Ben Gurion,(the late Prime Minster of Israel said,"If you don't believe in miracles,
you don't...
Ben Gurion,(the late Prime Minster of Israel said,"If you don't believe in miracles,
you don't live in reality!"
Member since:09.09.2002
Reviews:84
Members who trust:70
I have been to Egypt twice. The first time was when I won a free cruise of the Mediterranean from the OrientCruise Company. I have been on 5 Cruises of the Mediterranean and the Orient wasn't my favorite. It was the only Cruise I took that stopped in Egypt.
My Greek Friend Nini worked as a Tour Guide and she was able to get a free trip as well so we share a Cabin.
Nini's Company arranged for a private taxi to take us on a short tour of Alexandria and then drive us to Cairo. They also arranged for us to have one free night at the SheratonHotel in Cairo.
I was a little worried about how we would get back to meet our Ship the next day but Nini said she had a Friend, (Nesma Sadiq), who would give us a tour of Cairo and arrange for us to take a taxi to Port Said.
~O ALEXANDRIA O~
It took us a long time to dock in Alexandra because there were so many Cargo Ships that we had to pass between. The Russians had left Egypt a few years before and Egypt had announced to the World "that they had cut all ties with the USSR". Therefore I was surprised to see that about half of these Ships were from Russia.
After an hour our Ship final moored at Alexandria. When we disembarked there was a Man holding up a cardboard sign with Nini's name on it.
He arranged to move us through Customs quickly and the Israeli Visa in my passport was not a problem because Israel & Egypt had established "Diplomatic Relations". Unfortunately this did not stop the Egyptian
Press and some of the Citizens from hating Israel.
We had arrived on Friday and I wanted to see the Synagogue before sunset. At one time Alexandria had a lot of Synagogues but now there was only one.
Nini had been on a Cruise with me before and knew that I had a problem with Arab Men because I have a full figure and at that time had long curly blond hair. She promised me that she would make sure that none of them bothered me.
The Synagogue was closed when we arrived but it was being guarded by six Men from the Egyptian Navy. Our Driver arranged for us to walk around the grounds so I could take some pictures. Just before we left one of the Men asked our Driver if I would like to have a picture taken with them. In most Countries this is frowned upon but since they asked I agreed. I stood in the middle and they were in a semi-circle around me. Just as Nini took the picture the Man standing behind be grabbed both my breasts. I wonder how he explained his bruise that he got when I kicked him "you know where". So much for Nini protecting me!
Our next stop was at the Lighthouse. This is one of the "7 Wonders of the Ancient World". We had to cross a bridge to reach it because it is on an Island called Pharos. At the time it was built is was the tallest building in the World. We went to see a strange mirror that can reflect more that 50 km off-shore. Today that might not seem that far but in those days it was amazing that anyone would know how to make it.
We saw Pompey's Pillar with the sand stone Lion guarding it. Then we went to see the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa. This is a Roman Cemetery. We had to climb down three levels of rock to see it. We passed by the Roman Amphitheater but did not stop.
We were driven thought the Streets of Alexandria and our Driver pointed out a few things. Nini had to translate because he only spoke Arabic. We arrived at the last stop we would make in Alexandria. It was the Drivers House!
He had been given this job at the last minute and because the telephones are great in Egypt he could not tell his Wife that he would be Home very late. We were invited in for a small meal and a cup of mint tea. This was great because I had never seen an Egyptian House before. Before we left he gave each of us a large bottle of water. It was September and it was so hot that the meal, tea and water were a perfect gift.
~O ON THE ROAD TO CAIRO O~
Alexandria is between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariut. To reach Cairo we had to travel about 140 km to reach Cairo.
There are two highways to take to Cairo. We took the one that followed the Railroad Tracks through the Nile Valley. On a Canadian Highway it would take a little over an hour to travel the 140 km. It took us 3 hours because the Highway had only two lanes.
Our Drive asked Nini if he could turn on a music station for us to listen to. We agreed and when he turned on the Station I began to laugh. Nini asked me why and I replied, "The Station he is listening to is an Israeli one called the Voice of Peace", (this Station broadcast from a Ship off the Coast of Israel. It was an illegal Station but it was the best one to listen to. Most of the DJ's were from England. It has now been closed down).
Nini said to our Driver, "That's not Arabic what Country is the Station in?" He didn't have to think about it and said, "Argentina".
As we drove along the road Trains and inter-City Buses passed us. They were all crammed full of people and had people laying on top and hanging onto the open widows, (from the out side).
The Nile Delta is very fertile so we pass by the Farms and Villages of the Fellaheen, (Farmers). We reached Cairo just after sunset.
~O IN CAIRO O~
We stayed at the Nile Sheraton. When we walked into the lobby we were given the V.I.P. treatment. The Assistant Manger was waiting for us and checked us in a private desk. He escorted us to our rooms.
Nini tried to phone Nesma Sadiq. A young Child kept answering. She either didn't speak Arabic or didn't understand Nini's. After four attempts she stopped answering the phone. By now we were starving so we went down to the Lobby.
