Warning: We are not going to get into any touristic information or set out in detail any of the following places.About this information please check our section "The World of the Travelling". In this present section we are going to give personal information such as our own experience from our trips, anecdotes, recommendations,etc; the sort of useful information you search for before beginning your trip on, but impossible to find in any touristic guides.
If you would like to obtain more information or any concrete information you can ask us for it through our E-Mail address and we will pleasantly give it to you provided we can.
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EGYPT
keops, Kefren and Mikerinos
When you arrive at the airport it would be good for you to have some dollars in cash to pay the airport taxes. These taxes are justified somehow for the collaboration in repaying the reconstruction of the Temple " Abu Sinbel". Once you get to the hotel it would be a good thing you changed some dollars into Egyptian pounds (so-called "Leras").
All the souvenirs shopping is paid with Leras, unlike the purchase made in hotels and quite inportant stores which is payed with credit cards.
First thing that shocks you when arriving in Cairo is its traffic chaos, as it seems that lights there are mere decoration. Other peculiar things are the smells, noises, such as the blowing of their cars horns.
Hotels are not deceiving, according to their category; European food is excellent. Breakfasts are usually served in the American way, a sort of "bouffet" with a lot of food.
The touristic guiding tour starts very early in the morning to avoid the unbearable heat. These tours are usually finished by midday, then people rest in the hotels in the afternoon.
"Bargaining" is the national sport in Egypt; "without it Egypt would not exist". You have to bargain over everything, and this works as it follows: sellers offer you a product, and pretending you have no interest at all in ityou ask for the price: How much? (they understand many languages!). Then, they say "100", but you say "25", so right away they start making horrible grimaces because of the disappointment of your offer. At this moment, you have to leave pretending a lack of interest in the product.
At that time, they make you a counter-offer: "50". Finally, it depends on the ability of the buyer and the necessity of the seller, but you could obtain a purchase for a 30% less than the first offer.
Warning: A magic word: sometimes they can get very persuasive and tyring, and even when you say "no" to some purchase they can pister you and pursue you relentlessly, then you say shaa! Seriously, and they go away ( We ignore the meaning of this word, but it works!).
There are offers to ride camels around the Pyramids, but you have to agree on a price before the riding. Also, try to avoid their planning to take you an hour excursion through the desert (unfortunately, this has happened to some people)
Shopping: You can buy any other day of the week except on Fridays.
Fridays are a day of meditation for the Egyptians. The best place to buy is the famous "Khan Bazaar" called "Khalilli". It is a whole village inside Cairo devoted to the commerce, founded in the XV Century. Along its countless narrow streets and shops, you will have at your reach any items made of gold, copper, ivory, silver, leather, wood,and all kind of souvenirs.It is very typical to buy sandalwood and perfumes with their characteristic scent bottles. Besides, there are items as famous as the Damask trays, the chiselling silver, ans especially the hand-made tapestries or carpets.
Warning: There are very good imitations of alabaster, which in fact, are made of mere soap.
It is obligatory to buy the characteristic papyruses made of some reeds with the same name .These reeds grow in the Nile banks. (These papyruses were the origins of our present paper).
These papyruses are decorated with Egyptian signs, with very attractive red and golden colours. Papyruses of great quality, made by students of Fine Arts, can be bought at the National Centre of the Papyrus "Queen of Egypt Papyrus" in Giza.
Also, in an open street (nearby the entrance to the Cairo Museum) some painting reproductions made of a papyrus base can be purchased at the price of 1 $, approximately.
We must also talk about the typical souvenir called " Cartouche", which consists of a gold medallion where somebodies´name is engraved on it.There are different types of medallions: jewels in the shape of the life´s key, an Egyptian beetle, etc.
Being these medallions jewels, it would be convenient for you to obtain them in shops where you are offered certain guarantees (where credit cards are accepted). Besides, it is better to buy them in the Cairo rather than in a cruiser, where it is more expensive.
Shops are open from 9 a.m to 8 p.m.
Banks are open from 9 to 12.30 p.m , even on Sundays (Fridays closed).
Transport: It is not advisable to take the underground or buses because taxis are very cheap. However, it is essential that you stipulate the price of your trip before you get on (bargaining is possible), even about the time of waiting and your way back.
Dressing: Your clothing would better be made of cotton, wear sport or comfortable shoes, and of course, always wear a cap o r hat, and your sunglasses.
Water or any liquid must be packed,as it is recommended by all the travel agencies.However, what it is not usually said is that about 80% of the tourists catch a stomachic virus, called "turistitis" that make your stomach turn over and cause diarrhoea. Do not panic! This stomachache usually disappears in 3 or 4 hours rest. One of the reasons why people catch this virus is due to the fact that tourists come back from their day-trips very thirsty ( as the heat is very intense) and drink fresh beverages that produce this reaction. Every good guide will advise you to drink a tea or an American coffee, as hot beverages are the best way to calm down this sort of thirst.
We recommend you to bring with you: physiological serum, some ammoniac lotion or stick for the insect bites ans some analgesics.
As you will surely take the cruise across the Nile, since it is included in many travel special offers, when you are in Aswan, do not miss going by a boat called " Falua" ( Typical Egyptian boat) to the Elefantian Isla. The " Falua" is driven by "Nubios" ( a black Egyptian race of a great height).
You can take advantage of the obligatory stop of the cruise to save the Eddfu dam to make some shopping. From the same boat you can buy things to the sellers on the banks ( basically table linen and cotton clothing). Naturally, bargaining is practised, and it is very common to see how the sellers throw their material to you on the boat so that you can examine it.
Do not miss the visit to the Temple of Abu Simbel ( 320 Kms from Aswan), this visit is not always included in the special offers. This Temple is quite striking, as it consists of two temples digged out the rock. It was rescued before being submerged by the waters of the Nasser Lake . Many countries worked under the Dutch leading and the Temple was cut into cubes as it was a "puzzle" and it was rebuilt a few metres higher so that the humankind would not miss this great ancient jewel. You get really impressed when your tour guide , after showing you the Temple , invites you to enter through the main door and says : " And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, get ready to behold the Phraraonic work of the XX Century"; there you can see that all the Temple is rebuilt inside an artificial hillock which resembled its original enclave as much as it could be done.
Lastly, a recommendation: We have already said that trips finish at midday, and afternoons are usually free to go to the "Khalili". We would advise you to keep one afternoon free and do the following:
Take a taxi (remember, they are cheap), and go through the Sinahi Desert until getting to the Suez Canal. Thus, you would go from Africa to Asia in one afternoon.
Assuan