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