Ibrahim Pasha Statue

This is the centre piece of Opera Square in Cairo.   The subject was General and Viceroy of Egypt.   The original opera house, designed by two Italians, burned down in 1971, a century and two years after its inauguration and two months short of the centenary of the world premiere of Aida in October 1871. It didn't help that the building was made of wood, although it looked pretty solid from the outside . . . think La Scala,  Milan.   A multi-storey car park now stands in its place, the new Opera house was opened on Gezira Island in 1988.

Quite like the 1871 postcard finish I managed on this one!

The extra shows Tahrir Square . . . hard to think I used to have to pluck up courage to come here shortly after the revolution of 2011.