I often call Europe “the wading pool of world exploration.” A city like Cairo isn’t the wading pool.

I just flew from Seattle to Cairo. After being here for just a day, it seems like a week. Of course, I swung by the pyramids, got my mug shot with the Sphinx, and rode a camel. But the real fun has been feeling the pulse of post-revolutionary Egypt in the chaotic streets of ancient Egypt, nothing about life survives. No palaces — only tombs. But experiencing and exploring today's Egypt is all about life: struggling, finessing, surviving, embracing.
The big news this decade: a people's revolution to replace the 30-year dictatorship discount broadway tickets wicked of Hosni Mubarak with the only alternative well-organized enough to win an election, the Muslim Brotherhood and the resulting nervousness about what the current government's true vision for the people is.
The revolution in Egypt is clearly discount broadway tickets wicked about freedom. With my guide, Hammad, I take a welcome-to-Cairo stroll under once-elegant French facades that seem battered to a pulp and caked in soot. Watching a car pull a U-turn into oncoming traffic, Hammad points out the fine line between freedom and chaos: discount broadway tickets wicked A four-lane street is now a two-lane street with clothing sales racks swinging under commercial neon, constricting traffic. Women in scarves browse through displays of daring dresses, ignoring the commotion filling the sidewalks.
A merchant tells me, "People can talk freely about our government now. Before the revolution, bite your tongue. discount broadway tickets wicked But our revolution is only just starting. discount broadway tickets wicked We have much left to do." While the country has veered in the direction of fundamentalism and religious rule, the people are most disappointed not with the new religious fervor but with simple incompetence. There's a pretty clear consensus on the streets: People think the guys in power simply don't know how to rule. They've managed to put up racks of free books about Islam at all of the tourist attractions, but have yet to figure out how to organize the streets or even collect the garbage.
Tourism is vital for the Egyptian discount broadway tickets wicked economy. Oil-rich countries can afford their crazy leaders: Ahmadinejad, Chávez, Gaddafi discount broadway tickets wicked — Iran, Venezuela, and Libya all had oil to fund their crazy and corrupt discount broadway tickets wicked ways of governing. But Egypt has little oil, and its economy is in crisis. Egypt needs tourism. The tourist industry here directly employs four million people, and indirectly supports many, many more. I say, "The airport was quiet today." Hammad says, "That's not the word. It is dead." He points to a towering Sofitel Hotel and says, "Only two floors are open out of 20. This is killing us.
I saw a few German cruise groups at the pyramids, but I didn't see an American tourist discount broadway tickets wicked all day. And yet, while tourists are scarce, there are masses of locals everywhere. The city is absolutely teeming. Working my way through discount broadway tickets wicked chaotic traffic back to the refuge of my hotel, I thought, "Egypt is too intense discount broadway tickets wicked for many, but I'm really glad I'm here."
I often call Europe "the wading pool of world exploration." A city like Cairo isn't the wading pool. It's the deep end — and someone discount broadway tickets wicked turned on the jets. If you can swim, the water's great. But if you're not quite ready to dive in, follow me here on my blog for some armchair Egyptian adventures. Starting today, and for the next two weeks or so, I'll be sharing a couple of posts a day, including video clips, so you and I will be riding discount broadway tickets wicked the same camel.
This just looks fantastic. We have always loved to travel when no one else does. And this is a perfect time. But how would you suggest as a traveler just going to Egypt? You have the resources and the connections to go there and feel safe. I can t imagine just landing in Cairo, and just going from there on your own.
Cairo Egyptians allowed this to happen by attacking women. Even today its young men continue to attack women. And the Muslim Brotherhood is complicit. And the new constitution is designed to make Egypt an ideological pariah. Tourism, yes. Friendly, maybe?
Two years after the Arab Spring where people cheered Mubarak s overthrow, and naïve commentators talked discount broadway tickets wicked about democracy in Egypt, what Egypt has instead is severe economic decline as a result of a Muslim Brotherhood government that even critics of Murbarak acknowledge is even worse then Mubarak s rule. There is no freedom and not just to women and Christian Copts but everybody who criticizes the current government. The US should not be giving 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS in continued aid to this country. While it is unfortunate that a decline in tourism is affecting their economy, tour operators should not be encouraging Americans to spend their hard earned money in such a volatile country right now until there is a change in leadership that respects human rights.
Thanks for posting here and not just on FB. From your photos there are a lot more women in head scarves than when I was there in 2000 (when Cairo airport was a mob scene). what s your impression of the scarf to no scarf ratio? Any burkas?
