Anybody been to Egypt?
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- clearThoughts
What's it like? Any tips?
Places to go?
Places to avoid?
- 3030
As far as I know this is Police Country and they even have Police responsible for looking after the tourists only. The don't react if two locals have an argument...
Friend of mine went there for honeymoon and told me that sunrise at the top of Mount Sinai is a must. He told me that it was really cold there at 5am...
- ArmandoEstrada0
Dirty, noisy, dirty and more dirty. Not going back....
- inteliboy0
Dirty, noisy, fascinating.
On the bus trip into Cairo, was dusk and looked out to my right where this huge black shape cut into the skyline - took a few seconds and a feeling of WTF until it all came into view - the great pyramid. Never forget it.
- sneakybadger0
Avoid Cairo, go towards the Jorden end, beautiful reefs and amazing people... DO NOT except any free gifts (or gratis) you will be locked in a shop and nearly forced to buy papyrus paintings and perfume at 1000% cost... learn a couple of words in the local lingo (depending on where you are in Egypt, the bedouins speak slightly differently)..
Also avoid any drugs.. you Will get sold rat poison eventually!
- AVAVA0
Not much fun for western women apparently.
- It's fine as lonf as you/they have company.. also the more fair/blonde the more attention they/you getsneakybadger
- *longsneakybadger
- my friend was with her husband - which made it worse, close to fights etc.AVAVA
- MrT0
^ Yep, only go to Cairo if you have to see the pyramids. We stayed around Luxor, loads of stunning temples and cross to the Valley of the Kings. A trip down the Nile either on a cruise or with one of the locals is also good.
- Douglas0
I went to Egypt last November.
Cairo, Aswan (& Abu Simbel), and Luxor.I had a package deal that included all sorts of personal tours and the Nile Cruise thing which stops a few times along the way. It's a pretty amazing historical trip. I can dig up my entire itinerary and pass it your way if you'd like, also the names of my guides.
There is a whole other scenic Egypt you can see as well if you have the time... up in Alexandria, over to Sinai, and resorts along the Red Sea. You'll need a solid 2weeks+ and a lot of traveling to do it all.
also, this:
http://www.qbn.com/topics/604735…
- JerseyRaindog0
I went about 10 years ago - had to cancel a holiday to Nepal because of the Crown Prince going mad and shooting up his family. So went on a last minute all-inclusive Nile cruise at the last minute. From Luxor to Aswan and took a day trip to Abu Simbel as well. Overall I enjoyed it but tried to ditch the guides and do my own thing as much as possible. Enjoyed some smokes with some locals in Aswan - they were cool. Just be aware of their culture, respectful and try not to attract too much attention.
Took my sketch book as well http://www.flickr.com/photos/jer… as well as my camera http://www.flickr.com/photos/jer…
- goldieboy0
I went to Sharm el Sheikh for a weeks diving and to recharge last November. Diving is great but Sharm is your classic 'all inclusive' resort. Depends what you after but there's nothing to see of any interest in this area. And it really does make a huge difference learning the local lingo – you tend not to get hassled as much.
- RoyBoyII0
Visited 12yrs ago, loved it.
Respect the culture and go for it. Interesting place.
- de4k0
only thing I heard about this place is that the local men will be trying and buy your wife/gf 24/7
- mnmlst0
I went to Egypt in 2008, literally as the US economy was crashing, and visited Alexandria and Giza. I came home to a complete US economic disaster, layoffs coming etc. But after visiting Egypt I didn't feel so bad, no matter how much worse things got.
It is a police state. You will be followed by men with guns, but they are happy to take pictures for fat tourists.
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The homes of government officials (which are surrounded by slums) are like palaces, complete with walled security. Everyone else lives in filth, in some cases fishing out of green toxic canals that irrigate the city.
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There is a lot of sand
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They have special devices so guards can stand in the sun all day
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You will still not be able to avoid McDonalds
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The locals were generally friendly
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Oh, and they have these strange triangle shaped buildings
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Camels burp loud
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Amazing experience though...
- clearThoughts0
what about renting a car? Is it easy to drive around?
- anthonyzinonos0
i woudn't dare drive in that contry!!
spend a few days in Cario thats all you'll need then go out to the western deserts and staying the oases, loads of amazing things to see and you hire someone with a jeep to take you around to all the good stuff for really cheap.
- Khurram0
full of gypos
- 23kon0
- the emanations will start degrading the monumentsspraycanII
- i love the irony of that pizzahut/kfc right across from the sphinx.Douglas