Suez

Clustered haphazardly around the southern mouth of the Suez Canal, this namesake city is a tumultuous manifestation of Egyptian industry and mechanisation run amok. With most of its historic sights destroyed during the fracases of the 20th century, it’s now a town of looming cranes, sprawling concrete complexes and traffic-laden roadways smothered; more of a fascinating image of the country in motion. While Suez is not a tourist haven, there are excellent seafood meals to indulge in, and Ahwas to visit and interact with the locals. Most Suez tour guides will recommend a jaunt to the bustling market squares of the Arbaeen District, where local desert dwellers come to tout their wares amidst the fray of the city. Others will direct travellers to the sprawling harboursides of Port Taufiq, where it’s possible to watch colossal tankers gliding north from the Indian Ocean.