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http://atacama.it/crociera_nilo_atacama_localita.htm EGITTO E NILO LE LOCALITA' CROCIERE SUL NILO Zona archeologica di Kalabsha CROCIERE SUL NILOA Kalabsha, originariamente 40 km a sud di Assuan, sorgeva il più grande e celebre santuario della Nubia, dedicato al dio locale Mandulis, identificato dagli egizi con Horus. Il vicino tempio rupestre di Beit el Wali risale al regno di Ramsete II e fu trasformato in chiesa nel VI secolo; la sua delicata decorazione è opera di due artisti diversi e nel vestibolo i rilievi hanno conservato i colori originari. Del piccolo chiosco di Kertassi, del III secolo e dedicato a Iside, una volta a 30 km a sud della diga, è rimasto poco. Zona archeologica di Wadi el Seboua CROCIERE SUL NILOIl grande complesso rupestre di Wadi el Seboua, 140 km a sud di Assuan e a soli 2 km dal sito originario, era preceduto da una lunga fila di sfingi, da cui il nome di “valle dei leoni”. Dedicato da Ramsete II ad Amon-Ra e Ra-Harakhthe, ricorda il susseguirsi delle guerre condotte dal faraone per impadronirsi della Nubia. Presenta gli elementi architettonici più completi e pregevoli ritrovati in un tempio nubiano. Accanto, il Tempio di Dakka, una volta situato 40 km più a nord e insolitamente orientato a settentrione, fu dedicato dal re etiope Ergamene nel 220 a.C. e poi da Tolomeo IV al dio Thot, l’intelligenza divina. Del Tempio di Maharrakah, d’epoca romana e incompiuto, resta solo la sala ipostila. Zona archeologica di Amada Unico esempio rimasto dei templi costruiti in Nubia durante la XVIII dinastia, il Tempio di Amada, a 180 km dalla grande diga, è un vero tesoro architettonico e contiene una delle stele storiche più famose. Sulla riva destra del Nilo e tempio rupestre di uno dei maggiori centri nubiani sommersi, quello di Derr fu dedicato da Ramsete II al dio Ra-Harakhthe. Gli importanti rilievi sono a incavo e i colori sono molto ben conservati. La tomba di Pennut, originariamente situata 40 km più a nord nella necropoli di Aniba, centro fortificato nel Medio Regno ora sommerso, apparteneva al vicere della Nubia sotto Ramsete VI. L’insieme è ben conservato e interessanti sono le decorazioni, che rievocano alcuni antichi riti funebri. CROCIERE SUL NILOKasr Ibrim In cima a un massiccio di arenaria, ora penisola ora isola, a seconda del livello delle acque del lago, sorge la cittadella di Kasr Ibrim, circa 15 km a nord di Abu Simbel. Sulla roccia centrale sorgevano le rovine di una città e di una fortezza che dominava la vallata. Costruita su fondamenta egizie, fu occupata nel Medioevo da una grande cattedrale, di cui si può ancora ammirare qualche arco romano. È l’unico edificio dell’antica Nubia situato nel posto originario. Abu Simbel CROCIERE SUL NILOIl villaggio di Abu Simbel, a circa 280 km da Assuan, è il punto abitato più a sud dell'Egitto; i suoi abitanti, di origine nubiana, vivono ancora oggi in modeste abitazioni lungo le rive del lago. Qui il tempo sembra essersi fermato e il progresso non è ancora arrivato. I pochi negozi offrono soltanto il minimo indispensabile per la sopravvivenza della popolazione locale. I Templi, fatti erigere dal faraone Ramsete II, rappresentano uno dei maggiori complessi architettonici della Valle del Nilo. Il tempio principale è dedicato a Ramsete II, oltre che alle divinità di Amon-Ra, Horus e Ptah, le cui statue, insieme a quella del faraone, sono conservate nel santuario più interno del tempio. Sulla facciata, quattro grandi statue del faraone seduto sul trono, alte più di 20 metri, fanno da maestoso ingresso al tempio. Il tempio minore è dedicato alla moglie preferita di Ramsete, Nefertari, incarnazione terrena della dea Hathor. Le sei statue della facciata, alte 11 metri, rappresentano la regina raffigurata in mezzo a quelle del faraone. Al loro fianco compaiono le figure dei figli, le principesse accanto a Nefertari, i principi accanto a Ramsete. I due templi sono stati innalzati rispetto alla loro collocazione originale per non essere sommersi dalle acque del lago Nasser. Oggi le acque da cui i templi sono stati salvati li fronteggiano come un grande mare e li rivelano nel riverbero del sole, all’alba come al tramonto, più maestosi che mai. Il Cairo Capitale e maggiore centro culturale arabo è, con i suoi 20 milioni di abitanti, una tra le metropoli più grandi esistenti al mondo. Fondata nel 969 d.C. oggi è una città caotica e affascinante, caratterizzata dal contrasto fra strutture tipicamente orientali e il ritmo di vita sempre più frenetico, tipico delle società occidentali. Nel centro della città sorge il Museo Egizio, noto per la sua importantissima raccolta di reperti archeologici, incluso il tesoro di Tutankhamon. La vecchia Città Islamica ospita la Cittadella, poderosa fortezza voluta dal sultano Saladino nel XII secolo, imponenti moschee e il grande Bazaar di Khan el Khalili, mercato fondato alla fine del XIII secolo, con centinaia di negozi di ogni tipo. Alla periferia della città sorge l’immensa necropoli di Giza, complesso archeologico dominato da tre grandi e famosissime Piramidi, innalzate tra il 2500 e il 2400 a.C. per i faraoni Cheope, Chefren, Micerino. Alle tre piramidi principali fanno da contorno altre minori, il cui scopo era ospitare le spoglie delle mogli e dei familiari dei faraoni. Altre attrattive di Giza sono la Sfinge, che rappresentava una divinità locale e fungeva da guardiano della necropoli, e la Barca Solare, nave funeraria del faraone, ritrovata in ottimo stato di conservazione. A circa 30 km dal Cairo, da visitare nel deserto la necropoli di Sakkara, il cui monumento più imponente è la Piramide di Zoser (primo sovrano del Regno Antico e primo a farsi edificare una piramide intorno al 2668 a.C.). È una costruzione a gradoni alta 60 metri, realizzata a strati di tombe o mastaba sovrapposti. Sulla riva occidentale del Nilo a sud del Cairo, sorge Memphis, prima capitale dell’Egitto fondata nel 3100 a.C. da Menes e rimasta in vita per circa 4000 anni, dove si possono ancora ammirare imponenti resti quali uno dei due Colossi di Ramsete, la Sfinge di Alabastro, statue, obelischi e colonne del palazzo di Merneptah e della Casa del Toro di Api, dalle proporzioni armoniose. Abydos CROCIERE SUL NILONon direttamente sulle sponde del Nilo, si trovano i