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Experiences in Jerusalem
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Experiences in Jerusalem
Turby wrote in message . ..
The pyramids are full-on tourism, no doubt. But you _must_ go there. Of course you don't have to go there. If you are keen enough to see them on close hold to go through lots of annoying attention then do, if not there are litterary hundreds of alternative ways to get interesting and exciting experiences in Egypt. Easy as that. So just avoid the camels. The attraction at Giza is the pyramids and other monumental buildings, not the stupid camels. How often do you get the chance to see a camel at home, much less the chance to ride one? Seeing strange animals up close is one of the joys of travel, and can be at least as enjoyable as looking at architectural monoliths. I'll admit, though, camels _are_ stupid. Very true! Outside of a couple of small, well-defined, over-touristed areas, Egypt is one of the most friendly and hospitable countries you will ever find. You should definitely go _both_ to the Giza pyramids _and_ to the non-touristy areas of Egypt to get the full experience. In all my travels, there are only two countries where people have thrown stones at me - Morocco and Egypt. (Those goatherd punks have major league arms, too.) I found both countries to be incredible places to visit, from historical sights, to food, culture, arts and landscape. But they are also two of the oldest tourist destinations in the world, and as 3rd world countries, they've had a long history of seeing the disparity between their poverty and tourist wealth. They have many tried and true ways of parting tourists from their money. Dealing with Egyptians can be a real hassle. Especially for western women. It helps to know local custom, treat others the way you'd like to be treated, and comport yourself in a way that discourages abuse or harrassment. Thank you for giving some first hand balanced and sensible advice on this issues. They have been hard to find so far. Best regards, Jan. |
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Experiences in Jerusalem
In article , Turby
writes -Tourist in the areas of the pyramids report that when they paid locals for a trip on the back of a camel, they made up lots of extra payments that they din't told them about in front, includig food for the camel. The guide also enjoyed touching the female tourist on parts of the body that he 'accidently' came near because he was siting behind her on the camel. So just avoid the camels. The attraction at Giza is the pyramids and other monumental buildings, not the stupid camels. How often do you get the chance to see a camel at home, much less the chance to ride one? Seeing strange animals up close is one of the joys of travel, and can be at least as enjoyable as looking at architectural monoliths. I'll admit, though, camels _are_ stupid. I can recommend Australia for experiencing camels. -- Carole |
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Experiences in Jerusalem
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Experiences in Jerusalem
Turby wrote in message . ..
On 21 Oct 2003 07:18:03 -0700, (Bjorn Olsson) wrote: (?ystein) wrote in message . com... (Ben Sharvy) wrote in message . com... (?ystein) wrote in message om... (Ben Sharvy) wrote in message . com... (Øystein) wrote in message . com... "Will" wrote in message ... "C-II" wrote in message ... I recommend all 3 (although Egypt was a bit too touristic for my liking). I plan to go to Egypt as well, and have been asking for advices from friends that have been there. When it comes to problems with heavy tourism, you should follow one pice of advice: Stay away from the pyramids and the area around! From what I have heard, you should focus on the area around The Nile and The Red Sea. The pyramids are full-on tourism, no doubt. But you _must_ go there. They are incredible. There is no way to describe the awe they inspire. The simple perfection, the size, the historical meaning, the fact that a simple stone mason five _thousand_ years ago made the stone that you are touching - it's an amazing experience. It's worth playing the tourist game for that. The Red Sea, OTOH, is one of the world's best dive spots. Nature's wonders there underwater are equally amazing. Going up the Nile to Luxor is worth it, too. I'd probably spend a few days in Cairo, then head for Luxor. -People situated inside the pyramids, ask you to follow them because they want to show you something. Then they ask you for money in order to not leave you inside the labyrinth. You should generally ignore people who turn up unasked for to "show you something". Without possession of that little piece of common sense, you shouldn't travel anywhere. Balderdash. I've been "befriended" numerous times and had good experiences seeing things that most tourists don't. Sure. Me too. You just have to have a good sense about the situation and know that it's extremely rare for a local in the 3rd world to approach you without an ulterior motive. That´s right. But as solution to the "problems" listed by another poster in this thread, simply ignoring the people who turn up unasked for should work well. -Visitors report about men hiding in the dark touch female tourists legs as they pass Wear trousers. In Moslem countries a long skirt is better. Depends a bit in which moslem country and even where in that country. I don't know if times have changed, but we did occassionally see women wearing jeans in Cairo when I was there. -Tourist in the areas of the pyramids report that when they paid locals for a trip on the back of a camel, they made up lots of extra payments that they din't told them about in front, includig food for the camel. The guide also enjoyed touching the female tourist on parts of the body that he 'accidently' came near because he was siting behind her on the camel. So just avoid the camels. The attraction at Giza is the pyramids and other monumental buildings, not the stupid camels. How often do you get the chance to see a camel at home, much less the chance to ride one? Seeing strange animals up close is one of the joys of travel, and can be at least as enjoyable as looking at architectural monoliths. I guess it's a matter of taste, but personally I simply didn´t get the idea of this camel-thing. I just don't see the point. If someone was offering donkey rides outside the Louvre, what would you choose: the museum or the donkey? If you have a special interest in camels, it's better to visit a camel market. They can be found in any egyptian city. I'll admit, though, camels _are_ stupid. If you don't care about such things or the situation has improved go. If you don't think it is worth it, don't. The situation isn't anything close to this any other place than in the area of th4e pyramids. I actually thought the Giza area was absolutely fine. No problems at all. In Luxor, on the other hand, we were slightly annoyed by a couple of obnoxious "guides" who wouldn't get the message and kept following us. Outside of a couple of small, well-defined, over-touristed areas, Egypt is one of the most friendly and hospitable countries you will ever find. You should definitely go _both_ to the Giza pyramids _and_ to the non-touristy areas of Egypt to get the full experience. In all my travels, there are only two countries where people have thrown stones at me - Morocco and Egypt. Had that in Morocco. Never in Egypt. Bjorn |
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