Milestone 18 –Distance: 3,340.2 km (68.4%) – 14 April 2021
‘We’ve now covered 2/3 of our journey!’ she shouted from the top of the mountain.
We’re now heading off road further west, I hope you’ve got your climbing boots on!
Al-Qahira Castle, also known as Cairo Castle, sits atop the highest mountain in the ancient city of Ta’izz which is our next stop.
This fortress dates back to the 12th century and is located on the northern slope of Jabal Sabir which rises to over 3,000 m. It is the focal point of Ta’izz city and continues to be used as a stronghold by military forces through the ages.
Many travellers and historians have cited the castle, including Ibn Battuta in the 14th century.
The highland city of Ta’izz, a former capital, is sprawled around shin of the mountain at around 1,400m above sea level. It reaches the west coast at the port city of Mocha on the Red Sea and is the third largest city in the Yemen after Sana’a, the capital, and our previous destination, Aden.