templi di Abydos, una delle necropoli più importanti nella storia dell'Antico Egitto. Deve la sua notorietà soprattutto agli edifici religiosi fatti erigere dai faraoni. Il tempio funerario di Seti I, dedicato ad Osiride, è uno dei più significativi; costruito in arenaria su un declivio, presenta bassorilievi e sculture parietali stupende che celebrano, in ognuno dei sette santuari popolati di cartigli, figure, storie e immagini, il culto della divinità. Ad una estremità della terrazza del tempio si trova una cappella dedicata al dio dei morti, nota come Tomba di Osiride. Dendera Tra le rovine dell’antica Tentyris, che sorgeva sulla riva sinistra del Nilo, si erge il Tempio della dea Hathor, madre di tutti gli dei. Costruito in epoca tolemaica perpendicolarmente al fiume, presenta articolate strutture architettoniche e meravigliose pitture parietali. È da questo tempio che la spedizione napoleonica asportò il famoso Zodiaco, esposto oggi al Louvre. 19 Luxor CROCIERE SUL NILONel centro di Luxor, che ricopre la parte meridionale dell’antica Tebe, capitale dell’Egitto durante il Medio e Nuovo Regno, sorge il Tempio di Luxor, iniziato da Amenophis III (che lo dedicò al dio Sole Amon-Ra, alla sposa Mut e al loro figlio, la divinità lunare Khonsu) e successivamente continuato da Tutankhamon e abbellito da Ramsete II. Degli obelischi che ornavano il tempio uno venne donato a Luigi Filippo di Francia e ora troneggia in Place de la Concorde a Parigi. L’altro grande complesso, il Tempio di Karnak, dedicato al dio Amon, sorge sulle sponde del Nilo. I faraoni non cessarono di ingrandirlo e di trasformarlo e infatti presenta un susseguirsi di templi, statue, sale e pareti decorate magistralmente. Tebe, chiamata da Omero “la città dalle cento porte”, raggiunse il suo massimo splendore tra la XVIII e la XX dinastia. Furono proprio i faraoni di quest’epoca a dare inizio alla necropoli, decidendo di nascondere i propri sepolcri per paura che venissero profanati dai ladri e di separarli dai templi funerari, costruendoli in una valle segreta e piena di anfratti, l’attuale Valle dei Re, e sistemando i sepolcri delle regine e di alcuni principi in altre aree vicine. La visita alla Valle dei Re e delle Regine è uno dei momenti più emozionanti del viaggio in Egitto, anche se i tesori scoperti all’interno delle tombe sono esposti nei musei (i più importanti sono quelli del Cairo, di Londra e di Torino). Completano il percorso nell’antica Tebe i Colossi di Memnon, giganti di pietra alti 15 metri posti a guardia della vallata, l’imponente Tempio funerario della regina Hatshepsut a Deir el Bahari e il complesso di Medinet Habu, uno dei monumenti più sottovalutati della sponda occidentale, con il tempio funerario di Ramsete III. Il piccolo e moderno Museo nel centro di Luxor, inaugurato nel 1975, ospita interessanti reperti archeologici ed è dedicato alla mummificazione. Esna Sulla riva sinistra sorge il Tempio di Esna dedicato a Khnum, il dio creatore dalla testa di ariete. La costruzione è di origine greco-romana e venne successivamente ricoperta di sabbia. Di notevole bellezza sono le colonne che contribuiscono ad accentuare quest’aria di monumentale solennità. Edfu Il grande Tempio tolemaico, dedicato a Horus, il dio dalla testa di falco, la cui statua domina il cortile antistante il pronao, è ancora in perfetto stato. Le decorazioni sono quasi tutte di carattere religioso-mitologico e rappresentano formule magiche e riti sacrali. Kom Ombo Il Tempio tolemaico-romano, dall’aspetto di acropoli, era dedicato al dio-coccodrillo Sobek e ad Haroeris, una delle manifestazioni solari di Horus, e per questo ogni elemento architettonico è “doppio”: sulla facciata due porte introducono, tra due doppie file di colonne, a doppie camere e santuari. Assuan CROCIERE SUL NILOAffacciata sul Nilo al limite dell’antico impero egizio, immersa in un paesaggio di suggestiva bellezza, Assuan è stata per secoli porta di ingresso in Egitto per le carovane africane e rimane ancora oggi, nonostante la presenza dei turisti, un centro sonnolento dal fascino di terra lontana, dove si respira un clima di grande serenità e dolcezza. La vita scorre intorno al pittoresco mercato, nel centro del paese, che offre ogni tipo di mercanzia. Alle antiche Cave di Granito, a sud della città, si può ammirare un gigantesco obelisco incompiuto, alto circa 45 metri, che sarebbe potuto divenire il più grande esistente se non si fossero aperte alcune crepe durante la sua costruzione e non fosse stato quindi abbandonato. Vicino alla prima cateratta del Nilo, la Grande Diga è la colossale opera realizzata tra il 1960 e il 1971, che ha creato il bacino lungo circa 500 km del lago Nasser. Pur offrendo a tutto il paese energia elettrica e miglior irrigazione, ha creato un vero e proprio sconvolgimento ambientale, che ha portato alla necessità di spostare monumenti che sarebbero stati sommersi dalle acque. Tra questi il complesso tolemaico dei templi di Iside che, dall’isola di Philae dove sorgeva, è stato collocato a 500 metri di distanza e 30 metri più in alto rispetto a prima, sull’isola di Agilkia. Interessanti reperti archeologici e manufatti recuperati in Nubia, sono raccolti nel Museo Nubiano, dove è possibile anche approfondire la conoscenza degli usi e costumi tipici di questa zona. Dahshur Situata circa 20 km a sud di Sakkara, in un tranquillo angolo di deserto, la necropoli di Dahshur, aperta al pubblico solo di recente, è un impressionante distesa di piramidi che risalgono alla IV e XII dinastia. In origine qui si trovavano 11 piramidi, ma ne sono rimaste intatte solo 4. Delle due che risalgono al Medio Regno, solo la Piramide Nera merita di essere visitata. Commissionata da Amenhemet III, costruita con mattoni di fango e rivestita di calcare, ha una forma abbastanza originale. Il calcare del rivestimento esterno venne rimosso durante le continue scorrerie, portando allo scoperto i mattoni di fango nero, da cui prende il nome, che celano un pregevole labirinto di corridoi e stanze progettati per ingannare i ladri. La Piramide Rossa, così chiamata perché rivestita di pietra calcarea rosata, è probabilmente la più antica d’Egitto; apparteneva al faraone Snefru, padre di Cheope ed è solo 10 m più bassa della grande piramide di Giza. La Piramide Romboidale, anch’essa