The Assistant Manger was at his desk so I walked up and explained our problem. He told us to give him the Sadiq's phone number and we should take a look at the Shops in the Lobby while he would try to find out where they were.
They had some wonderful Stores but Nini said everything was overpriced and I should wait until the morning. We browsed through them for about 15 minutes and went back to see the Assistant Manager.
I got the shock of my life when he told us about who was answering the phone. Apparently in Egypt young Children, (this one was 9 years old), work as babysitters. The Sadiqu's had a six Month old Baby and I think Child who is nine is too young to take care of a Baby. He told us the Sadiu's were out grocery shopping and would be home in about a half an hour. He suggested we go to the Coffee Shop and have dinner and he would keep calling the House until he reached them.
To reach the Coffee Shop we had to climb a long flight of stairs. Half way up a handsome Man tapped me on the shoulder. He told me he would be eating in the Coffee Shop and didn't like to eat alone and would we be his quests for dinner. I never turn down a free meal, (unless I'm alone).
We ordered our meals and he told us that he own three Ships that cruised down the Nile to Aswan. He invited us to take a free cruise on one of them and we refused. He then asked us if we would like to come back to his House after dinner for a drink.
I notice a white band on his skin where he must have taken off his wedding ring so I asked him if his Wife would be there if we went with him. He casually said, "Of course not. She's away on a Vacation. If you'll come back I'll phone a Friend of mine to entertain Nini."
I refuse and just then the Assistant Manger arrived to tell Nini he had her Friend on the phone. She went with him and when I turned around I found I was the only one left sitting at the table. So much for a free dinner...I even had to pay for his.
The next morning Nesma picked us up and showed me Cairo, (I described this in my Cairo review). She lives in an area called Mohandiseen. This is a residential area that has a lot of Apartments or Condos. She had a taxi arranged to pick us up at her Condo.
We were late in arriving and the Taxi was waiting. She ran upstairs to bring us each a bottle of ice cold bottled water.
~O ON THE ROAD AGAIN O~
From Cairo to Port Said we had to travel over 200 km. This two lane highway was quite different than the one we took to get to Cairo. It is endless miles of a straight road that had a few rice fields, some old towns and a stark landscape. One can get bored with seeing a lot of sand dunes.
I had been to Kenetra after the Six Day War. It is on the other side of the Nile and is a bombed out City. I had flown there from Tel Aviv but thought it was near to Port Said. It was a very hot day and each of us had finish 3/4 of our water by the time we were across from Kenetra.
I made a huge mistake and told Nini we could finish our water. Then I remembered we still had an hours drive before we reached Port Said. She screamed at me and we were barely talking by the time we reached the Canal.
Port Said is on the Mediterranean where you enter the Suez Canal. It was so small I can't imagine any big Ship going through it.
~O PORT SAID O~
Nini wanted to visit the National Museum so we had our taxi take us to our Ship and left our overnight bags in our Cabin and walked into the City.
The Museum is on one floor and this is where I saw my first Mummie, (they had a few on display). The displays were artifacts and statues that showed Coptic & Islamic coins, manuscripts and cotton material.
It is a very old City and quite sleazy. There are Egyptian Police and Military everywhere. They were Navy personal from around the World.
All of the Shops in Port Said are Duty Free. Most of the Shops sold electronic goods and a few sold Jewelry, Ladies and Mens clothing.
I bought a bottle of Beef Eater Gin and an silver Arab Amber necklace, (the Amber doesn't look like Russian Amber). Nini and I still weren't talking much. We saw a Ladies Shop and just as we were about to walk in my "period' started.
I was in a light yellow dress and the blood was gushing. I ran back to the ship without saying good-bye to Nini.
When she returned she said she was sorry for getting mad at me and gave me a gift of a light cotton kaftan with different colored tulips hand embroidered on it.
~O SOME THOUGHTS O~
I won't be going back to Egypt so I won't be doing this trip again. However if you are on a Cruise Ship that offers a side trip to see Alexandria, Cairo and Port Said I hope you will take it because you will be traveling on an air-conditioned Coach.
ŠLL2002
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my first trip to an Arab Country was to Tunisia in 1972, where my girlfriend had the same breast experience - the "trespasser" was a boy of 12 years!
parker-munn 14.09.2002 17:12
Looking back on my travels I wished I kept detailed accounts like yours. So much depends on who you meet and how things affect you personally, of which you give a graphic account. An earthy, lifelike view I'd say.
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Advantages: a testament to the genius/talent/skill of the ancient people. Lovely weather Disadvantages: the men are extremely rude, the temples are not given the respect they deserve
sekhmetscat 07.12.2002 ·
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Review of General: Egypt
Advantages: Close to the Egyptian Museum and other interesting places Disadvantages: Compared to the other hotels it was on the expensive side - but well worth it
Steven_Holroyd 07.06.2007 ·
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Review of Nile Hilton, Cairo
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Sep 9th, 2002
(Sep 19th, 2002)
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