Packing
- Pack light - Pack your travel bag with everything you need then take out half.
- Take half as many clothes and twice as much money!!
- Get wheels for your luggage and leave heavy items at home.
- If you don’t bring a camera you will be sorry.
- Sunglasses are a must as the sun is very strong in Egypt, a hat would help too.
- Bring comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and temple floors are far
from even.
Key Words
Part of Egyptian tradition, though increasingly out of date in today’s
faster-moving Egypt, are three commonly heard words, inshallah, bukra
and maalesh, whose meaning, and nuance, you should know.
Together they provide some insight into how things work, in Egypt.
Inshallah means ‘God willing’, it conveys the
caution that nothing can be certain. However, it can also be a polite way of avoiding a
commitment, or suggesting that the thing promised will not happen.
Bukra means ‘tomorrow’, but it would be a mistake
to take this literally. Bukra, in fact, more usually refers to some indefinite point in
time between tomorrow and never.
Maalesh means it does not matter anyway. It is used in all
situations when there is nothing one can do about something; whether it is a car accident,
a missed train or a misunderstanding.
Security
Egypt is a safe country for visitors. You are far safer walking through
the streets of Cairo, where muggings are unheard of, than those of many European or
American cities – and this is true both day and night.
There is a strong sense of communal responsibility, especially towards foreigners.
Anyone in distress can expect the immediate assistance of both public and police.
A few fundamentalist fanatics who have given Egypt an unfair reputation and would like
to turn Egypt into a theocratic Islamic state, have been attempting to attack the
government, and indeed the economy of the country, through tourism. By threatening and
frightening away foreign visitors, their hope has been to destroy a major source of
Egypt’s income. Egyptians are overwhelmingly opposed to such outrages and the
government has responded with determination, but as in London or New York it is never
entirely possible to guarantee the elimination of terrorist activity. What can be said is
that Egyptians remain a warm, good-humored and hospitable people who care about the
welfare of visitors to their country.
Tipping
The word baksheesh literally means ‘share the
wealth’. It is payable for all services, however small, and as often as not, is
expected for nothing at all.
Baksheesh is also the tip you would give to a
porter who has carried your luggage. It is also the reward placed deftly in the
outstretched hand of the guardian who lets you into a tomb after closing time, or given to
the railway carriage attendant who discovers there is a sleeping compartment free
after all.
Watch and figure out what the locals do, letting your conscience be
your guide. If you have been given a service that you are happy with, it is customary to
tip the person who was responsible for the service.
Shopping
Cairo is a shopping adventure. Buy brass, copper, and inlaid wooden
articles, silver and gold jewelry. Leather shoes, bags and belts, cotton goods and oils.
Shop at the Khan-El-Khalili bazaar for better variety, interesting and artistic goods. You
should be able to bargain down at least 30% off the price originally quoted to you. Many
of the items found at the bazaar are also found in the gift shops of the large hotels. The
items there are more expensive, and bargaining is severely reduced, but the quality of the
merchandise is in many cases better than those found at the bazaars.
Knowing exactly what one wants to pay is the only possible advantage the buyer can
claim over the seller. If you enjoy the complex dance steps of bargaining for its own
sake, you offer far less than you will actually pay and then gradually spiral up to
agreement with the seller. If not, you state and then implacably stick to your price, but
this may well be regarded as so crude that sellers would rather not sell to an ignoramus
who seems oblivious to the whole concept of ‘face’. Remember this is supposed to
be fun; it is the social heartbeat of the Middle East.
Electricity
220 volts, 50 cycles AC in Cairo, and most of the new places in
Alexandria. Some older areas in Alexandria still use 110 volts, 50 cycles. Wall plugs are
the round two pronged European type. No adapters or transformers are provided bring your
own.
Telephones
You can call the States direct from your Hotel room. MCI, AT &T and
Sprint calling cards are widely used. Local numbers to be dialed from Cairo :
MCI : 348- 4806 # 7524
AT&T : 356-0200
Sprint : 356-4777
Health Precautions
Drink only bottled water. Eat in the hotel restaurants. Be sure
your food is well cooked. Peel all fruits and eat only vegetables that have been cooked or
that you can peel. In the summer months drink plenty of water, carry some with you while
sightseeing. Be careful of fresh fruit juices as they may be diluted with local water,
avoid the ice too. Never drink or eat anything from street vendors,
probably the only exception to this rule would be bottled or canned drinks that have a
good seal on them.
Airports
In recent years Cairo International Airport has expanded into a first-class facility.
Despite the fact that it is located to the north of the city, most airlines from Europe
approach the airfield from the south. In daylight, passengers are offered a spectacular
view of Cairo, the Nile, and the Giza pyramids.
Alexandria airport is served by Olympic Airlines and Egypt Air. Luxor Airport now has
direct flights from several European cities via Air France and Lufthansa. Hurghada Airport
is also serviced by Lufthansa while Sharm el Shaykh Airport receives charter flights from
Germany and France.
Other airports in Egypt are Asyut, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Al Arish, St. Catherine’s,
Kharga Oasis, Siwa Oasis.
Egypt has two national carriers for internal flights, Egypt Air and Air Sinai. Egypt
Air flies daily from Cairo to Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Hurghada and twice
a week to Kharga Oasis. Air Sinai flies from Cairo to Hurghada, Al Arish, Taba, Sharm el
Shaykh, and St. Catherine’s Monastery. |