costruita per Snefru, è l’unica piramide ad avere due ingressi ed ha una forma molto caratteristica: a circa metà della sua altezza, l’angolo di pendenza cambia; la teoria più diffusa è quella che afferma che l’architetto si sia accorto che la piramide sarebbe crollata se si fosse continuato ad innalzarla con lo stesso angolo di inclinazione. Maidum e Hawara La piramide di Maidum, situata a 32 km a nord-est di El Fayoum, è particolarmente importante in quanto la sua costruzione segna il passaggio dalle piramidi a gradoni, costituite da mastabe sovrapposte, alle piramidi propriamente dette. Iniziata sotto il faraone Huni come struttura a otto gradoni, alla salita al trono del figlio Snefru, gli stessi furono colmati con l’aggiunta di un rivestimento esterno. Molto probabilmente in fase di progettazione furono fatti degli errori e poco dopo la fine dei lavori le aggiunte crollarono, scoprendo così il nucleo originario. La piramide di Hawara, purtroppo oggi in rovina, conosciuta anche come tomba di Amenemhat III, fu costruita con mattoni di fango. Apparteneva ad un esteso complesso funerario, che si distingueva per il suo immenso tempio-labirinto con 3000 stanze. El Fayoum A circa 100 km a sud-ovest del Cairo si trova Fayoum, la più grande oasi dell’Egitto; non è una vera e propria oasi in quanto attinge dalle acque del Nilo e non da sorgenti sotterranee. Il nome Fayoum origina dalla parola “bayoum”, che significa mare, ed è dovuto al grande lago interno Karoun. Grazie al clima mite tutto l’anno l’agricoltura trova qui la sua massima espressione: cotone, pomodori, piante medicinali e frutta. Ai tempi dei faraoni era una zona dedicata alla caccia e Crocodilopolis, dedicata al culto del dio Sobek, ne era la capitale. Resti della presenza dei faraoni sono l’obelisco di granito rosso di Senuseret I, le piramidi di Senuseret II e Amenemhat III, ed i resti dell’antica città di Karanis, che ospita l'omonimo museo. El Minia Capoluogo della provincia omonima, un tempo fiorente grazie all’industria del cotone, è attualmente un centro industriale legato alla produzione di sapone, profumi ed alla lavorazione dello zucchero. Il centro città è caratterizzato da palazzi “fin de siècle”, residui del periodo coloniale che stanno però inesorabilmente andando in rovina. La città offre poche attrattive turistiche, ma è punto di partenza per la visita dei vicini siti archeologici. Beni Hassan Situata sulla sponda orientale del Nilo, è la più importante necropoli del Medio Egitto, con oltre 30 tombe di varie dimensioni, monumenti funerari di un certo interesse, scavati nella roccia durante il Medio Regno. Tell el Amarna Intorno al 1349 a.C. il faraone Amenofi IV diede una svolta al paese fondando una nuova religione, la prima ad essere totalmente monoteista, con il dio Aton che rappresentava tutte le espressioni delle varie divinità. Dietro la scelta religiosa c’era una spinta politica atta ad eliminare gli enormi privilegi del clero tebano, e la decisione del faraone creò non pochi disordini. Amenofi IV cambiò il suo nome in Akhenaton, che significa “Aton è soddisfatto”, e decise di abbandonare l’allora capitale Tebe a favore di una nuova, fondata in onore del dio Aton. La nuova capitale venne eretta in poco tempo presso l’attuale pianura di Tell el Amarna, a metà strada tra Memphis e Tebe, e venne chiamata Akhetaton. Durante il regno di Akhenaton, durato circa 17 anni, l’Egitto conobbe un grande splendore culturale: nacque l’arte “amarniana”, che contrapponeva alla classica staticità delle figure egizie una nuova dinamicità ricca di immagini naturali, ben rappresentate sul pavimento del palazzo del faraone; attraverso l’arte, per la prima volta vennero rappresentate scene di vita reale, che riguardavano anche la famiglia del faraone. Alla sua morte, tutt’ora misteriosa, il suo nome venne cancellato e la sua città distrutta e vennero ristabiliti gli antichi culti. Ciò che rimane ora, oltre ai perimetri di base dei magnifici templi di pietra che adornavano l’antica capitale, è la necropoli di Tell el Amarna, che comprende due gruppi di tombe scavate nella roccia, una ad ogni estremità della città. Grazie ai dipinti trovati all’interno, è stato possibile ricostruire virtualmente la città. Da visitare le tombe di Mery Ra, Panehse, Mahu, e di Ay. El Ashmunein Nome arabo di Hermopolis, è una località che prende il nome da Ermes, divinità che i greci associavano al dio egiziano Thot; essa ha vestigia di templi e statue che risalgono dalla XIX dinastia sino ai primi tempi del cristianesimo, con le rovine di un’agorà romana e di una basilica paleocristiana, la più grande di questo tipo esistente in Egitto. Tuna el Gebel Ai margini del deserto sorge Tuna el Gebel, la necropoli di Hermopolis, un tempo confinante con Akhetaton. Il monumento più antico è una delle sei stele che delimitavano i confini tra le due località. Assiut Fondata al tempo dei faraoni su un’ampia e fertile pianura, è la città più importante della regione e capoluogo della provincia omonima. Centro agricolo grazie al commercio di cotone e cereali, un tempo era il punto di arrivo delle carovane di cammelli che percorrevano la “strada dei quaranta giorni” dopo essere partite dalla provincia di Darfur in Sudan; fino a 150 anni fa la città deteneva il triste primato del più grande mercato di schiavi in Egitto. Oasi di Siwa Punto di sosta delle carovane che attraversavano il deserto nell’antichità, Siwa, remota e misteriosa, è caratterizzata da un’atmosfera magica. Unica, grazie alle origini berbere dei suoi 18.000 abitanti che ancora oggi conservano antiche tradizioni ed una lingua propria, a soli 80 km dal confine libico e 18 m sotto il livello del mare, l’oasi colpisce per la bellezza della sua natura: impenetrabili palmeti interrotti da 1.000 sorgenti e da tre grandi laghi salati, regalo di una natura rigogliosa ai margini del deserto più aspro; impervi massicci che si riflettono nelle acque; infinite distese di dune di sabbia che la circondano e la proteggono. Sparpagliati tra le 300.000 palme, i resti di alcuni monumenti dichiarano una fama e una prosperità risalenti al periodo greco-romano: tra tutti Aghurmi, il Tempio di Amon, dove Alessandro Magno ebbe la conferma della propria natura divina, e la necropoli di Gebel Mowta, il ”Colle della Morte”, che