Cairo is actually a relatively clean city; cleaner than parts of New York City.  I did not feel as though I was in any danger there and felt pretty safe about travelling in the country with just one other US woman.

However, I was increasingly made aware of the stark cultural differences and almost all of the locals I encountered through my travels made my experience worse and added to my overall discomfort about being a young female in the country- no matter how modestly I attempted to dress.  Perhaps it is because both my friend and I are blondes but we were harrassed and stared at everywhere...