Traffic

---

THE CHALLENGE of Ramadan is surviving the annual test of endurance, Cairo's traffic. Ramadan in the city is dominated by three things: cheerful lanterns lighting up the skies, television series playing from dusk to dawn, and an endless sea of cars jamming any given horizon, never stopping until sunset -- only because it's Iftar time. Being home to some 17 million inhabitants and three million cars licensed on an annual basis, Cairo is crowded all year long.

By Ramadan, millions of school and college students and government employees, leave work from 1-2pm, heading home early to relax or prepare the Iftar meal.

If you are smart enough to wait till the last hour before sunset, you will enjoy the empty streets, but you may not be able to escape the speedy cars.