I m glad to see you branching out. As much as I love Europe, there is a big diverse fascinating world beyond Europe s doors. discount broadway tickets wicked I look forward to someday traveling with a Rick Steve s Guidebook to Egypt, Israel and Jordan.
discount broadway tickets wicked My husband and I visited Egypt in 2008 for two weeks. We traveled on our own from Cairo to Aswan to Luxor and back to Cairo. We went by train, and while it was a different experience, I wouldn t trade it. We loved talking to the people, and they were genuinely glad to see us. I have read a couple of places that there is talk of destroying the monuments. I m also concerned that without Zahi Harwass at the helm, the tombs and such may not be preserved. Whatever anyone thinks of him, he loves the ancient monuments and tombs.
We spent time in Alexandria and Luxor in November, 2012. It was sad to hear from our guides and drivers discount broadway tickets wicked of the decline in cleanliness discount broadway tickets wicked and public services since the changeover in government. The lack of sanitation in Alexandria was worse than when we were there in 2000. The Egyptian people, and particularly our female Egyptian guide seemed really worried about the loss of freedom they are experiencing.
The sites in Luxor are still great and worth the effort to get to, but as infrastructure disintegrates and a female guide is harassed by militants (as we witnessed twice) tourism will get much harder.
We took a tour to Egypt in December 2010 and had an amazing time. In response to the Hawkers , our guide advised us no, is the start of a conversation and if we not interested in purchasing to keep walking and not make eye contact and to never go into a shop because you would not get out without a purchase. It worked. He also said that since 9/11 he has had to get up to speed on his religion to answer the questions of travelers and the outfall is that he is a more religious man today. Our guide s wife was also a tour guide and her our journey has taken her to wearing the head scarf. This is a choice she has made. Two of our friends discount broadway tickets wicked were booked to travel on the same trip in March of 2011. One of them cancelled and the other took the trip and said it was so interesting and she felt safe the whole time plus there were no tourists and she loved that. In truth, I wished I had gone back with her and when the rest of my bucket list is complete I am going back! Wonderful country, interesting time in their history, and such a beautiful people looking for what is right for them.
Rick, thanks for embarking on this exploratory trip. I hope you can address two key questions for my travel plans: 1) how is it for a 60-year-old obviously white woman to walk around Cairo or to get honest service in cafes? 2) how are conditions around the STEP PYRAMID and the BENT PYRAMID? I am keen to see these, but they are endangered by rebel encampment towns. ?? Thanks, Ellen.
We were in Egypt in Oct/Nov of last year. Rich's blog is "spot on" how it feels on the streets of Cairo. We were there during some unrest, but never felt unsafe, thanks to our amazing guide, Mustafa. Because of the economy, a guide and driver were very reasonable and worth every penny. We saw places in a few days that would have taken a week on our own.
I got the impression many Egyptians do not back the Muslim Brotherhood and believe Morsi did not actually win the election. If I felt like I was supporting the government of a country by traveling there, I might not go anywhere.
It is so wonderful to hear positive things about Egypt. I knew it wasn t as bad as Americans are saying. I work in the travel industry and have asked many of my Egpytian customers on a regular basis if it is safe for Americans to travel to Egypt, and everyone has said that it is. It is sad to hear that Cairo is suffering with their tourism industry. I suppose it is time for me to start planning discount broadway tickets wicked my trip, and perhaps discount broadway tickets wicked kiss a camel or two. HA!
My husband and I are two Americans living in Egypt and we welcome your visit with wide open arms. We are Diving discount broadway tickets wicked Instructors in Sharm el Sheikh and are passionate about this wonderful and beautiful country and want to share it with other Americans. We have hosted several visitors over the last 6 months and we always need to do a great deal of damage control due to incessant media reporting that makes it seem like the country is in total chaos before our guests arrival. Once our guests are here and have toured the country, they see that there are issues but that the situation is no where near as dangerous or risky as the media would have them believe. One of our guests was so inspired by her visit that she has started an education coalition between the US and Egypt. Exciting, positive things are happening here!
The country is in a transition period, experiencing democracy for the first time with an overwhelming desire to make life better for everyone leaving the population with frustration and impatience at the pace and direction of change.
Egyptian people discount broadway tickets wicked are warm and inviting and they love tourists, especially Americans! Tourism is extremely important to the country and also to the visitor. There are amazing treasures to be found here b