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 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  Best time to travel Winter

Traveller Info (cont.) Currency – Egyptian Pound 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 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 14 th 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 27 th 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   Considered the peak that Moses climbed  “Path of Moses” – 4,000 steps – about 3 hours to climb St. Catherine’s Monastery   Foot of Mt Sinai  Also called Monastery of the Transfiguration  Built 527AD

Alexandria Founded by Alexander the Great 331BC Pharos –  Legendary lighthouse Cruise port 2 nd largest city in Egypt  225km from Cairo “Pearl of the Mediterranean”

Accommodations -Resorts Mersa Matruh 300km W of Alexandria Rommel’s Cave Sharm El Sheikh Ritz Carlton Casinos, clubs, restaurants Hurghada 20km beaches Shipwreck diving  Canadians should follow advice of local authorities and use caution when travelling to the Sinai region.

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 

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