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Tour Egypt from the lively Nile Valley , to the solitary deserts, to the diversity of the Sinai desert , to the lush oases, to the exotic underwater life of the Red Sea , to the Mediterranean beaches. "Now, let me talk more of Egypt for it has a lot of admirable things and what one sees there is superior to any other country." - Herodotus, 500 BCE.
"...In Egypt all the operations of the powers which rule and work in heaven have been transferred to earth below...It should rather be said that the whole cosmos dwells in [Egypt] as in its sanctuary..."
"There will come a time when ... the gods will return from earth to heaven; Egypt will be forsaken, and the land which was once the home of religion will be left desolate, bereft of the presence of its deities."
Even though much of what Herodotus witnessed has been ruined by the cruelty of later generations, his statement is still valid to this day. Today's Egyptians have abandoned their ancient heritage for a mostly Moslem Arabic-speaking nation. Happily, they have maintained their friendly, hospitable, and warm characteristics.
Cairo , the capital is the place to start. It has the Pyramids, th Sphinxs, the Egyptian Museum, many more sights and more than ten million cairenes to share the experience. Alexandria , the second city of the country has its fair share of historic sights as well and with its location on the Mediterranean it is an ideal spot for your holidays.
The south of Egypt has many impressive temples and graves from Pharaonic times. Luxor , Aswan and Abu Simbel should all be on your to do list.
The Red Sea has great scuba diving : Hurghada is world famous for its under water world.
Cairo isn't a gentle city. Home to more than 16 million Egyptians, Arabs, Africans and sundry others, the 'Mother of the World' is an all-out assault on the senses. Chaotic, noisy, polluted, totally unpredictable and seething with people, the sheer intensity of the city will either seduce or appal.
Cairo has plenty of fine 19th-century buildings, modern art and sculpture, precious green spaces and ancient districts (Islamic Cairo is a Unesco World Heritage Site). Then there's the Pharaonic sites that stretch south of the city, not to mention Those Pyramids and That River.
Alexandria
Ruled by Cleopatra and rival to Rome, Alexandria is often said to be the greatest historical city, but with the least to show for it. Founded by Alexander the Great, it bears no trace of him; it's the site of one of the wonders of the ancient world, but there’s barely a notable monument remaining.
Today it's a provincial city, overcrowded with people and short on prestige. The arrival of a dynamic new city governor in the late 1990s has seen it undergoing something of a rebirth; money has been spent on the place. Buildings have been spruced up, trees planted and public spaces beautified.
Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city, has long been the country's gateway to Africa. The prosperous market city straddles the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes, at the 'other' end of the Nile. In ancient times it was a garrison town of importance to early Coptic Christians.
The Nile is glorious here as it makes its way down from the massive High Dam and Lake Nasser - watching the feluccas glide by as the sun sets over the Nile is an experience you're unlikely to forget. A visit to the Tombs of the Nobles is worthwhile, a highlight being the Nubian Museum.
Luxor
Built on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, Luxor is one of Egypt's prime tourist destinations. People have been visiting the magnificent monuments of Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut and Ramses III for thousands of years. Feluccas, old barges and luxury hotel ships cruise to and from Cairo and Aswan.
The lonely statues of the Colossi of Memnon are the first things most people see when they arrive on the West bank, though the Valley of the Kings, including the spectactular tombs of Nefertari (closed indefinitely since January 2003) and Tutankhamun, are the big attraction.
Situated on the northern entrance to the Suez Canal on the Mediterranean coast, Port Said is a very young city by Egyptian standards. Founded in 1859 by ruler Said Pasha when excavations began for the Suez Canal, the original settlement was established on land reclaimed from Lake Manzala.
Port Said was bombed in 1956 during the Suez Crisis, and again in the 1967 and 1973 wars with Israel; the damage can still be seen here and there, although the city was extensively rebuilt. Ferries cross Lake Manzala to Al-Matariyya and across the canal to Port Fuad.
Hurghada
Hurghada, known in Egypt as Ghardaga, was at one time just a simple fishing village. But now, with it's crystal clear water, untouched reefs and a multitude of ship wrecks, it has become one of the best Egyptian tourist destinations. The small town centre with its bazaars, mosques and lively atmosphere reflects typical Egyptian life. Further inland lie the Desert Mountains, ideal for desert tours. Most of all Hurghada offers sunshine and relaxation - all you could want for your holiday.
With more than 20 km of hotels along the beach, Hurghada can satisfy the needs of every visitor, from scubadiving to windsurfing to desert safaris. One can choose from the finest 5 Star Hotels to simple Guest Houses, and everything in-between. Hurghada is world renowned as a center for some of the world's best Diving. Within a couple of hours from your hotel you can be amongst a group of islands that are the home to Dive Sites guaranteed to astound even the most experienced divers.
Last edited by Gary (6:06, 06 January 2006)
Keep a tight grip on Purse
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by Ruth Daniel on 07 August 2006
The streets of Egypt are crowded. People walk very close to one another. My mother upon returning home, found the bottom of her handbag neatly cut through on the bottom. Everything in it was gone.
So be very cautious carrying your important belongings. Research on better ways to carry things before you go there. maybe purses along your waist are a good idea.