conserva alcune tombe scavate nella roccia. Da non perdere la visita dell’antica fortezza di Shali, città labirinto del XIII sec. d.C. in fango impregnato di sale, situata al centro dell’oasi. Oasi di Bahariya Sebbene situata nella più piccola delle depressioni, solo pochi metri sotto il livello del mare, la vicinanza dell’acqua alla superficie rende il suo terreno assai fertile. Già conosciuta dai faraoni per la qualità del suo vino, la sua notorietà si è rinnovata nel 1996, quando nei suoi dintorni è stata scoperta la famosa Valle delle Mummie che, con centinaia di tombe greco-romane, rappresenta la località con la maggior concentrazione di mummie mai rinvenute; le cinque maschere in foglia d’oro meglio conservate sono oggi visibili nel piccolo museo locale. Meritano una visita le Tombe di Amenhotep Huy (al momento chiusa), di Bannentiu e di Zed Amun ef Ankh che conservano all’interno dipinti in ottimo stato, il Tempio di Alessandro Magno, le quattro cappelle in rovina di Ain el Muftella e la zona attorno al lago, dove le dune di sabbia minacciano alcuni vecchi insediamenti. Oasi di Farafra Conosciuta in epoca faraonica come la “terra delle mucche”, Farafra è l’oasi più isolata ed i suoi abitanti, di origine beduina, conservano ben radicate le antiche tradizioni. Se l’oasi in sé non ha molto da offrire, assolutamente da non perdere è il Deserto Bianco situato ad una ventina di km verso nord. Qui la natura si è divertita a giocare con i colori di una tavolozza: picchi di gesso che somigliano a piccoli iceberg; rocce rosse levigate dal vento che hanno assunto forme di grandi funghi; vallate di sabbia rosa, chiuse tra montagne grigie e dune dorate; il tutto immerso in un paesaggio surreale che ricorda la luna. Oasi di Dakhla Caratterizzata da aree fertili coltivate circondate da montagne spoglie e dune di sabbia, è l’oasi più estesa e raccoglie ben 14 diversi insediamenti. Mentre il capoluogo Mut è moderno e di nessun interesse, nei dintorni sono presenti importanti siti archeologici. A nord: il Qasr, meritatamente famoso per la sua architettura islamica medioevale, è un labirinto di stradine dalle pareti in fango che si snodano tra passaggi coperti da soffitti in tronco di palma ed alte case con architravi delle porte in legno di acacia; le Tombe di Muzawaka con pitture mitologiche (al momento chiuse per restauri) e le rovine del tempio romano di Deir el Hagar con iscrizioni di carattere religioso. A sud: la città romano-copta di Asmant el Khorab, abitata per sette secoli ed in gran parte ancora coperta dalla sabbia, mostra i resti di tombe, chiese ed abitazioni, e le Mastabe di Balat, risalenti alla VI dinastia. Oasi di Kharga Situata all’altezza di Edfu, con i suoi 65.000 abitanti per la maggior parte provenienti dall’Alto Egitto, Kharga è l’oasi più popolata della Nuova Valle. La cittadina, capoluogo del governatorato, ospita moderni edifici, ma conserva una piacevole atmosfera ed un caratteristico souk, che si snoda tra i vicoli del vecchio quartiere, dalle case ancora in fango. Di interesse archeologico la necropoli di Bagawat, con 263 cappelle e cripte copte in mattoni di argilla, alcune delle quali conservano ancora affreschi in buono stato; il Tempio di Hibis (attualmente in ristrutturazione), una delle poche testimonianze del periodo persiano e risalente al VI secolo a.C., ben conservato con volte dipinte e bassorilievi; a Baris, 90 km a sud dell’oasi, il tempio romano di Dush, dedicato al dio Serapi ed alla dea Iside, circondato da una fortezza turca e da un’antica chiesa. |
| Thanks to
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Guia de viajes - http://www.costasur.com/ |
| Egitto, terra dei Faraoni L' Egitto é un paese dell' Africa Settentrionale che conta con una popolazione di circa 80 milioni di abitanti, la cui capitale é la cittá de Il Cairo. L' Egitto é un luogo molto interessante per passare delle vacanze indimenticabili ed originali, scoprendo storia millenaria, monumenti, spiagge e tradizioni stupende. Il grande interesse turistico che suscita l' Egitto é tale che non troverete nessuna difficoltá nel trovare alloggio in questo paese, per passare una vacanza a Il Cairo in hotel, una casa o un appartamento, oppure facendo una crociera lungo il Nilo. Il Sahara, il Nilo, il Mar Rosso e le Piramidi sono le principali attrazioni turistiche dell' Egitto, i motivi per cui milioni di turisti viaggiano a questo paese ogni anno. E poi ci sono cittá storiche come Alessandria... |
| L' Egitto confina con paesi come Israele,
il Sudan, la Libia ed il Mar Mediterraneo ed il Mar Rosso. Il Sahara si
estende immenso in questo paese e le terre fertili, cosí come le grandi
cittá, si concentrano lungo il corso del Nilo. L' Egitto é anche il paese del Canale di Suez, oggetto di dispute tra paesi come Francia ed Inghilterra, che separa l' Egitto stesso dalla penisola del Sinai. Nonostante il fatto che la maggior parte del paesaggio egiziano sia desertico, troviamo una ventina di paeshi naturali, tra cui spicca per importanza il Parco Nazionale dell' Elba. |
| La grande Sfinge o la Piramide di Cheope, cittá come Alessandria, Il Cairo,
Suez, Porto Said o Hurghada, il Mar Rosso sono tutti luoghi dove fare
turismo é un piacere ed inoltre qui si possono praticare diverse attivitá e
sport, dal windsurf al kitesurf... L' Egitto é cultura, un'infinitá di monumenti da visitare e conoscere; l' Egitto é sport ed attivitá all'aperto, é giocare a golf a Sharm El Sheik o fare windsurf a El Gouna; l' Egitto é il sole e le spiagge del Mar Rosso e del Mediterraneo; l' Egitto é una crociera lungo il Nilo... ___________Cosas que hacer Egipto África. Cosas que ver en sus vacaciones en Egipto. Egipto es el país de las pirámides, del desierto extremo, del Río Nilo y de los cruceros, un país con una cultura impresionante, como su historia, es por ello que es un país muy diverso a la hora de planificar las cosas que hacer y las cosas que ver. Si está en El Cairo, nada mejor como visitar la ciudad, recorrer sus calles, ir al Museo de Historia de El Cairo, conocer la historia del país, y realizar excursiones a lugares como Alejandría, el Alto Egipto, las Pirámides, los Oasis… sin olvidarnos del Canal de Suez, o la Península del Sinaí. El Mar Rojo es otra de las excursiones que no debe perderse. Si pasa sus