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Egypt Riddles in the Sand. Chapter 24. 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.
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Egypt Riddles in the Sand Chapter 24
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
Peak Dec – April Book early for cruises Spring Shifting sands Fall Sept – Nov Bargains available Avoid Ramadan Modified hours and closures shops & restaurants When to Go
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
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 Giza
Ride on horseback from Giza Step Pyramid King Zoser Built 27th C BC Imhotep- architect Memphis One of the oldest cities Ramses II Sakkara – (Saqqara)
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
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 Luxor (cont.)
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
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 Culture, Customs and Conduct http://touregypt.net/Culture.htm