"Alan S" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 19:31:34 +0100, "Canopus"
wrote:


"Alan S" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:45:07 GMT, "Tashi" wrote:

|Good health and high spirits!
|some info for you.

Thanks for that. Could be very useful.

I will be in Cairo for only three nights, probably May 2006. Not on a
tour. Extension of time may be possible, but not likely.

Any suggestions for a three-night, incl two days, stay would be
appreciated. I know it's too short, but I wish to at least see the
Pyramids and the Museum, plus whatever else of Ancient Egypt I can in
that short time.


Cheers, Alan, Australia

You will be hard pushed to do much more in three days. Unless you are
doing
a flying visit to places so you can say "seen that, done that" then you
need
a day for the museum and a day for the Giza Pyramids (El Haram). Try to
get
to the Dashur pyramid site near the southern suburbs of Cairo which have
two
spectacular pyramids. There is the Red Pyramid which you can go down
into
and while you are in the bottom chambers take note of how they are
constructed. They used large blocks carved perfectly around corners
which
add nothing to the structural strength of the pyramid, but, would have
been
very difficult to do...no one can say why they did it, but, you find this
construction technique on only the very oldest structures. The there is
also there the Bent Pyramid with much of its white facing stone still
intact, a marvel to behold and gives you a true idea what they all must
have
been like at one time. Dashur is not frequented too much by tourists so
the
atmosphere is more sublime.

Rob

Thanks Rob

It's not so much "seen that, done that" as a stopover
en-route to a longer trip to Europe and America. So I have
to prioritise times - more time in Egypt is less somewhere
else. Particularly when the other half is much more
interested in Vienna, Prague, Paris and NYC than ancient
monoliths like me (intended:-)

News reports here of Cairo are a bit daunting; I saw your
post on the minibus. How safe is it for a 58 yo 6' tall
obviously Western caucasian to wander around alone by such
means? Or for a similarly obvious 4'10 1/2" (never forget
the half-inch) lady to do the same thing in the bazaars?


Cheers, Alan, Australia

Well I'm 55 and don't think twice about wandering around in Cairo or the
rest of Egypt alone, in fact I enjoy it immensely. Unlike in the West the
older you are the more respect you get. What is important is your attitude.
Remember, the Egyptians have been in the tourist business for a very long
time indeed and are experts in body language. If you look a bit phased by
your experience while in a bazaar (or any where) they will realize you are a
green tourist and will give you the run around, if you look relaxed and self
assured you will on the whole be left alone or at least only gentle banter.
Whatever, you are never really in danger and once you realize that things
become fun. I enjoy wandering into obscure parts of Cairo and trying to get
lost as there is always something or someone interesting just around the
corner and where ever I end up it's only a cheap taxi back to base.

When I first started going to Egypt I found it tiring getting hassled in the
streets and bazaars, but, now it rarely happens. Nothing has really changed
there except my attitude and self confidence. If you have time then take
some time out to just sit in a local tea house or even public square
munching a sandwich and just chat to people, you'll be amazed at just how
friendly and warm the locals are, how mature their kids are and how much of
the child remains in the adults.

By the way "Western Caucasian"! The racial mix is quite wide in Cairo, race
and skin colour don't really come into it. They will be interested in where
you come from, what it's like there and more important to them what religion
are you. Identity is far more to do with religion there, not race

Rob