Egypt -- 2011 (Part I of II)

This is from the first full day in Egypt. If my memory is correct, we started this day by going to the Egyptian Museum, which is very close to Tahrir Square, where they were having almost-daily demonstrations (whiich seemed to be "scheudled" (so we did the museum in early morning). Unfortunately, they do not allow cameras in the museum.

Also, could not even BUY photos (e.g., picture postcards) at the musuem gift shop. The shop had been looted (and, I suspect, partly burned) during demonstrations several months earlier -- and had not reopened). Thus, no photos of that portion of the trip. (There were a few other areas where photos were notallowed).

We went to the Mosque of Mohammed Al after the Egypian Museumi. He was the head of a dynasty that ruled Egypt starting around the early 1800s, I believe. He was an Albanian, who went to occupy Egypt as a commander of Ottoman Empire military forces after the French (Napoleon) withdrew (Napoleon had controlled Egypt for only a few years). Ali apparently somehow seized control and became (in effect) independent of the Ottoman Empire (but my understanding of details is pretty fuzzy). I think he was (in effect) governor for life during his lifetime. His descendants remained in control of the country for several generations. I believe King Farouk, deposed around 1952, so his regime (or that of his descendants) at some point became a monarchy.