Social Events
ICIP 2009 Welcome Reception at The Citadel
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Dress: Smart Casual
Buses will leave from the conference hotels only (see the conference website for the listing of hotels buses will pick up at). Please be at the hotel and ready to leave at 6:00 PM (18:00) and return at approximately 11:00 PM (23:00). If you are not staying at one of the conference hotels, you must proceed to one of the conference hotels and board the bus in order to attend the reception.
Please note that due to our special access to The Citadel and the security for the site, you must be on one of the conference buses to and from the reception. Arrivals or departures via private transportation or taxis will not be possible.
Information about The Citadel
A major landmark, the Citadel near Islamic Cairo was home to Egypt's rulers for 700 years. With great city views - and breeze - the huge fortress contains mosques, palaces and museums including the white marble Mohammed Ali Mosque. This landmark was initially used for its views of the city, and was only fortified between 1176 and 1183 AD by Saladin to protect it from the Crusaders.
Due to its strategic position, over the years the Citadel has been partly destroyed and modified by almost every invader. However, much of what is left today reflects the influence of the Ottoman empire, who controlled Egypt between 1517 and the early 20th century.
The Ottomans rebuilt the wall that separates the northern and southern enclosures, as well as the Bab al-Azab, the fortified gate located opposite the Akhur Mosque. They also built the 25-metre Burg al-Muqattam tower rising above the entrance - the tallest tower of this centuries-old bastion. In 1805 Ottoman Muhammad Ali Pasha, one of the great builders of Modern Egypt, made further changes and ordered the construction of his Mohammed Ali Mosque, today one of Cairo's most dramatic feature.
ICIP 2009 Banquet Overlooking the Pyramids at Giza
Monday, 9 November 2009
Dress: Smart Casual
Buses will leave from the conference hotels only (see the conference website for the listing of hotels buses will pick up at). Please be at the hotel and ready to leave no later than 4:45 PM (16:45) and return at approximately 11:00 PM (23:00). If you are not staying at one of the conference hotels, you must proceed to one of the conference hotels and board the bus in order to attend the banquet.
Please note that due to our special access to the pyramids and the security for the site, you must be on one of the conference buses to and from the banquet. Arrivals or departures via private transportation or taxis will not be possible.
Each person attending the banquet MUST have purchased a ticket (banquet tickets are not included in the registration fee) and have their ticket with them. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.
Tickets may be purchased online until 5:00 PM US Central Time (17:00) Friday, 23 October 2009. There will be very limited quantities of tickets available for purchase onsite on a first-come first-served basis, and no tickets can be sold after Sunday, 8 November 2009. You are strongly encouraged to purchase your banquet tickets in advance if you have not already done so.
Information about the Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza represent one of the greatest architectural feats by man. The last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions and the reason most people visit Egypt today. There are in fact three main pyramids in Giza; the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), The Pyramid of Kafhre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Each Pyramid is a tomb to a different King of Egypt. In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, or Abu al-Hol in Arabic, "Father of Terror". Carved out of a single block of stone, this enormous cat-like sculpture has mesmerized millions of visitors.
