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Showing posts from June 19, 2011

Health tips

There are no compulsory vaccantions when entering Cairo,   but there are reccomendations. Some people will already have some of these. They are Hep A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid Fever and some people even suggest Yellow Fever. If you will be in the El Fayoum area, Malaria is also suggested. However there is only limited risk in this area. When consuming Egyptian food, please be aware that there are many spices and ingredients which may not agree with a "foreign" stomach. Be especially careful of salads from places that are not trusted or advised. The methods of cleaning and/or cutting vegetables and produce may be questionable. Try to drink bottled water. Any type, or kind, will do. Just be sure to read the label on the bottle to see how much TDS (Total Dissolved Salt) is contained. If the level is more than 200, do not buy it. That level is too high. In Egypt there are so many types of mineral water. Some are good, but a few types may cause stomach problems, diarrhea, and...

Traffic jam and cabs in Egypt

Traffic Be aware of your surroundings if you have to cross the streets in Cairo. Traffic is not as it is in Europe or North America, as cars never stop for pedestrians. Try to be patient and wait until there are no cars before crossing. If this does not happen, do not run in front of the cars. But if you do decide to cross, try to walk at a faster pace than normal, and cars will do their best to avoid you. Don't be scared, or else try to cross where there is a traffic light. If worse comes to worse, try to stick by the locals, and cross the street alongside them. Crossing with locals can be scary, but they manage and have experience. If you go to the Pyramids and wish to ride a camel, have a guide (or a local) negotiate for you. If you run into any problems at any archaeological sites, there are tourist police, personnel or even an office where you can file complaints. They should be able to refund your money in a matter of minutes. There's Two kinds of cabs in Cairo: Th...

Egypt .. What to Wear ?

Egypt .. being a predominantly Muslim country, is naturally conservative (not like the Gulf States or Saudi Arabia) but the average people are careful in what they wear, especially ladies -- the more conservative the clothing you wear, the better it is for you. For men it is not really an issue -- normal trousers and shirt or T-shirt are fine -- but in Cairo it would not be acceptable to wear short shorts or a tank tops/sleeveless tops. In the resorts like Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada, Sinai, etc. -- shorts are fine and it is very open and flexible. This also applies to ladies for the beach areas, but going into the market area in Hurghada, for example you may be more comfortable in trousers. Generally for men in Cairo or any city that is not on the sea side, remain with trousers (at tourist sites long loose shorts) or jeans and T-shirt , as even in Cairo, local people do not feel comfortable seeing a man in shorts. In Sea Side areas it's ok to walk in shorts, but once you enter a lo...

Egypt Weather And When To Go ?

Egypt has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. The only differences between the seasons are variations in daytime temperatures and changes in prevailing winds. In the coastal regions, temperatures range between an average minimum of 14° C in winter and an average maximum of 30° C in summer. Temperatures vary widely in the inland desert areas, especially in summer, when they may range from 7° C at night to 43° C during the day. During winter, temperatures in the desert fluctuate less dramatically, but they can be as low as 0° C at night and as high as 18° C during the day. The average annual temperature increases moving southward from the Delta to the Sudanese border, where temperatures are similar to those of the open deserts to the east and west. In the north, the cooler temperatures of Alexandria during the summer have made the city a popular resort. Throughout the Delta and the northern Nile Valley, there are occasional winte...

Is Egypt Safe Now ?

In general, Egypt is a safe country to travel. Egyptians are very friendly - if you are in need of assistance they will generally try to help you as much as they are able, more than any one imagine. For example, if you take a taxi from Cairo to Alexandria, you will be stopped at a checkpoint before leaving Cairo. They will ask where you are going, and communicate with the checkpoint at Alexandria to make sure you reach your destination within a certain time period. The same goes for most trips into the desert. During different branches of your drive, you may be escorted by local police. They will travel to your destination with you, wait around until you are finished, and usually stay behind at one of the next checkpoints.There are also several checkpoints from Cairo to Sharm el Shiekh when traveling by coach. Military officials get on the coach and check passports. The usual warnings for prudent behaviour apply, but are not the same as in New York or London. In the latter, the anxiety...