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