| Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinations on | | | | counterfeit, and it is in any case illegal to export the real |
| the world tourist map. This extra ordinary country is | | | | article. |
| today the favourite vacation spot for many, just like it | | | | Alexandria, monument to Alexander the Great, is |
| was in the days of the early Greeks and Romans. | | | | located 180 km to the northwest of Cairo. The city has |
| The thoroughly cultured Greeks, in particular, were | | | | a Mediterranean temper and compared to the |
| fascinated by this civilization that predated theirs by at | | | | hothouse of Cairo has a cooler and more pleasant |
| least 2000 years. The biggest draw continues to be | | | | climate. The Greco-Roman Museum is within central |
| the amazing abundance of historical treasures- | | | | Alexandria and has on display artifacts from the period |
| temples, pyramids and museums –contained in | | | | 300 BC to AD 300. You will see mummies, |
| this one country. But the destination offers more than | | | | sarcophaguses, pottery, tapestries and the granite |
| just the wonders of antiquity. Your visit to Egypt can | | | | sculpture of the bull god Apis. Other sights in the area |
| be rounded off by a cruise down the Nile and a beach | | | | include the Roman Amphitheater, the Royal Jewelry |
| vacation at the top notch Red Sea and Sinai resorts. | | | | Museum and the Roman era catacombs of Kom |
| The unification of the Kingdoms of Lower and Upper | | | | el-Shukafa. |
| Egypt around BC 3180 marks the point from when | | | | The island of Pharos, near the harbour is the site of |
| Egypt became a significant power. This event is | | | | the Great Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of |
| credited with Menes, who thus became the first | | | | the Ancient World. Today, what remains on the site is |
| Pharaoh. Menes went on to establish a new capital at | | | | a 15th century fortress. After immersing yourself in |
| Memphis, just to the south of where Cairo stands | | | | antiquity, you can take a dip at some beach resorts |
| today. For the next 3000 years and under 30 | | | | within 20 km to the west of the city. At the resort of |
| dynasties of the Pharaohs, a dynamic and culturally | | | | Marsa Matruh, 230 km further on, you will find some |
| sophisticated civilization flourished. It was not however | | | | excellent beaches and an opportunity for reef diving. |
| smooth sailing for the descendants of Menes and | | | | This area right from Alexandria along the coast is part |
| power was for short periods in the hands of | | | | of Egypt's Med. It is still relatively undeveloped despite |
| foreigners. Historians who as usual want to simplify | | | | long stretches of white sand beaches and turquoise |
| things, have divided up the reign of the Pharaohs into | | | | waters. |
| three periods: the Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BC), Middle | | | | If your primary interest is ancient Egypt, bear in mind |
| Kingdom (2040-1640 BC) and New Kingdom | | | | that about 80% of Egyptian antiquities are in the vicinity |
| (1550-1070 BC). | | | | of Luxor. The city sits on the site of the ancient city of |
| It is a curious fact that most monuments of the | | | | Thebes and together with the surrounding areas |
| Pharaohs relate to death. Though moderns may view | | | | carries magnificent treasures of antiquity such as |
| this as an unhealthy preoccupation with death, some | | | | palaces, temples and royal tombs. The royals of those |
| scholars see it as an indication of the ancient | | | | times whiled their afterlife at what is referred today as |
| Egyptians great love for life and desire for continued | | | | the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and |
| existence. The pyramid was the highest evolution in | | | | Tombs of the Nobles. The tombs contained treasure |
| the practice of preparing elaborate tombs for the | | | | that has been plundered over the centuries. Some of |
| departed. Pyramids were the final resting place, from | | | | the more famous tombs are those of the boy king |
| where the Pharaohs enjoyed the afterlife. The most | | | | Tutankhamen and the queen Nefertari. |
| famous of these edifices are the Pyramids of Giza, | | | | On the east bank of the Nile you find the Temple of |
| built in the 4th Dynasty (2575-2465 BC), when the | | | | Luxor and the Temple of Karnak, packed with obelisks, |
| power of these ancient kings was at its peak. | | | | wall murals and statues with heads of gods. If you |
| Religion was another reason for the great monuments | | | | overnight here, enjoy the evening sound-and-light show |
| of ancient Egypt. The deities found deserving of | | | | at the Temple of Karnak. Temples on the west bank |
| worship were truly diverse. And many, many temples | | | | are Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and The |
