Have had to rethink my approach to ciao - details on my homepage. Plus, I can't say I've been impre...
Have had to rethink my approach to ciao - details on my homepage. Plus, I can't say I've been impressed with site management over the last couple of months. What is going on with that incredibly annoying "now" ad on the right!!Driving me nuts..
Member since:17.11.2004
Reviews:45
Members who trust:22
I spent 5 weeks in Egypt a couple of years ago. We did more or less the standard route, getting off the beaten track a little. Cairo - Alexandria - Siwa - Farafra - Luxor - Aswan - Abu Simbel - Hurghurda - Dahab.
Egypt is not just all about the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings, although these are obviously not to be missed.
I highly recommend going east. From Alexandria on the Med, you can go south to Siwa, which is an oasis town in the middle of the desert near the Libyan border, where donkeys remain the main form of transportation. The people here still live a traditional lifestyle. Women are fully covered from head to toe, and apparently do not speak to any man other than family until they are married (including the husband to be!)
It is becoming quite touristy now but you do have to be reasonably dedicated to get that far out, and as a result it's a peaceful haven compared to Luxor or Cairo. You can swim in the hotspring that Cleopatra bathed in, although be warned that if you do, whatever you wear will become permanently a rusty orange colour! From Siwa you can do some great trips into the desert. We hired a 4wd and a driver to take us on a 3 day trip through the desert to the oasis town of Farafra, where we caught a bus to take us through to Luxor.
The other great place to hang out for awhile after you've had enough of the desert and the touts and the general hassle is Dahab. Again, it's becoming touristy but it's a fabulous place to chill out in after all the dust of Egypt. We had scheduled 2 days, stayed for 6, and had to drag ourselves away. You can sit by the ocean on piles of cushions, with amazing fruit cocktail concoctions, which all becomes addictive. There's amazing snorkling and diving and if you can drag yourself away from the cafes there's plenty to see and do along the coast lines and into the desert.
If you're a woman, be prepared for comments if ever you're on your own without any men. However, whilst the hassle factor is quite high, I never felt threatened during my stay in Egypt. Learning a few words of arabic helps ("empshi" means Go away!).
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I'm put off by the injections you need and the stories I've heard about it being dirty in places. But I'm sure there are lots of lovely places to visit too. Jo
tekin21 06.06.2005 18:46
Sounds like you had a great time and saw plenty, have always wanted to visit Egypt but just not got around to it yet. Jane x
sean0107 24.12.2004 12:57
Egypt is always an experience. Been 4 times and never see the pyramids! Look forward to the pics when you turn green! Sean
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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: 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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Dec 24th, 2004
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