A huge square right in the heart of Cairo: it is difficult to visit the Egyptian capital and escape the often congested Tahrir Square. It is here where most of the capital's traffic passes each day, and it is also here where the National Museum, most famous for Tutankhamen's mask and Ancient Egyptian mummies, is located. But now there is another reason added to the list: Tahrir Square is where the Egyptian Revolution took place.
For 18 days -- or as long as it took the Egyptians to oust Hosni Mubarak, one of the Middle East's longest serving dictators -- Tahrir Square was the focal point where protestors chanted anti-government slogans, camped for a two-week long sit-in, and were attacked by pro-government thugs mounted on horse- and camel-backs. It is here where Egyptians paid in blood for freedom and democracy, and it is also here where they excelled in expressing their opinion using different forms and tools; from rhymed statements on placards and eye-catching graffiti to standup comedies and street shows.
Today, the die-hard demonstrators as well as the performing artists have left; nonetheless, the square still warrants a visit. Not for any physical monument to behold (though talks of a memorial for the revolution martyrs has been heard, nothing concrete yet), but rather for the symbolic status is represents. And if you are still hot on the graffiti, a Facebook group by the name Revolution Graffiti did an awesome job on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/GraffitiEgypt) documenting the revolution's art before it was cleaned away.
The Egyptian Revolution revolved, at least physically, around Tahrir Square. And it comes as no surprise that the National Museum, courtesy of its location and importance, is the country's most impacted tourist site. Reported mobbed, at least once during the events, the museum was temporarily off-limits. Fortunately enough, though, most of the stolen exhibits have now been recovered and the museum has reopened. Elsewhere in the country, sites have resumed working normally except for a handful, namely: Bait al Kritliya/Gayer-Anderson Museum and the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, as well as the Roman Museum and Mahmoud Said Museum in Alexandria. When contacted in late March 2011, none advised on a solid reopening date.
Nightlife, at least in Cairo, couldn't escape the revolution's aftershocks. At the time of penning down this update, a midnight to 6am curfew is still in place, and though the curfew is loosely implemented, at least when it comes to cars and pedestrians, all restaurants, bars, and clubs put up the shutters by 11pm. A late drink in your hotel's lobby bar seems like the only option left.
Want to know how much the city you're visiting has been impacted? As a rule of thumb, the impact of the revolution on the different Egyptian cities is directly proportional to the demonstrations and its intensity. Cairo and Alexandria, where most demonstrations took place, ranks first, while Luxor and Aswan come far second. Other than the curfew, no repercussions are tangible in Upper Egypt's tourism hotspots.
Heading to Sharm El Sheikh and other resort cities along the Red Sea Coast, it is the same old fun-in-sun except for the near-empty beaches. Indeed tourism in Egypt has taken a plunge; however, one man's hell is another man's heaven. Local tour operators Travco, Thomas Cook, and American Express have some of the best deals on offer, especially for the upcoming Easter vacation.
Mohamed el Hebeishy is the author of Frommer's Egypt.