| were built in honour of these gods. Temples for the | | | | Ramesseum, a once massive edifice that is today |
| most esteemed gods were quite elaborate and were | | | | mostly a ruin. You need to spend at least two days |
| administered by high priests. Auxiliary buildings housed | | | | here for your trip to be worthwhile. You are also |
| libraries, granaries, and what may today be considered | | | | advised to hire a guide who can explain the historical |
| as research laboratories for astronomers, biologists | | | | context of each artifact or monuments. Start out early |
| and other scientists. Most gods were linked with | | | | each day before the day-trippers, airlifted from Cairo |
| specific animals and to whom special powers were | | | | arrive to crowd you out. |
| attributed. Some gods came and went, but the sun | | | | Aswan, a scenic town by the Nile lies 680 km to the |
| god was one of the most enduring. It has been | | | | south of Cairo, in the region that was so long ago |
| suggested that the design of the pyramids had some | | | | known as Lower Egypt. Though not as numerous as |
| association with practices of the sun cult. The Pharaoh | | | | elsewhere, you can find temples and tombs at those |
| was considered to be a living god. | | | | two islands in the Nile- Elephantine and Kitcheners |
| The Greeks, in the name of Alexander the Great | | | | islands. You can get to the islands by sailing in a |
| finally brought the Age of the Pharaohs to an end in | | | | felucca. The Nubian Museum celebrates the history |
| 332 BC. He founded that city that bears his name, | | | | and culture of the Nubian people. Aswan is also |
| Alexandria. The Greeks ushered in a period of | | | | important in the history of Coptic Christians and the |
| comparative prosperity and stability under | | | | ruins of the 7th-century Coptic monastery of St. |
| descendants of Ptolemy. Ptolemy was the | | | | Simeon laze in this area. In today’s Egypt, |
| Macedonian general who was appointed by Alexander | | | | Aswan is important as the location of the High Dam |
| as governor. The Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven | | | | that finally put an end to the annual bursting of the |
| wonders of the ancient world and the Great Library of | | | | banks of the Nile. |
| Alexandria were built in this era. | | | | The Red Sea is well known to readers of the Bible as |
| As the Greeks declined, so did the Romans rise, and | | | | the sea that God parted with his own hand so that |
| they too cast a covetous eye upon Egypt. The last of | | | | Moses and his people could cross over to Sinai. So |
| the Ptolomies was the notorious Cleopatra, lover to | | | | named because of its red tint mountain ranges, it is |
| both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The Roman | | | | home to a number of resorts, the biggest of which is |
| Empire too declined Egypt and was torn apart by | | | | Hurghada. The underwater world of the Red Sea is |
| foreign armies. The most significant event at this time | | | | alive with over 800 fish species and the deep-sea |
| was the invasion of the Arabs in 462 AD. Though | | | | fishing is excellent. Snorkellers can explore the coral |
| other foreigners including Ottoman Turks, French and | | | | reef that is reputed to be one of the finest in the world. |
| the British, subsequently ruled the country, it is the | | | | Hurghada aside, there are other resorts in the area |
| Arabs who brought Islam whose legacy has been the | | | | that have good beaches, coral reefs and some golfing |
| most enduring. | | | | too. The modern day traveler escaping the city will |
| Egypt is today a modern vibrant nation that carries the | | | | empathise with the early Christian hermits who built |
| burden of its 5,000-year history graciously. Just like in | | | | their monasteries here as they sought to get away |
| ancient times, the Nile sustains the country and upto | | | | from it all. Hurghada lies 380 km to the southeast of |
| 95% of the population live in close proximity of the | | | | Cairo. |
| river. The rest of the country is desolate desert, | | | | Sinai is where Africa meets Asia. Like the Red Sea |
| mitigated only by a few isolated oases and the | | | | coast, it has top resorts and is great for water sports. |
| habitable narrow strips along the African Red Sea and | | | | Sharm El Sheikh, towards the southern tip of the Sinai |
| the Mediterranean coastlines. | | | | Peninsula is the most developed resort town. Here you |
| According to the tourism ministry, Egypt for the visitor | | | | will find entertainment in the form of casinos and |
| is best seen as six tourist super-sites. This covers the | | | | nightclubs and also some good shopping malls. The |
