Mena House Hotel - Cairo
From Exotic Egypt in Giza, Egypt on Aug 22 '07
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We're back in Cairo and this time we're staying at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel. I feel compelled to dedicate an entire entry to this hotel as stauing here is like living a bit of history itself.
The hotel was originally a royal lodge built for Egypt's Vice King Kedive Ismail and used when he and friends were hunting in the desert or visiting the pyramids. Rooms was added to Mena House in 1869 for the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal as Kedive wanted Empress Eugenie to see the pyramids and then from a proper place. When the palace later came on private hands, it was given the name Mena House after Pharaoh Mena, the first ruler of a united Egypt.
The hotel was originally a royal lodge built for Egypt's Vice King Kedive Ismail and used when he and friends were hunting in the desert or visiting the pyramids.
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From the first private owner the ownership of Mena House palace went to Locke-Kings from England who decided to turn Mena House into a truly luxury hotel. Mashrabia work (traditional wood work) was added, medieval brass-embossed and carved wood doors and a large dining room designed as the interior of a mosque.
Today, under the management of Oberoi Hotels the Mena House continues its strong reputation as a true luxury hotel where royals as stars of the silver screen, truly can feel at home. We especially felt at home because the hotel also has one of Cairo's best Indian restaurants - the Moghul Room and this is where we had dinner every night during our stay. The restaurant has live music and they gave us mogra garlands as we arrived into the hotel. A bit too melodramatic i thought but then again I knew this was more for the benefit of the american and european tourists who wanted to experience "India" in Egypt.
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Mena House is also known in history as the location where important meetings were concluded leading up to the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
As expected, Missy's favourite section of the hotel was the Oasis which houses the pool and the wellness centre. We both took long swims in the water - in the shadow of the pyramids and relaxed on lounge chairs enjoying ice cream.
I'll be writing more about the Pyramids of course but wanted to make a special mention of this hotel and staying here truly enriched our holiday experience.
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