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Health:

Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate required if arriving from infected areas. Infants under 1 year are exempt.


Population:

Egyptians are friendly, hospitable and modest. They also have a sense of balance and moderation. Egyptians are proud and sensitive.Proud of their history but sensitive of their present.They sincerely welcome their tourist

visitors from all parts of the world. Egypt remains one of the more secure and friendly countries in the world for tourists. Egyptians are easy to get on with and will go out of their way to help foreign visitors find their way, or invite them for a meal or a tea. Their offers are usually authentic and not for expected reward.


Clothing:

On the practical side, leave your synthetics at home as they will prove to be too hot in summer and not warm enough in winter. It is advisable to wear cotton in summer as the heat can be like a furnace. In winter wear

layers that can be taken off during the heat of the day and put back on for cool evenings.Wear loose and flowing garments, which are not only modest, but practical in a hot climate. Bring comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking and temple floors are far from even. In summer, wear a hat to protect yourself from the heat of the sun. Sunglasses are also a must.


Language:

The Arabic language has its mark on the Egyptian mind. Classical Arabic is used by the media and in formal writing, but the spoken Arabic is colloquial and varies from one region to the next. The colloquial Arabic of

Cairo is widely understood throughout the Arab world, because of the cultural influence of films, songs and TV programs. English and French are widely understood by Educated Classes.


Food:

In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. You can find small, inexpensive establishments that serve good Egyptian food for only a few pounds. If you are in a hurry, try

the local snack bars. While the cubbyholes off the street (which probably have running water) are generally safe. Most cities have Western-style fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, which are relatively inexpensive. In cities, both food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets. Menus are in both Arabic and English except in Alexandria, where they are in Arabic and French. In large restaurants, the maitre d'hotel will speak English, French, and possible German, Italian, or Greek. These establishments serve a mixture of international cuisine but often include Egyptian or Middle Eastern fare as well. Most hotels also maintain 24-hour coffee shops.

 

Religion:

Islam is the official religion of Egypt, but there is a large Coptic community and other Christian sects are represented in the country. There is also a small Jewish community.

 

Currency:

Egyptian currency ranges from 25 Piaster up to 1000 pound. Egyptian currency is not same size. Egyptian money is both colorful and attractively designed.

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Visa:

Most travelers obtain their Visa upon entry to Egypt; Visa applications are normally passed out by airlines prior to landing at an Egyptian airport.


Gifts:

Egypt has had enough tourists, over many enough years, to present a diluted image of true handicraft and tourist souvenirs. Many Egyptians as well, will often not be able to tell one from the other. The quality of the

work is often excellent, and the cost (after haggling) will be so low, that it is a bit difficult to point out the very best buys for visitors to Egypt.
Many get fascinated by papyrus, but anyone planning to buy such items, would do best to shop around first. I had presented 4 different qualities in the most renowned store of Cairo, and to my taste the worst quality was the most attractive, while I felt that the best qualities were overloaded by colours. Anyone buying papyrus, do best by choosing the ones they really like best, but pay according to a scale where brownish colours are counted as the most crude quality, while the very colourful ones are considered best. One thing to always look out for: The papyrus should not have any painting lost, nor anything in the process of peeling off. But this applies to the best qualities.

Egyptian jewellery bought at the right price, will leave you wondering how anyone could be making any profits. This becomes especially clear with gold items, where the price you pay is just a little bit above the metal price (be awake when stating metal price for gold, according to the carat value— in 21 carat there is 21/24 parts of gold in the total weight). But also be awake during the weighing process. Always be cautious with "antique" stuff, little of the antiques displayed for tourists are anything but fakes.


Clothes and shoes:

can be of incredible value. Cotton clothes can be tailor-made, but the quality of the work is unpredictable. If you know how to spot bad from good work, here you have a great way of saving in on the costs of

traveling to Egypt. As for shoes, I once bought a pair of shoes for US$7, and they were some of the very best shoes I have ever had. First class leather, and pleasant even for long walks Finding a shoe store in big cities Nothing would be easier, they are all over for leather items, skin quality is generally very good, but the actual work is unpredictable.