| most popular destinations and excludes | | | | marine life is abundant and the coral reefs are great. |
| off-the-beaten-track locations. The six super-sites are | | | | Sinai is also where the three great monotheistic |
| anchored on: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, | | | | religions meet. You can make an excursion to Mt. |
| Hurghada on the Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh in | | | | Horeb, said to be Mt. Sinai where Moses received the |
| Sinai. Except for Luxor, none of these destinations | | | | Ten Commandments. For Roman Catholics, emulate |
| relies entirely on ancient monuments to attract visitors. | | | | Pope John Paul II who visited nearby St. Catherine's |
| Egypt tours and vacations are very competitively | | | | Monastery in 2000. The monastery is supposed to sit |
| priced relative to other destinations. | | | | on the site of Moses' burning bush. |
| Cairo is a huge, sprawling and chaotic metropolis. It has | | | | The people of Egypt from antiquity to the present day |
| all the amenities of a modern city and is the usual | | | | have always built their lives around the Nile. It is no |
| gateway for the visitor to Egypt. Cairo is a young city | | | | coincidence therefore, that probably the best way to |
| relative to nearby Heliopolis, Giza and Memphis that | | | | see the major sites is by taking a Nile Cruise. There |
| are associated with the Pharaohs. The city began as | | | | are several luxury cruise ships offering Nile Cruises. |
| a Roman trading post called Babylon- in the area now | | | | The longer cruise goes all the way from Cairo to |
| referred to as Coptic Cairo. The area was a | | | | Aswan in two weeks. There is however not much to |
| settlement of one of the world’s first Christian | | | | see between Cairo and Luxor and you will get better |
| communities. This predominantly Christian locale houses | | | | value if you take the shorter cruise between Luxor |
| a museum that is a repository of religious art, | | | | and Aswan. This cruise, which normally takes six days, |
| manuscripts, paintings and pottery. | | | | goes in both directions and you can embark at either |
| But it is the Arab invaders who arrived in the 7th | | | | Aswan or Luxor. You can get to Luxor or Aswan |
| century who can be said to have founded the city. | | | | from Cairo by taking a flight or the overnight sleeper |
| They settled just north of the area referred to as Old | | | | train. The adventurous and thrifty can also sail along |
| Cairo. The medieval district of Islamic Cairo is densely | | | | the Nile by using traditional boats, feluccas. |
| packed with people and lots of mosques and temples. | | | | The summer in Egypt, which falls between April and |
| This is where many still go during the month of | | | | October, is hot and dry. The winters are mild with cold |
| Ramadan to eat and spend the night after a | | | | nights. The best time to visit is between November |
| days’ fast. Giza on the Niles’ west bank | | | | and March, outside the intolerable summer season. |
| is where you find the Great Pyramids. These truly | | | | Light clothing is generally recommended though you |
| magnificent monuments were one of the Seven | | | | may need a sweater and jacket for winter evenings. |
| Wonders of the Ancient World. You will appreciate the | | | | Remember that this is a Muslim country and dress for |
| achievement of the builders of these edifices when | | | | women in particular is expected to be modest. All the |
| you reflect on the fact that until the 19th century they | | | | same, immodest western style holiday dress is |
| were the world’s largest buildings. | | | | acceptable in nightclubs, beaches and hotels in Cairo |
| The visitor to Cairo will easily tuck in trips to see | | | | and other locations frequented by tourists. |
| museums, mosques and monuments such as | | | | In the cities and locations popular with tourists, you will |
| Pyramids and the Sphinx. To commemorate your visit | | | | find a wide variety of accommodation ranging from |
| to this unforgettable city, visit the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. | | | | 5-star luxury to budget lodging. This in particular covers: |
| The wide array of souvenirs on sale here includes | | | | Cairo, Alexandria and the north coast, Luxor, Aswan |
| jewelry, brass, silver and copperware, carpets, | | | | and at the Red Sea and Sinai resorts towns. During |
| perfumes, alabaster and soapstone carvings. You will | | | | the popular winter season, advance booking is advised. |
| also find reproductions of antiquities, which you are | | | | Egypt hotels and resorts are very good value and you |
| advised to buy as opposed to anything presented as | | | | will find accommodation cheaper here than the |
| original. Such “originals” are usually | | | | equivalent in most other destinations. |