You can go back in Time
Written: Jan 01 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Pyramids, The People, The glimpse into an ancient civilization
Cons: Poverty, Dirt, Security issues
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| netKat's Full Review: Cairo |
I love Ancient Egypt. That is what brought me to Cairo. I always wanted to see the pyramids. Cairo is an amazing city. If you have a fascination with ancient Egypt, you will find scenes in and around Cairo that are like photographs right out of your best coffee table book on the subject. You will see farmers and their families tending their flocks on the outskirts of the city, blinking your eyes twice and three times, because you could swear you've been transported back in time. You will see men building apartment buildings, barefooted and in traditional robes, making each brick by hand and laying them into position. You will see the pita bread seller walking down the street, balancing a large wooden tray on his head piled high with the loaves, being sold for pennies. You will also see modern pollution and poverty, destruction and strife.
Stay in a top hotel because the city can be unsafe for foreigners, especially those who do not speak the language. I was with a companion who spoke some Arabic, and it was a definite advantage. Your hotel will be like a fortress with vast private gardens and extraordinary service. We had a balcony that overlooked the Nile. I have to say that standing on that balcony, with the warm desert breeze and view of the Nile and the pyramids off in the distance, was something I will always remember. A gestalt moment for sure.
The air in Cairo is heavy and dry. When you get off the plane, you'll notice it right away. When you look towards the Sahara, towards the pyramids, you'll notice it again. It lends a unique look to the photographs you take. I'm not sure if it's dirt or sand or a mixture of both. You'll notice it on your skin too.
Your first cab ride, most likely from the airport to your hotel, will probably be one of the scarier moments in your trip. There is a distinct disregard of road rules in Cairo. Many roads do not have lane markings (not that they would mean much!) and there is an interesting roller coaster of death feeling as your driver jostles for position with horse drawn wagons, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles. It is wild. I would never rent a car in Cairo.
Go to the market, or shook. It is the heart of the city. Never, ever, pay the price that is asked. It is rude. When you see a shop with items that you are interested in purchasing, you can expect to be treated to a cup of tea and a discussion. It is a faux pas to cut to the chase and try to make a deal in this situation. Enjoy your chance to hear some stories and learn about Egypt. My experience was that modern Egyptians are very proud of their ancient heritage. The conversation will gradually move toward business. You need to decide in your own mind on your bottom line price, and be willing to walk away. I had a merchant run after me with an item fifteen minutes later deciding to sell it after all.
Go to Saqqara and see the step pyramids, 46 centuries old, the predecessors of the big cheese pyramids at Giza. Along the way you'll see beautiful Egyptian scenery along the Nile. You'll see farmers carrying piles of maize stalks on their donkeys, the date palms in the background.
Of course, go to Giza and experience the awesomeness of the pyramids. Take the camel ride around them, look out on the vast emptiness of the Sahara and appreciate the accomplishments of this ancient civilization. Go during the day, and go back at night. There is a light show and the pyramids look amazing lit up at night. Take the tour into the pyramid if you are not claustrophobic. There's not all that much to see, and the ramp to get in and out is very narrow, steep, long, and low... but it's the pyramid after all, might as well go in it! :) The Sphinx is here too, and a bit disappointing in person. It's much smaller than you would imagine and it's not in good shape.
Go to the Cairo Museum. It's a bit depressing to see many of the antiquities carelessly laying about... actually, the Vatican has most of the best articles if you want to see some great Ancient Egyptian things, but it's worth checking out the museum here, as long as you're in Cairo.
Some cautions: Security... being American here can make you a target. Also, be prepared to see some distressing things: very young children working hard jobs and on the street trying to sell things, dead animals and garbage floating in the Nile tributaries, poverty.
I hope to go back one day. The juxtaposition of the remains of the Ancient Egyptian civilization, and how they coexist in the struggling-to-be-modern Egypt, is something to witness. The people I met there were kind and proud, and that's what I remember most.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
netKat
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Kat
Location: Maryland
Reviews written: 166
Trusted by: 885 members
About Me:
Analytically inclined mom, bank officer, freelance writer, and internet addict.
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