Sightseeing In Egypt--have you been there before?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carolina Rossini on July 22, 2009 at 2:00pm

Ginger, If everything goes right and I go, I will probably take a couple of days after the IGF to travel to see the pyramids. we just have to realize that they are far from the place where the IGF will be.

Permalink Reply by Virginia (Ginger) Paque on July 22, 2009 at 2:05pm

Hi Caro--yep, not so close--but a LOT closer than from Venezuela, ha ha! I'm interested in going to Cairo BEFORE the IGF--that way by the IGF, I will be caught up on my sleep, and over my jet lag.

Carolina Rossini said:

Ginger, If everything goes right and I go, I will probably take a couple of days after the IGF to travel to see the pyramids. we just have to realize that they are far from the place where the IGF will be.

Permalink Reply by Bernard Sadaka on July 22, 2009 at 4:19pm

From my personal experience, here are few things to do in Egyptus:
- Shopping at khan el khalili
- Sightseeing several important mosques next to khan el khalili
- Horse riding in the desert around the pyramids and the sphynx.
- there are also the colour show at the pyramids at night (but i'm not sure as i never saw it... would be great to be there at night though...)
- If you don't have problems walking on your knees or while your back is bent, you should also try to go inside the biggest pyramids (by day though).
- attending a concert @ alsakiya (heliopolis)
- trying the taste of MacDonald's BigTasty
- ...

two tips:
-your passport is require for pyramids if i still remember correctly, and there are special prices for students and regional natives (holders of Arab passports)
-negotiate every price (you can get almost everything for cheap prices if you know how to negotiate sometimes down to 20% the original price)

@Carolina: yes Cairo is about 3 hours by bus from sharam el sheikh (much less by car).

Cheers to all and hope to see you there...
All the Best.
B/.
P.S: I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do, please do suggest... I'll be glad to stay there afterwards... but keep in mind that weekends there are Fridays and Saturdays

Permalink Reply by Virginia (Ginger) Paque on July 22, 2009 at 5:44pm

Hi Bernard--thanks for the information--this helps planning... If everyone prefers to stay afterwards, I will do the same. Your plan of shopping and pyramids sounds good to me! How much time do you think we need to plan for?

Bernard Sadaka said:

From my personal experience, here are few things to do in Egyptus:
- Shopping at khan el khalili
- Sightseeing several important mosques next to khan el khalili
- Horse riding in the desert around the pyramids and the sphynx.
- there are also the colour show at the pyramids at night (but i'm not sure as i never saw it... would be great to be there at night though...)
- If you don't have problems walking on your knees or while your back is bent, you should also try to go inside the biggest pyramids (by day though).
- attending a concert @ alsakiya (heliopolis)
- trying the taste of MacDonald's BigTasty
- ...

two tips:
-your passport is require for pyramids if i still remember correctly, and there are special prices for students and regional natives (holders of Arab passports)
-negotiate every price (you can get almost everything for cheap prices if you know how to negotiate sometimes down to 20% the original price)

@Carolina: yes Cairo is about 3 hours by bus from sharam el sheikh (much less by car).

Cheers to all and hope to see you there...
All the Best.
B/.
P.S: I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do, please do suggest... I'll be glad to stay there afterwards... but keep in mind that weekends there are Fridays and Saturdays

Permalink Reply by Bernard Sadaka on July 23, 2009 at 11:44am

@Ginger let me see my friends there and will be back to you with more details... :)
Best.
B/.

Virginia (Ginger) Paque said:

Hi Bernard--thanks for the information--this helps planning... If everyone prefers to stay afterwards, I will do the same. Your plan of shopping and pyramids sounds good to me! How much time do you think we need to plan for?

Bernard Sadaka said:

From my personal experience, here are few things to do in Egyptus:
- Shopping at khan el khalili
- Sightseeing several important mosques next to khan el khalili
- Horse riding in the desert around the pyramids and the sphynx.
- there are also the colour show at the pyramids at night (but i'm not sure as i never saw it... would be great to be there at night though...)
- If you don't have problems walking on your knees or while your back is bent, you should also try to go inside the biggest pyramids (by day though).
- attending a concert @ alsakiya (heliopolis)
- trying the taste of MacDonald's BigTasty
- ...

two tips:
-your passport is require for pyramids if i still remember correctly, and there are special prices for students and regional natives (holders of Arab passports)
-negotiate every price (you can get almost everything for cheap prices if you know how to negotiate sometimes down to 20% the original price)

@Carolina: yes Cairo is about 3 hours by bus from sharam el sheikh (much less by car).

Cheers to all and hope to see you there...
All the Best.
B/.
P.S: I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do, please do suggest... I'll be glad to stay there afterwards... but keep in mind that weekends there are Fridays and Saturdays

Permalink Reply by Bernard Sadaka on August 1, 2009 at 1:44pm

i forgot to let you know the following:
1 Euro = 7.75 LE
1 US Dollar = 5.45 LE

Weather in November...

Sharm El Sheikh
C 23/26
F 73/79

Cairo
C 12/24
F 54/75

I also think 2 or 3 days after would be excellent...