vacaciones en Alejandría, puede visitar la antigua ciudad de Canopus, en Abú Quir, visitar los baños públicos… también puede visitar Alamein, o Sidi Abdul Rahman, una playa con una historia increible de la II Guerra Mundial. Recorrer los monumentos de Giza, bucear en el Cairo, recorrer monumentos a lo largo del país, dar un crucero por el Nilo... son algunas de las posibilidades que le ofrece este país, las ofertas para sus vacaciones en Egipto. __________Bucear en el Mar Rojo Egipto África El Mar Rojo es uno de los 4 o 5 lugares del mundo en el que cualquier submarinista quiere sumergirse. Es un lugar de riqueza, de fondos increibles, de maravillosas vistas, de fauna y flora, de arrecifes de coral... Los mejores destinos turísticos para poder bucear en el Mar Rojo son Horgada, Sharm el Sheij o El Gouna. _________Visitar el Museo Egipcio de Antigüedades en El Cairo Egipto En la capital de Egipto, El Cairo, podemos visitar el Museo Egipcio de Antigüedades, un lugar único donde podremos dar un paseo por la historia de este país, por su momento de apogeo, por los distintos pueblos que han pasado por aquí… En este museo encontramos el tesoro de Tutankamon, valiosísimas reliquias de la época del antiguo Egipto. Ofertas en Egipto. Da de alta tu negocio en Egipto Egipto » Cosas que hacer » Visitar el Museo Egipcio de Antiguedades ____________Visitar el Museo Grecorromano de Alejandría Egipto África Alejandría cuenta con un Museo Grecorromano, que fue creado en el Siglo XIX, y en 1895 fue trasladado al edificio actual. Cuenta con más de una decena de salas en la que se exponen elementos desde la época griega a nuestros días. En este museo se pueden ver colecciones monumentales como los de la época griega y romana en Egipto, algo que da nombre a este museo, también encontramos reliquias de la época faraónica y de la copta. Momias, sarcófagos, tapices… pequeñas estatuas.. todo este tipo de pequeñas aportaciones de la historia pueden ser contempladas en este museo de Alejandría. ______Visitar los monumentos de Giza Egipto África Ningún viaje en Egipto es un viaje completo si no visita Giza y sus monumentos. Giza, a escasos 20 minutos de El Cairo, representa el antiguo egipto por sus pirámides y su entorno. En Giza, sin ir más lejos, podremos ver la Pirámide de Keops, la más grande conocida en el mundo, una pirámide increible en un entorno en el que también encontramos otras pirámides y otro de los símbolos, junto a Keops, del antiguo Egipto, la Gran Esfinge. __________Cultura Egipto África Egipto es un país con una de las culturas más ricas y variadas. Uno de los aspectos más destacados de esta cultura, es la de los templos, como los que en la antigüedad se construían para que los restos de sus faraones descansaran en paz. Grandes estatuas, grandes pirámides, obeliscos, todo ello a un tamaño enorme, símbolo de grandeza. Al margen de los templos y pirámides, uno de los aspectos más destacados de la cultura egipcia, uno de los aspectos que más debemos destacar es el de su sistema de escritura basada en jeroglíficos, no en vano, esos jeroglíficos que fueron evolucionando hasta convertirse en grafía, son los primeros relatos de la historia de la humanidad, bien sean los escritos en piedras, en madera o en papiros. La cultura faraónica perduró hasta la llegada de los romanos, y su cultura se extendió por todo el mediterráneo. Son varios los momentos que debemos distinguir en la cultura de Egipto, desde el Egipto clásico de los faraones hasta nuestros días. Sobretodo, hay que distinguir entre el Egipto cristiano, el de la Iglesia Copta, y el Egipto musulmán o islámico, el más asentado. Del primero, debemos destacar que es una Iglesia fundada en el Siglo I en Egipto, del segundo, que es un arte que se asentó tras la invasión árabe. La cultura musulmana o islámica en Egipto surgió tras la invasión árabe y dejó su influencia para la posteridad en la arquitectura, la escultura, la escritura y la pintura, así como la literatura. El arte islámico se desarrolló a partir de las influencias locales en esta región, los lugares más destacados para visitar son la necrópolis de Asuán, o las casas de Rosetta. La música, o el cine también son destacados elementos de la cultura egipcia. ___________Historia Egipto África La historia de Egipto es la historia de una de las civilizaciones más importantes de la humanidad, la historia de uno de los primeros grandes pueblos que existieron. El Río Nilo, el Canal de Suez, son dos nombres que han acompañado a este país a lo largo de milenios y milenios. No en vano, Egipto es uno de los mejores, más brillantes y más visitados destinos turísticos del mundo. En el desarrollo de Egipto jugó un papel fundamental el Río Nilo, en su ribera se fue desarrollando esta civilización, y creciendo por todo el margen de la misma. El Aislamiento de este país por el desierto tampoco facilitaba a nadie la invasión de estas tierras, por lo que propició una vida tranquila y un amplio desarrollo. Fue así como comenzaron a surgir los primeros asentamientos en Egipto, junto al Nilo, los llamados nomos, que no es otra cosa que pequeñas comunidades, con el tiempo, se forma el alto y el bajo Egipto y en el 3200 a.C se produce la unificación del país bajo el mando del faraón Menes, también conocido como Narmer. Es en este momento en el que arranca la historia de lo que conocemos como el antiguo Egipto, el de los tres imperios. La primera etapa es la de crecimiento y expansión, es la etapa de construcción de inmensas pirámides, la segunda etapa es la de la descentralización y la última, la que llega hasta el año 1000 a.C aproximadamente es la etapa de desarrollo y la época dorada del Imperio egipcio, ya que este país se extendió hacia el este y el oeste. Los persas, los griegos, los romanos… pasaron por aquí y conquistaron buena parte de Egipto en los últimos siglos antes de nuestra era. Después, ya en nuestra Era, Egipto formó parte del Imperio Bizantino. Tras la caida de Costantinopla, son los árabes los que invaden este país y asumen su control, instauran el Islam y el árabe como lengua, estos estuvieron en el poder hasta el siglo X u XI, cuando los Fatamidas se hacen con el poder, después Saladino, el espíritu de la Jihad y de la Guerra Santa trae tiempos de cruzadas y conflictos. En tiempos un poco más cercanos