Cleopatra would not be proud
Written: Aug 29 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: the history (pyramids, museum,etc)
Cons: can be unsafe, a lot of poverty, very very hot in the summer
The Bottom Line: Cairo is a wonderful place to visit for its history but beware of unsafe situations and also that there is a lot of poverty.
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| norwaynick's Full Review: Cairo |
I'm sure nearly everyone in the world has learned about ancient Egypt at one point or another. Though it was never quite as powerful as the Roman or British empires it was always very interesting to all. From the mummies to the pyramids to the desert sands Egypt is a captivating stage with us tourists as its audience. I was recently there which traveling the whole Meditteranean Sea just a few weeks ago. For more information on the whole Medit. look at: http://norwaynick.epinions.com/content_2039980164
When choosing how to take my cruise I was given two options that fit in my time frame. I could either travel from Barcelona to Istanbul and trade a stop in Alexandria for Venice or I could do Istanbul to Barcelona and get Alexandria from where I could drive down to Cairo. Well I researched both and it was a tough decision but I am now very happy with it. It really all came down to the fact that Egypt has one thing that Venice doesn't, the only remaining Wonder of the World.
After leaving the ship we found our private tour guide and were driven down to Cairo. The drive was about 2 and 1/2 hours but you really saw how barren the desert is. For safety there was an armed guard with us since there were some tourist bus hijackings by terrorists a few years ago.
On the outskirts of the city a few farms started to pop up. Each with a small heard of animals that couldn't sustain anyone back in the US but this is what they had to live on. There were also vendors walking down the streets in the city but these were not hot dog vendors. Most of them carried loaves of bread or something other in large basket supported on their heads. They too made very very meager incomes but this is what they had to do to survive.
For those of you who will be arriving by plane in Cairo and staying a few days I would highly recommend the Conrad by way of my friend. He has stayed there and says that it is very nice and also very safe. In a place like Cairo safety can be a big issue so make sure not to go into any areas that look unsafe or walk outside late at night. Basically, use common sense. He also recommends the restaurant there as a good place to try safe Egyptian food. What is also nice is if you get a room in a higher level you can see the Pyramids in the distance.
When we got through all of this and into the center of the city we first went to the Egyptian museum. I think it is best to go here first since there is a lot of room around the Pyramids to see them from but a museum can fill up pretty quickly. The museum is a lot like a wharehouse with items just stacked on top of each other and "thrown" here and there. Either way this is probably the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. There are also special rooms for the real mummies that were found and also a lot of the jewelry that was found in King Tut's tomb. The mummy rooms aren't too crowded but they are dark and the policy of silence is enforced. It is amazing when you see the mummies to think that they were living bodies thousands of years ago and are so well preserved now. The jewelry is also amazing and, among other things, included the headmask of King Tut made of pure gold!
From here you can get a more local taste of Egypt by going to the local market. Here if you are interested in an item you will most likely be offered some tea and the seller will try to talk to you. Remember, never ever pay the full price, this is considered disrespectful and will not be a good way to start of your day. The sellers will finally get to business and you should set a price you estimate you will get this item for. You start lower than that and eventually get up to it. If they refuse then you should be able to walk away from it. You may even get lucky and they may come looking for you later to sell it at your price, this has happened to me in China and countries like Egypt.
After this it is time for the Pyramids. When you drive up to them you will find that they are huge! Each block is a few feet high and it is really a wonder how they put them up. As long as you are not claustrophobic you can go inside of the pyramids. Of course you will have to pay but it is a small price. When going in you will have to crawl in certain sections before you go to the main chamber. You won't really see anything on the walls but it is really cool to think you are in the middle of the pyramid. It will also be very hot since there are some many people in there. At night there are lights that are displayed on the pyramids and makes them look very nice.
Then you can go see the Sphinx which is not as nice as one would think. It is quite small in comparison to the Pyramids and is worn. When I was there just a few weeks ago they had replaced many bricks on the lower section and I don't know what they have planned for the future. As you probably know the nose was removed a long time ago and no one knows where it is.
If you want you can also visit Saqqara where the step pyramids are located. These were actually the first pyramids constructed by the ancient Egyptians and look like steps. I believe they are over forty centuries old. If you are so inclined many locals offer camel rides here but I decided not to go on one when I saw how they got up and then sat back down.
I remind you to be very careful with yourself as many people, especially the terrorists, are not to fond of Americans. The best advice I can give to be safe is to use common sense.
If you choose to do all of these things is your decision but I hope that whatever you do you will have a great time. Look at my other "epinions" for more advice on exotic travel destinations as well as itineraries for the Medit. and also China.
Recommended:
Yes
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norwaynick
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Location: NJ, USA
Reviews written: 35
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