Permalink Reply by Marília Maciel on August 9, 2009 at 5:52pm

Hello guys! I am not sure I will be in the IGF, but if I am able to go, I would definately be interested in seeing the pyramids and other attractions that you have mentioned. I have not started to make plans yet, but I know I would have to go sightseeing BEFORE the IGF, because after the meeting I will have to run back to work.
Thanks for opening the thread and let´s keep the information flowing.

Hugs!

Permalink Reply by Charity Gamboa-Embley on August 10, 2009 at 2:41am

I would love to join you guys for sightseeing but have to get back asap, too, (work et al). I got this thanksgiving trip scheduled months before with my in-laws so with thanksgiving coming up on the 24th of November, I have to be back asap. I would want to see something of Egypt before the start of the IGF, even if just for a day or two - if time permits. :)

Permalink Reply by Fouad Bajwa on August 18, 2009 at 10:57pm

Hi,

Just a few tips since I've spent like three months last year in Cairo training Free and Open Source Software FOSS to people there. The following are the things to see:

* Keep your passport on you and all your money in a hidden purse under your shirt. You will have to show passports at almost every activity since you will be charged an extra tourist fees.

* Unless you are being given a ticket by a government tourist office or ticket booth, never pay money to anyone off the street.

* Beaware of both traffic and taxi thugs. Remember to have a map of the city because if you go from Al-Nasr (airport part) to Giza, you should pay no more than 70-100 Egyptian Pounds. 1 USD should be equal to 5.x Egyptian Pounds. If you travel from the airport to City Stars or Heliopolis, don't pay more than 20 or 30 Egyptian Pounds. Be very serious to negotiate before you get in a taxi. English is really bad and don't be too dependent on sign language. It is always good to ask locals the exact names of places before talking with taxi drivers. If you are staying at good hotels, use the hotel tourist bus and guide.

- The Pyramids are in Giza which is on the other side of the 6th October bridge, the largest bridge. The city has a very good train system. The night show is around 7pm and is also wonderful. Be prepared to spend nearly US$100 for all activities combined since it is a bit expensive to go about. Don't miss the inside tour of the large Pyramid and going up the tunnel to the mummy's chambers. Don't carry your camera trying to get inside the pyramid, they will take it from you at the gate.

- The Museum in Giza, where you have all the Mummy's, Moosa's Pharo and the wonderful treasures of the world. Wonderful experience, again, no cameras, you cannot take photographs of the treasures because Egypt has a Antique Law that forbids making any pictures without prior permission and paying a fees to the government.

- The Cultural Wheel is an amazing place under the bridge for North African art and cultural activities, the stuff you don't see elsewhere in Egypt. Its in Zimalik, the bridge over the Nile that joins Zimalik and Giza. Staying around the cultural wheel is fun because you have access to unlimited concerts, shows and cultural activities. I went there almost every week and yes it was a wonderful experience. This is where you really learn about the contemporary of everything.

- Visit the Khan-el-Khalili market and beaware of looting shop keepers! Always pay 1/3 the price they demand. Beaware of pick pockets.

- Behind the Khan-el-Khalili is the city of white mosques, yes original mosques made with white stone from the Pyramids over 1000 years by the various Muslim Sunni and Shiaite dynasties. Its worth the visit to the gate of that is at the end of the city. Don't forget to eat the traditional versions of the local bread that looks like pizza, you would have never tasted anything like it.

- Concerts at Alsakiya in Heliopolis, this is the town very near to the airport and Al-Nasr City.

- City Stars shopping mall in Nasr City is also a wonderful place for local egyptian cotton shopping, cheap watches, amazing local food and wonderful cinemas if you plan to stay longer. Its sort of a state of the art commercial mall where you also have the Hilton hotels etc. City Stars has a wonderful food court where you can eat delicacies from Middleast and around the world in one place. Well since I was staying for a longer period, I think I saw all the English titles!

- Alexandria - The city with the amazing pillars you see in the movie in Transformers 2!

- Aswan is a wonderful beach place and site.

Permalink Reply by Fouad Bajwa on August 18, 2009 at 10:59pm

Also remember, it gets pretty cold during November with some tough winds blowing throughout December so bring a sweater or jacket just in case. I spent December, January and February there.

Permalink Reply by Maureen Hilyard on August 19, 2009 at 3:31pm

Thank you for all this information about travelling in Egypt, Fouad. It is really helpful.

Fouad Bajwa said:

Also remember, it gets pretty cold during November with some tough winds blowing throughout December so bring a sweater or jacket just in case. I spent December, January and February there.

Permalink Reply by Rafid A Y Fatani on August 20, 2009 at 9:07am

Morning all,

I was in Sharm not long ago, and went on to Cairo from there... Personally I would recommend getting a flight (if my memory serves me correctly, it was about an hour flight and under 100US return with a package to take us to the main sites). I organized it there from my hotel, but if you like to plan way ahead this might not be an option for most... if anyone needs any questions answered about Egypt, then ask away...

O yah, if you do not have a visa stamp on your passport prior to arrival, you can get one in the airport, but beware of scammers that will try and charge you 10 sterling pound for a 10 Egyptian pound stamp (about the tenth of the value)... so keep your eyes peeled!

Raf

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