani Maadi is perfect for taking refuge, refueling and relaxing.

Makani Maadi Rd. 250, opposite Maadi Grand Mall Maadi Open 7am to 3am Tel: (018) 100-0188 Other locations in Mohandiseen, Heliopolis, Sharm El-Sheikh (Hadabah and Naama Bay) and Marina

Can’t make it to the North Coast for seafood just yet? Pay a visit to Bab El-Louq to pick up the day’s catch and a few extras. This market is well hidden in Downtown, with unassuming entrances on Falaki Street, Midan Falaki and Mansour Street. The inside is much larger than it looks – with a tall warehouse ceiling sheltering vegetable stands, butcher stalls and even the occasional dry goods kiosk.

The fish market, by one of the Mansour Street doors, is equally unassuming. The aisle is abuzz with white-booted workers unloading plastic trays of ice-packed fish. Lest you think that’s all there is, the seafood is moved in to brightly lit refrigeration rooms for display.

According to Mahmoud Abdel Rahman, owner of the fish market at Bab El-Louq, seafood arrives fresh from the Red and Mediterranean seas throughout the day. If you get there early enough, you’re likely to rub elbows with chefs from the capital’s five-star hotels such as the Marriott and the Four Seasons Hotel at the First Residence, among others. Be warned, though: Your family might think you went to El-Sahel without them.

Souq Bab El-Louq Downtown Tel: 794-1378 Open 8am to 6pm

Based at the foot of the Moqattam hills, in the City of the Dead, the Souq El-Gomaa (Friday Markets) feature an eclectic mix of vendors selling everything from piles of well-sorted garbage all the way through to endangered animals, military surplus and antique collectibles. There are true treasures to be discovered here: 100-year-old Egyptian newspapers, Soviet Union memorabilia and, rumor has it, monkeys — real, live, yours-for-the-right-price primates.

If you want to really turn the weirdness up a notch, try and find the dog mating market — a surreal parade of men and their leashed, ready-to-reproduce dogs walking around a circular track to the admiration of fellow canine enthusiasts, many with nervous-looking female dogs by their sides.

This is an early morning affair, with crowds developing by 8am and the action peaking well before midday. Get there early and hunt hard for that special something.

Souq El-Gomaa Alongside the Autostrad, close to the Citadel First-time visitors and women advised to take a local friend or guide

Nothing says summer like the rush of cruising over the waves at high speeds. It is guaranteed to raise both adrenaline and jealous looks from all those water-bound suckers paddling away in the shallows. Whether you’re in Sharm, Dahab, Hurghada or the North Coast, you won’t have to look far down the beach to find a jet ski rental. There’s even a place in Cairo! (Own Club For Water Sports, Abou El Feda St., Zamalek Tel: +2 (02) 735-7863). Rates start at LE 60 but vary according to time usage and bargaining skills. Check out these favorites:

75 Water Sports Club San Giovanni Green Resort Matrouh-Alex Desert Rd. Marsa Matrouh Tel: (+046) 426-0050/0060 Dahab Center for Water Sports Iberotel Dahabeya Laguna Dahab. Tel: (+069) 364-1559 Marine Water Sports El-Mamsha El-Siahy st. El-Hadaba Hurghada Tel: (010) 149-9914 / (010)169-4425 Red Sea Association for Diving and Water Sports El-Sheraton Rd. Hurghada. Tel: (+065) 344-4802

What better way to take advantage of the still-beautiful temperate June weather than by having a barbecue with friends or family. If you don’t have your own backyard or private garden space, then we have just the spot for you. Wadi Degla, the only natural wildlife reservation in Egypt, is located just outside of Maadi. There is no entrance fee but you will be required to leave some form of identification and it is preferred that you take a four-by-four vehicle.

You’ll need to drive all the way past the wall of Wadi Degla Sports Club to get there. Easiest access is via the Autostrad or Ring Road, and the Club is just 2 kilometres from Maadi City Center, home to Carrefour. Enjoy the scenery, eat and have fun — and if you’re lucky, you may even see a gazelle. Keep in mind that this is a protected area, so leave it as clean as you found it — or cleaner. Closes at sundown.

Wadi Degla Close to City Center / Carrefour Zahraa El-Maadi

Are you and your partner sick of the same old expensive cafe followed by soppy movie routine that has become your standard Friday night? How long has it been since you last donned a suit and tie or put on an evening dress and went to a see a ballet, choral performance, dance show or a philharmonic orchestra? The Cairo Opera House in Zamalek is the perfect place for a classic evening out — one you can savor.

Do the whole night in style. Dress your best, get picked up in a limousine and cruise around the Zamalek Corniche while you work up an appetite. Try dinner at Justine, the beautiful French restaurant at Four Corners in Zamalek. Follow it up with a classical performance at the Opera House. After the show, go for a chocolate fondue at Chocofolie. What happens next is nobody’s business but your own.

Rawas Limousine Rental Tel: 735-0144 Justine 4 Hassan Sabri St. (Four Corners) Zamalek Tel: 2735-7510 Cairo Opera House Zamalek Tel: 739-0144 / 7390132 For reservations call 739-0114 Chocofolie 33 Amman St. Dokki Tel: 761 3389

Being trained in basic self-defense can make the difference between ending up a victim or a victor. For women, understanding how to defend yourself means you no longer need to see yourself as the weaker sex.

Self-defense isn’t just about having buffed-up muscles — it is more about understanding how to use the assets that you have to your advantage. A few moves can make all the difference and give you time to disarm (or preferably disable) an assailant.

The Culture Wheel offers womens-only classes on Sundays from 5pm to 6pm and on Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Go to www.culturalwheel.com to fill in an online form and become a member.

Culture Wheel 26th of July Street Zamalek Tel: 736-6178

Like most ugly things, the tourist carnival surrounding the Pyramids is much more tolerable in low lighting. So instead of a daytime camel ride, consider renting a horse for a relaxing night time jaunt around the Giza plateau.

Avoid the harassment and heat, shun the crowds and take in the magnitude of the ancient wonders in the shimmering moonlight. Stables offer a range of mounts, and prices vary wildly according to the quality of animal — and, not surprisingly, the nationality of its rider.

Prices can be anywhere from LE 20 for a hardened Cairene hustler to LE 500 for a fresh-from-the-airport sucker. Avoid encouraging animal cruelty — look for well-treated horses when choosing a stable, and shun those who treat these beautiful animals like 20-year-old Fiat taxis. Try S.H. Stables at Abu El-Hol (The Sphinx).

S.H. Stables Gamal Abd El-Nasser St. Tel: 384-2073 / (010) 494-9778

School may be out, but you can still combine fun and learning (and quality alone-time for Mom and Dad) by sending your kids — no matter what their age — to the sessions organized by Cairo American College this summer. The CAC will be running two programs, the Summer Enrichment Program and the Day Camp, from mid-June to mid-July. With programs for ages 4 through 17, they offer something for everyone.

The Summer Enrichment Program runs a la carte, with a variety of classes, giving you the flexibility to take just one class a day or attend a whole day’s program. The Day Camp caters to ages 6-11 and follows a more structured program. Prices range from $65-$315, and registration is already underway. Details at www.cacegypt.com.

Cairo American College 1 Midan Degla Corner of Rd. 213 and Rd. 253 Maadi Tel: 755-5555 et et