a nuestra época, concretamente en 1798, son los franceses los que invaden bajo el mando de Napoleón el país, pero esa ocupación no duró mucho, y los franceses se fueron dejando tras de si tensiones que dieron como resultado guerras internas entre albaneses, mercenarios, otomanos, mamelucos… todo ello hasta que en 1805 Egipto consiguió su independencia. A partir de ahí vienen unos años de bonanzas, de cambios importantes en la economía, algo que se destaca más si cabe cuando en 1869 Egipto se convierte en un centro neurálgico de telecomunicaciones gracias a la apertura del canal de Suez. Pero la mala gestión llevó a la crisis y la crisis se tradujo en la ocupación británica, que hicieron de Egipto un protectorado. Esa situación duró poco, porque Egipto en 1922 recuperó su independencia, no sin injerencias constantes de los británicos, algo que concluyó con un tratado anglo-egipcio en 1936, pero los ingleses continuaron con las injerencias y en 1952 tuvo lugar un golpe de estado que hace abdicar a Faruk I y sube al poder al golpista Gamal Abder Nasser, quien lo primero que hizo fue dar titularidad pública al Canal de Suez, algo que beneficiaba a la economía del país pero que propició enfrentamientos con franceses, con ingleses y con israelíes, que intentaron sin éxito derrocar al dictador. En la segunda mitad del Siglo XX tienen lugar diversas disputas con los israelíes por la Península del Sinaí y la Franja de Gaza, finalmente pasa a manos de Egipto en 1973, y el conflicto termina con la firma del acuerdo de Camp David en 1979, pero con el fin de un conflicto empieza otro, ya que el mundo árabe no estaba de acuerfdo con esa situación y expulsó a Egipto de la Liga Árabe. Hosmi Mubarak llega al poder y cambia radicalmente el país, con la eliminación de los radicalismos, la normalización con los años de las relaciones con los países árabes, la mediación en conflictos como el de palestinos e israelíes, y sobretodo con la apertura al turismo de toda su riqueza arqueológica, que han hecho de Egipto uno de los países más visitados del mundo. _____________Información de Interés Egipto África Son muchas las cuestiones de interés, la información que nos puede interesar de Egipto antes o durante nuestras vacaciones en este país norteafricano. Cuestiones básicas, datos de interés, etc... Como llegar a El Cairo, como moverse por Egipto, el clima en este país, los lugares más destacados, las fiestas, la religión, datos sobre la población... todo ello son datos y son cuestiones de nuestro interés, y que necesitaremos y querremos conocer antes de planificar nuestras vacaciones en Egipto. _____________Turismo Egipto África Sobre el turismo, debemos destacar además que se ha convertido en una importante fuente de ingresos, y que ha atraído a este país una importante inversión extranjera, sobretodo en lo referido a cadenas de hoteles, que han propiciado un clima ideal para la llegada de turismo y una importante bolsa de empleo. Son tres las zonas turísticas más destacadas de Egipto, la primera, la más destacada es la zona donde encontramos la Pirámide de Kefrén y donde se encuentra la Esfinge, es la zona de El Cairo y de sus alrededores, un área donde además encontramos otras pirámides como la de Giza. También de esta zona no debemos olvidar visitar el Museo de El Cairo y contemplar el famoso Tesoro de Tutankámon. Otra zona destacada es la del sur del Nilo, donde además de patrimonio arqueológico se puede acceder mediante cruceros. El Desierto del Sinaí, sobretodo en su zona más al sur, es otro de los lugares emblemáticos para visitar, el Mar Rojo es uno de los mejores destinos del mundo para los amantes del submarinismo. _____________Monumentos Egipto África El Antiguo Egipto fue una de las civilizaciones más importantes que se recuerdan, una civilización increible que nos ha dejado un legado de monumentos no menos increibles a lo largo de todo el país. Son cientos los pequeños detalles que podríamos dar de cada uno de ellos, como cientos son los monumentos a destacar en este país, es por ello que aquí les detallamos algunos de los más importantes, los más visitados. Cada monumento en Egipto esconde una historia, cada historia, practicamente una dinastía de faraones. La necrópolis de Giza es el lugar más destacado para visitar monumentos en Egipto, se encuentra cerca de El Cairo, y en ella podremos disfrutar de la grandiosidad de la Gran Pirámide de Giza, también conocida como Pirámide de keops, o de la Gran Esfinge entre otras pequeñas pirámides y monumentos. La Columna de Pompeyo es el lugar más destacado de Alejandría, incluso se decía que la gran Biblioteca de Alejandría estaba bajo su base. Luxor, el Templo de Karnak, la Mezquita de Ibn Tulun en El Cairo, la Isla de File o la de Elefantina son otros de los lugares donde se pueden ver asombrosas obras. _____________Gran Pirámide de Giza El Cairo Egipto África. La Gran Pirámide de Giza es una de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo, es la mayor de las pirámides que podemos encontrar en Egipto y en su interior reposó el faraón Keops. Esta pirámide se construyó unos 2500 años antes de Cristo, y fue la primera de las tres que encontramos en la Necrópolis de Giza. Es el edificio más alto del mundo después de la Catedral de Colonia y la Torre Eiffel. Para su construcción se utilizaron alrededor de 30,000 bloques de piedra caliza, más de 2 millones de bloques de piedra de más de 2 toneladas de peso cada uno. Se construyó por orden de Jufu o Keops unos 2500 años a.C, y cuenta con tres cámaras principales, una gran galería, canales de ventilación… Su altura ronda los 140 metros, y está catalogada como una de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo ___________La Gran Esfinge Necrópolis de Giza El Cairo Egipto África Una de las atracciones más visitadas de Egipto es la Gran Esfinge que encontramos en la Necrópolis de Giza, junto a las grandes obras del antiguo imperio. Esta estatua monumental, que encontramos junto al Nilo, data de aproximadamente el 2500 a.C, época de la IV Dinastía de Egipto. Se encuentra detrás de la Pirámide de Kefren, y está tallado en roca natural caliza en la meseta donde encontramos la necrópolis de Giza. Su altura de de 22 metros, su rostro es humano pero su cuerpo es de león. Se cree que en sus inicios esta obra