The 2009 Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in Cairo, Egypt begin this week!
A group of us, who plan to blog during the entire event, arrived yesterday evening. For those travelling to Cairo, remember to bring a pen in your hand luggage (for paperwork in the airport) and remember that the Imagine Cup travel team is on-site at the airport to help you through the arrival processes.
The trip from the Cairo Airport to Citystars is about 20-30 minutes depending on the traffic. The Intercontinental Hotel at Citystars and site of the Worldwide Finals is simply breathtaking. You are definitely in for a treat. Pack a bathing suit, sunhat and sunscreen. Today it was breezy and simply beautiful poolside. I can’t promise you a ton of time lounging but when you do have a minute – it’s a great way to unwind and reflect on this experience in Cairo.
The Citystars shopping complex (attached to the hotels) opens at 10am and inside there is (among a hundred other things) a Starbucks Coffee Company (great all of the caffeine junkies attending from the Redmond campus), a large “everything you need store” called Spinneys and simply floors and floors of shops, movie theaters, restaurants, cafes, souvenirs and… great people watching.
It is very warm here – but a tip just for women that are packing now for the trip to Cairo: you will definitely want to bring a light scarf or shawl to wear around your arms. Sleeveless shirts are not common here and having something for the cooler evenings is a good idea. Both of the sites for the Opening Ceremony at the Citadel and the World Festival at the Pyramids can be breezy in the evening.
Travel safe Finalists and all those attending the events of the Worldwide Finals!
We look so forward to welcoming you to Cairo, to CityStars and the start of the 2009 Worldwide Finals.
Toddy Dyer
