Chapter 24

Egypt Riddles in the Sand

Egypt Pyramids Sphinx History Culture Nile Cruises Suez Canal

How Travellers Get There

Air carriers Egyptair - MS- connections CAI – Connect through Europe

Cruise lines Alexandria Port Said

Traveller Info Documentation

Passport, visa www.voyage.gc.ca Visas can be obtained at major points of entry –

But recommended to obtain from Egyptian embassy or consulate before arrival to avoid being refused entry

Health concerns Water, sun, heat, Sanitation NOT to Canadian standards See physician prior to departure IAMAT www.iamat.org

Best time to travel Winter

Traveller Info (cont.)

Currency – Egyptian Pound www.xe.com

Language – Arabic English & French in principal resort areas

Islamic customs Work Week – Sun to Thurs Dress – conservatively Respect religious / social traditions to avoid offending

local sensitivities Drink bottled water

When to Go Peak

Dec – April Book early for cruises

Spring Shifting sands

Fall Sept – Nov

Bargains available Avoid Ramadan

Modified hours and closures shops & restaurants

Getting Around Cruise

Nile - “up” is south; “down” is north Fly south – cruise north 5 – 7 days Hotels operate most cruise ships

Plane Major cities

Road conditions poor

Getting Around (cont.)

Train 1st class

Camels, donkeys, horses Felucca Road conditions poor

Car WITH driver Cairo

Subway Best option – escorted tours

Cairo Museums

Egyptian museum King Tut Mummies, Sarcophagi

Islamic Art Mosques

Ibn Tulun Built 876-879 AD – Cairo’s oldest, intact mosque still in use

El Azhar oldest Islamic University founded in 970 AD

Sultan Hassan bronze doors inlaid with gold and silver, marble paneling

Cairo (cont.) Citadel of Salah al Din

Built between 1176 and 1182 AD panoramic view of Cairo Alabaster Mosque

Coptic Quarter The Hanging Church - al-Mu'allaqua 4th C, built over the southern gate of the fortress of Babylon Dedicated to the Virgin Mary 14th C wall-painting of the Nativity

Cairo (cont.)

Cairo Tower 187m views of the city from all sides

topped by revolving restaurant Khan el-Khalili

Souk largely unchanged since 14th century Spices, perfumes, gold & silver carpets, brass, copperware, leatherwork, glass

Giza Great Pyramids

Cheops Built 2650BC Sound & light show

Sphinx Lion’s body and man’s

head 73 m long and 20 m high Early morning - best time

to visit

Sakkara – (Saqqara) Ride on horseback from Giza

Step Pyramid King Zoser Built 27th C BC Imhotep- architect

Memphis One of the oldest cities Ramses II

Luxor Temple of Luxor

East bank 2 pharaohs built temple

dedicated to Amun Ra Amenhotep III Ramses II

Temples of Karnak East bank Greatest worship area Moon Deity Oal- Karnak – the Fort Avenue of the Rams

Luxor (cont.) Seat of power 2100–750BC

Former name - Thebes Both banks of Nile

City of Living – east City of the Dead - west

Tombs of Valley of the Queens West bank New Kingdom Carved in rock faces of

valley Queen Nefertari

Tombs of Valley of the Kings West bank New Kingdom Carved in rock faces of

valley Tut-ankh-Amun III Ramses III & VI Amenhotep II

Aswan Ancient frontier town

Distinct African atmosphere Old Cataract Hotel Souk

Aswan High Dam One of largest dams Built to avoid Nile floods 3600 m long – 40 m wide

Lake Nassar World’s largest artificial lake – 5250 km²

Aswan (cont.) Philae Island

Reassembled 500m from original site Sound & light show

Temple of Abu Simbel Salvage began in 1963 – due to High Dam Relocated on plateau facing sun

Rameses II & Nefertari

Elephantine Island Largest of the islands

Sinai Desert Mt. Horeb

www.geographia.com/egypt/sinai/mtsinai.htm Considered the peak that Moses climbed “Path of Moses” – 4,000 steps – about 3 hours to climb

St. Catherine’s Monastery www.orthodoxwiki.org/St._Catherine's_Monastery_(Sinai) Foot of Mt Sinai Also called Monastery of the Transfiguration Built 527AD

Alexandria Founded by Alexander the Great

331BC

Pharos – Legendary lighthouse

Cruise port 2nd largest city in Egypt

225km from Cairo “Pearl of the Mediterranean”

http://alexandriaegypt.com

Accommodations -Resorts Mersa Matruh

http://www.middleeast.com/mersamatruh.htm 300km W of Alexandria Rommel’s Cave

Sharm El Sheikh www.sharm-el-sheikh.com Ritz Carlton Casinos, clubs, restaurants

Hurghada www.hurghada.com 20km beaches Shipwreck diving

Canadians should follow advice of local authorities and use caution when travelling to the Sinai region. www.voyage.gc.ca

Accommodations (cont.)

Sell up! – Four Seasons, Hilton, Sonesta

Marriott Cairo Royal palace built for opening of Suez Canal 1869 Gardens

Mena House Oberoi 1869 – Hunting palace – later turned into hotel Closest hotel to Pyramids of Giza

Cruise ships on Nile 3,4,7 night Luxury 5 ٭cruises www.sonesta.com/egypt_nilecruise/page.asp?pageid=16724

Culture, Customs and Conduct Use right hand, not left Little personal space Baksheesh

Expected tips Mosques

Must remove shoes Women must be covered

Most Egyptians are conservative Moslem or Coptic

Bread – aysh pita Ful - beans Tahini, hummus Lamb, chicken Grilled pigeon Dates, figs Ahwa – coffee Mint Tea Stella beer

http://touregypt.net/Culture.htm