estaba pintada. El hecho de estar tallada en roca natural en mitad del desierto ha provocado que esta monumental obra haya tenido que ser restaurada prácticamente desde sus inicios. ____________Necrópolis de Giza El Cairo Egipto África La Necrópolis de Giza es una antigua ciudad egipcia que se encuentra a 20 kilómetros de El Cairo y donde entreo otras obras monumentales egipcias encontramos la gran pirámide de Giza. La Gran Pirámide de Keops es el más importante de los monumentos que encontramos aquí, no en vano es una de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo. La gran esfinge de Giza es otra de las maravillas que podemos encontrar aquí. La Pirámide de Jafra, la de Menkaura… son otras de las pirámides de esta necrópolis. La más alta es de de Keops, que es la más importante. En el año 1979, todo el conjunto histórico de Menfis, que agrupa las pirámides de Giza, las de Dahsur, las de Saqqara y Abusir fueron declaradas como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. La pirámide de Jafra (Kefrén) parece la más alta, pero es debido a que fue construida sobre una zona más elevada de la meseta de Giza; en realidad es la que se adjudica a Jufu (Keops) la de mayor altura y volumen. La Gran Pirámide estaba considerada en la antigüedad una de las Siete Maravillas del Mundo, y es la única de las siete que aun perdura. ____________Templo de Karnak Luxor Egipto África El Templo de Kankan se ubica en Luxor, una localidad del Alto Nilo que cuenta con una población de unas 200,000 personas. Es Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. El Templo de Karnak es uno de esos monumentos que no puede dejar pasar durante sus vacaciones en Egipto. Se trata de una pequeña ciudad fortificada que encontramos cerca del Nilo, y que sirvió a Tebas como complejo religioso, es un templo dedicado al Dios Amón, pero en él también se veneraban otros diodes. Alrededor también encontramos numerosos pequeños templos dedicados a Amón. Tiene varias salas, y este templo está considerado como uno de los más antiguos del mundo, y uno de los más importantes del Antiguo Egipto después de los que encontramos en la necrópolis de Giza, también es el segundo más visitado de Egipto. _______________Templo de Luxor Egipto África En Luxor encontramos diversos monumentos, uno de ellos, el Templo de Luxor, fue levantado durante el Imperio Nuevo. En sus orígenes, estaba unido al Templo de Karnak mediante una avenida que estaba rodeada de esfinges. Su construcción se debe a Ramsés II, quien construyó este templo, pero algunos como Alejandro Magno, o Tutankahmon fueron claves en su finalización. Grandes obeliscos, estatuas, patio interior… y una pequeña mezquita son las partes más destacadas de este templo. ___________Playas Egipto África Hablar de playas en Egipto es distinguir entre dos zonas o áreas bien distintas, el Mar Mediterráneo y el Océano Atlántico. Ambas zonas tienen sus especiales características, su belleza, y su encanto. Da igual estar en una playa de Alejandría o en una playa de Hurgada si lo que quiere es disfrutar de sol y arena dorada… si lo que quiere es, por ejemplo, bucear, nada mejor como el Mar Rojo. Arrecifes de coral en los que bucear en el Mar Rojo, playas de arena dorada en ambos litorales, localidades sencillas, con aroma pesquero, complejos turísticos de primer orden, arenas más rojizas… El Parque Nacional Ras Mohammed, con sus posibilidades de practicar deportes acuáticos en un entorno único… las playas de Egipto, estén en el Mediterráneo o el Atlántico, son perfectas para disfrutar de su actividad preferida. Los mejores destinos para sol y playa del Mediterráneo son El Arish, Marsá Matruh, El Alamein, Puerto Said y Alejandría. En el Mar Rojo, encontramos como destinos más destacados El Gouna, Sharm el Sheik, Hurguada y Marsa Alam entre otros destinos destacados. __________Principales ciudades y destinos turísticos de Egipto África Son muchas las ciudades importantes que podemos encontrar en Egipto, ciudades con mucha historia, ciudades con amplia tradición, con muchas cosas que ver y otras tantas que hacer, casi todas ellas en torno al Río Nilo, al Canal de Suez. Cada destino en este país tiene su encanto, ya sea por su patrimonio arqueológico, por la belleza de sus paisajes como en el Nilo, o por las actividades acuáticas que puede practicar. La capital y ciudad más importante es El Cairo, pero no debemos olvidar otras como Alejandría, Luxor, Fayún, Sinaí…… el país cuenta con más de 80 millones de personas que en su gran porcentaje, se concentra en las principales ciudades. El Cairo, por ejemplo, concentra más de 15 millones de habitantes. El resto de la población, en más de un 90%, se concentra en las cercanías del Nilo. Si hablamos de las ciudades que pueden ser de su interés durante sus vacaciones en Egipto, el recorrido lo iniciamos en El Cairo, la más grande de las ciudades que podemos encontrar en África y en la zona de Oriente Medio. Es una ciudad especial, con historia milenaria, en la que podemos disfrutar de sus monumentos o de su Museo. La ciudad de Edfu no es menos importante, se ubica a unos 100 kilómetros al sur de Luxor, y su templo no puede dejar de ser visitado. Hablando de Luxor, esta es también una de las ciudades más importantes de Egipto, es una ciudad que se reparte a ambas orillas del Nilo, y sus templos faraónicos son los atractivos más destacados. En Luxor además encontramos los templos de Ramsés II, III…. Otra localidad destacada de Egipto es Asuán, una ciudad del Alto Egipto que es la más importante de esta zona, está al sur del país, y desde aquí se puede visitar una de las más impresionantes cataratas del Nilo. En sus orígenes, durante la época del Imperio Egipcio, Asuán era un centro neurálgico del comercio. También hay que destacar sus templos. De Kom Ombo podemos destacar también sus templos, o la antigua ciudad de Nubia, hoy día anegada por el Lago Nasser. |
