It’s not New York or Shanghai — it’s Cairo. Here are some tips and tricks for enjoying the cultural life of this great city without getting a headache or hearing loss.

While I generally try to travel the slow and steady way, sometimes opportunities arise that are too good to miss. When my friend Kahlil invited me to spend a weekend with his family in the Djebel Babor mountains, I had to make it happen.

Morocco has four historical capitals: Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat. I spent a week in each and emerged with a clear favorite.