Diary of Paul Dilaveri a Tourist who came to Egypt in 1942,

How he was comparing Cairo to London and New York, stating that it was cleaner and more beautiful!

Dream Vacation

I have glimpses of this Cairo in the fifties. This is the Cairo I learned to love. Not the shambles it later became. As you can see, I am not of the nostalgic type...

So I've been thinking a lot about travel lately looking for the luxurious ease of fantasy travel. I've decided that what I'd really like to do for the coming vacation is go to Cairo. In 1942. Oh, sure the war would be on, but by midsummer it was clear enough the Germans wouldn't get much further in than they had, and besides, we know how it turns out and could just enjoy the energy of so many soldiers at liberty...

Cairo train

 Having sailed into Alexandria, we'd take the train south. Couldn't be simpler, and Cairo Central Station is very convenient.

 Since it's 1942, we'd have to stay down town to be in the middle of everything, and besides, the traffic's not so bad and Cairo is, after all, known as one of the tidiest cities in the world - some people say it puts New York or London to shame...

Cairo street

 And staying down town means staying at Shepherd’s Hotel. Oh, it may not be quite as first-rate as it was in the 20s, but where else can you be really sure of knowing just what's going on?

shepheard's façade

 Because the terrace, you see, is the city's great

place to see and be seen. Ambassadors, actresses, the occasional refugee princess or suspicious plotter - all loiter for hours in the comfortable wicker armchairs overlooking the busy street and the passing parade of ladies shopping, Packard’s swinging down toward Suleiman Pasha Square, or groups of children, tidy in their school uniforms, on their way to play in the nearby Ezbekia Gardens.

Cairo shepheard's terrace

Tiring of the bustling city, we could retire to the secluded garden behind the hotel...

Shepheards garden

...or rest in the cavernous neo-pharaonic lobby.

shepheards lobby

 As evening falls, we would of course repair to the bar, where American, British, Italian, and Greek bartenders each have their specialties and their own devoted followings.

shepheards bar

 And then, to finish off a long day of travel, perhaps a quick turn on the garden dance floor before some well-deserved sleep. Tomorrow, we have so much to do, and that nice attaché on the train said he might be able to get us places for the concert gala at the Opera House; they say the Queen of Iran might be there, and...

shepheards dance