Prices are good:

but check the workmanship just as much as the leather quality. Leather shall be soft,- very soft, elastic and firm. Stitches should be strong enough
to let the vendor have to try to tear the jacket or bag apart. If you are not

allowed to test the quality before buying, check on another vendor. Egypt has many more good items at sale, than the ones described above. There are two banal, but important, rules never to forget: Only buy what you really like, and never rush into a transaction.


Shopping:

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping leisure, culture and nightlife. shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centres

displaying the latest fashions All the bounty of the East is here-particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold and silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekalet al-balah, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers' Bazaar for appliqué-work,Mohammed Ali street for musical instruments. And, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip.

When you need a break from city life, try a round of golf on the famous Mena House course overlooking the Pyramids, watch the horse-racing at the Gezira Club or visit the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.
The collection, which covers sthe period from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD, is a fascinating record of a civilisation in the process of change as religions merged and society evolved. In Alexandria, Graeco-Roman and pharaonic religions mingled in the cult of Serapis; the shift from pagan religions sto Christianity can also be seen in the exhibits which include mummies, Hellenistic statues, busts of Roman emperors, Tanagra figurines and early Christian antiquities.
 

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Nile in a felucca:

or ride on horseback from the Giza Pyramids to Saqqara. For a day trip outside Cairo visit Haraniyya.
village and see the beautiful tapestries and weaving produced by local

people. Or get away from it all at the top of the Cairo Tower,a modern 187 metre-high  tower with views of the city from all sides, topped by a revolving restaurant.
Cairo comes alive at night, the best time to shop, eat delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, or simply watch the world go by from a pavement cafe. You can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile, sample a shish a at a coffee-shop or see oriental dancers and cabarets at a luxury hotel. The splendid Opera House complex houses several galleries (including the Museum of Modern Art), restaurants and concert halls. Listening to Arabic music under the stars, in the open-air theatre, is a magical experience. At El-Ghuriya, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, you can watch folk musicians and whirling dervish dancers. And don't forget the most essential after-dark experience, the Sound and light show at the Pyramids, a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story of antiquity.

 

   Assistants
Train Schedule:
The Egyptian State Railway services the entire Nile Valley down to Aswan , the Red Sea cities of Suez and Port Said , the Delta and Northern Coast cities of Alexandria and Mersa Matrouh. More Details
Bus time table:
Air conditioned buses link most parts of Egypt to Cairo and Alexandria. There is also a fleet of cheaper non air conditioned buses. More Details
Cairo metro network:
Cairo has two underground networks which links the main towns of Cairo, and greater Cairo. More Details
Taxi:

For the tourist , it is more expensive but easier to get a taxi from a hotel where they are lined up. Taxi drivers are friendly many speak English. More Details

Tram :

Metro & Tram: Both Alexandria and Cairo have tram or metro systems that run through at least part of the city. More Details

Rent Car:

There are several rent car companies  Avis, Budget Rent A Car, Europcar, Hertz and J Car. More Details

Air Line:

Air Egypt is served by International airports at Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh. More Details

Air Port:
Air Egypt is served by international airports at Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada on the mainland, and at Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai peninsula. There are non-stop flights from most major European cities. More Details
GSM:
The mobile network supported in Egypt is GSM 900. The two leading private GSM service providers, the Egyptian Company for Mobile Services MobiNi (012) and Vodafone(010). More Details
Communication:
Radio, Television, News Papers, Postal Services, Commercial Express Mail Agencies, Telephone , Telex and Fax. More Details

Distances between Cairo & other Cities :


City

Miles

Kilometers

Alexandria

140

225

Damietta

119

191

Minya

151

236

Asyut

224

359

Luxor

415

664

Esna

449

719

Edfu

484

775

Kom Ombo

521

835

Aswan

550

880

Port Said

137

220

Ismailia

87

140

Fayyum

64

103

Baharia Oasis

197

316

Farafra Oasis

262

420

Dakhla Oasis

413

690

Kharga Oasis

366

586

 

 

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