Jairay,
Xarqi's comments touch upon some very important points about Egypt,
but also convey a rather bleak picture of this wonderful country. It
is easy to have a bad experience in a third world country with a
completely different culture to yours, but it is by no means
necessary.
I would like to give you a different point of view on Egypt.
Although traveler's diarrhea is common (as it is almost anywhere if
you are a traveler), it is rarely serious because tap water in Egypt
is highly treated. It can be very easily avoided because bottled
water is available everywhere, although I agree you wouyld be wise to
void salad bars and ice in your drinks when outside of a five star
establishment.
The high presence of security around banks and places of interest are
certainly for the protection of the tourist. Their availability is
made possible by the draft law which allows for surplus troops, which
are duly assigned to protect the touristic and financial institutions
of the state. Egypt is a country that depends largely on tourism and
the tourist here is KING. Do not hesitate to report any incident to
the local police as they will be very firm in making sure you do not
feel swindled or harmed in any way. This goes for taxi's as well.
Although most taxi cabs don't run their meter, it is your right to ask
them to. If you agree a verbal amount before getting the ride, it
will almost certainly be honored, and if it isn't, just start
motioning to a police officer and it will be honored immediately.
Haggling is a sport indeed in Egypt, but only in tourist bazaars etc.
Main street shops are respectable establishments that do not haggle,
but may be nicely coaxed into a 5 or 10% discount. Tipping is
customary and greatly appreciated.
Domestic travel is reliable but not exactly convenient. Get 1st class
train tickets when you can, but preferable to fly. Book early and
wisely as aircraft to Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea are usually booked
in advance and don't run very frequently. Renting a car is a waste of
time within Cairo as traffic can be very frustrating. It is a good
idea to rent a car to leave town (especially to the Red Sea which is
anywhere from 2-5 hours away depending on destination), but try to
avoid the Sinai highways at night because they are not illuminated.
The best way to get to Alexandria is by Express train (make sure it's
the Express or "Spanish" train) which gets you there in 2 hours.
If you are shopping oriented, Khan El Khalili is the place to go for
tourist type souvenirs, jewelry, cloth, perfumes, etc. A nice
alternative for those who find the crowded and confined streets of the
Khan suffocating (as I do) is to go to the new City Stars shopping
complex in Nasr City (a more affluent residential area of Cairo).
This complex offers a section called the New Khan El Khalili with
pretty much the same shops and products, but in a modern
air-conditioned facility that also has international retailers and
franchises. There are ATM machines everywhere in shopping areas.
Banks are closed Friday and Saturday, and most shops are closed Sunday
and Friday mornings (for the Friday prayer), although shops in
ultra-touristy areas seem to work 24/7/365.
It's true that most papyrus is fake, and that some precious stones are
"not so precious". However, as is the case anywhere else in the
world, the more opportunity you have to haggle, the less authentic the
object is. It's quite easy to sniff out the respectable businesses
from amongst the trash.
Clothing is a very important topic. May is still not hellish weather
here, but still quite hot (30's Celsius). Nights are pleasantly warm
to mildly hot. There is air-conditioning everywhere (except tombs,
museaums and taxis), but carrying water is advisable. Egypt is
liberal for an Islamic country, but it is still considered advisable
to avoid wearing revealing clothes as much as possible (short sleave
t-shirt instead of spaghetti straps or tank tops, loose long dress or
pants instead of shorts or miniskirts, etc) and also not to be
completely relaxed about public displays of affection. There is
virtually no risk of acquiring any mosquito-borne illnesses (such as
malaria) but the mosquitos themselves could be quite bothersome in
more rural areas.
Evenings in Cairo can be enjoyed on one of the many stationary Nile
boats in Zamalek and Giza that offer a variety of 4-5 star dining.
Alternately, you could ask your hotel about booking a light and sound
show at the pyramids (usually straight after sundown), to experience a
narrated history of the pyramids and the pharoahs that built them.
Most hotels will have some sort of dinner and show package almost
every night, and you could also check out the Cairo Opera House.
Day excursions in Cairo:
Religious:
- Coptic Cairo and the Hanging Church (literally built over a wall)
- Islamic Cairo, the great mosques and the walls of the old city
(could be on same day as Khan El Khalili).
Historic:
- Giza plateau, pyramids and sphynx. Also, step pyramid of Sakkara close by.
- Pharoanic village (theme park which offers a boat ride and live
enactment of ancient Egypt life by actors along the banks). Highly
recommended.
- Cairo museum in Tahrir Square.
Shopping:
- Khan El Khalili (all things Egyptian).
- Harraniya (woven textiles, carpets, etc).
- City center (modern mall with solid Egyptian section).
Trips outside Cairo:
- Nile cruise. Fly out to Aswan and cruise back up the Nile on a boat
(3/4 days, customizeable)
- Sinai or Red Sea coast. Fly or drive (no trains, 5 hour drive) to
Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada for Scuba Diving, water sports, desert
safaris, etc) or to Ras Sidr (2 hour drive) for world class wind
surfing.
- Alexandria. (2 hrs by train or car). Not much of a beach resort,
but still a lot to see.
- Siwa and other desert oases. Nature packed excursions to the
western desert where there are hot and cold springs, desert safaris,
etc. Only for the adventurous souls.
One final word. Egyptians are generally generous and humble people
who are willing to go the extra mile to make you feel welcome. They
sometimes are not equipped with the necessary tools (such as language)
or training in hospitality to convey this in a globally recognizable
way. Cairenes are more like New Yorkers, but still quite pleasant
people. Please keep this in mind and enjoy a lovely vacation in one
of the world's richest cultures. |
