Hillary Clinton takes a trip to Egypt

People considering taking a holiday to Egypt may be interested to learn that Hillary Clinton is visiting the country this week.

The US secretary of state's trip to Cairo is likely to be more about business than pleasure, however, as she is reported to be looking to gain president Hosni Mubarak's support for the Middle East peace process.

A spokesperson for the politician explained: "We recognise that things have stalled. We're looking at a variety of ways that increase the interaction between the parties in some form."

The trip forms part of a larger tour of Africa and Asia, which has seen Mrs Clinton fly in to destinations such as Morocco and Israel.

Travellers looking to follow in Ms Clinton's footsteps and head to Cairo could find a range of interesting sites and attractions to visit.

Culture vultures could value a walk through the Islamic quarters, where there are numerous examples of ancient Muslim art.

In the Old Cairo area, monumental gateways – Bab el-Futuh and Bab el-Nasr - could be worth a look.

Meanwhile, the city's shopping district – know as Khan el-Khalilil - could be a great place to pick rugs, stones and blown-glass ornaments.