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| Egypt Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo Egypt does not need an introduction. It was the introduction to human civilization itself, and has all the evidence to show for it. Tour Egypt from the live Nile Valley , to the solitary deserts, to the diversity of the Sinai desert , to the lush oases, to the exotic underwater life of the Red Sea , to the Mediterranean beaches. "Now, let me talk more of Egypt for it has a lot of admirable things and what one sees there is superior to any other country." - Herodotus, 50 BCE "...In Egypt all the operations of the powers which rule and work in heaven have been transferred to earth below...It should rather be said that the whole cosmos dwells in [Egypt] as in its sanctuary..." "There will come a time when ... the gods will return from earth to heaven; Egypt will be forsaken, and the land which was once the home of religion will be left desolate, bereft of the presence of its deities." - Ascleptus III (25 BCE), Hermetic Texts, zeeshan avais moustapha Even though much of what Herodotus witnessed has been ruined by the cruelty of later generations, his statement is still valid to this day. Today's Egyptians have abandoned their ancient heritage for a mostly Moslem Arabic-speaking nation. Happily, they have maintained their friendly, hospitable, and warm characteristics. Cairot , the capital is the place to start. It has the Pyramids, the Sphinxs, the Egyptian Museum, many more sights and more than ten million cairenes to share the experience. Alexandria , the two hundreth city of the country has its fare share of historic sights as well and with its location on the Mediterranean it is an ideal spot for your holidays. The north of Egypt has many impressive temples and graves from Pharaonic times. Luxor , Aswan and Abu Simbel should all be on your to do list. The Nile River has great scuba diving : Hurghada is world famous for its under water world. Em Hetep (Peace Out, in ancient Egyptian language). __________Sights Edit This i Ancient ruins can be found throughout Egypt especially along the Nile. The following are important sites: The Nile River has A fanned shaped area called a nile Delta. Contributors April 26, 2005 change by giorgio (1 point) Display all or display just: Memorials Palaces general Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Edfu (Idfu) Edit This Edfu Temple Edfu Temple photo by: Mark E. Schlegel Edfu has a long narrow temple to the god Horus (Heru), which is also in excellent condition. The present temple is a 2000 year-old replica of the original early pharaonic design. Because the temple is covered much of the original color has been retained. About 12 mi/20 km north are the ruins of El-Kab. - 360 mi/580 km south of Cairo. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Kom Ombo Edit This photo Kom Ombo is a well-preserved symmetrical, double temple to the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus (Heru). Of particular interest is a building filled with crocodile mummies. 25 mi/40 km from Aswan. type: Palaces World66 rating: [rate it] Abydos (Abtu) Edit This At Abydos you’ll see the ruins of an ancient cemetery. The Temple of Seti I is one of the most ancient and finely preserved in Egypt. Every inch of the temple walls is covered with perfectly executed scenes. 7 mi/11 km west of the Nile and 85 mi/140 km north of Luxor. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Esna Edit This Esna features a well-preserved temple to Khnum ("molder" - frequently depicted at a potter's wheel), built during Roman times on the remains of a preceeding 18th Dynasty sanctuary, that was itself built over the ruins of earlier temples. 35 mi/55 km south of Luxor. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Tell el-Amarna Edit This Tell el-Amarna has rock tombs from the 14th century BC. You can get there from Deir Mawas by local bus or taxi. You can also rent a donkey for transport. 7 mi/11 km south of Mallawi. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Wadi Natrun Edit This Wadi Natrun offers a change of pace from ancient Egyptian ruins. It has the ruins of several monasteries and hermitages from the 4th-9th centuries. 100 mi/160 km west of Cairo. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Hermopolis Edit This This ancient city has two statues of baboons and a reconstructed granite-columned Greek agora. 30 mi/50 km south of Minya. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Tanis Edit This In the delta area Tanis contains the most important ruins of the region but they’re very difficult to get to (ask directions from the tourist board in Cairo or Alexandria). A partially excavated royal cemetery is the main attraction. 100 mi/165 km northeast of Cairo. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Under Water Museum Edit This i In the Under Water Museum, in Alexandria, you can touch the royal square, old roads which now under water, mosaics of the palace of Cleopatra. type: Memorials World66 rating: [rate it] url: soha.egypt.tripod.com Beni Hasan Edit This Reached by boat from Minyaplain or Abu Qurqas Beni Hasan is on the eastern bank of the Nile. It has tombs with interesting carvings depicting scenes of Egyptian domestic life in 1900 BC. Many visitors stay in Minya. 15 mi/25 km south of Minya. Daniel: fggkhfghkvhiubvjihgfkjhvbjfkdhvkre mooooo type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Dendera Edit This Outside the town of Qena Dendera has the large wonderfully preserved Temple of Het-Heru (Hathor) built on the site of an older temple, and is a replica of the original. The inscription on the present temple states that the original building was erected in the far pre-Dynastic times. This was a major healing center for people from all over. 285 mi/460 km southeast of Cairo. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] openinghours: None Tuna el-Gebal Edit This The ancient catacombs at Tuna el-Gebal once contained thousands of mummified baboons and ibises. Many of the animals have been removed but some can still be seen in the tunnels. 35 mi/60 km southwest of Minya. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] __________History Edit This Abu Simbel detail from the Great Temple of Ramses II Abu Simbel detail from the Great Temple of Ramses II Hiran Karunaratna The roots of Egyptian civilization go back more than 6 000 years to the beginning of settled life along the banks of the Nile River. The country has an unusual geographical and cultural unity that has given the Egyptian people a strong sense of identity and a pride in their heritage as descendants of humankind's earliest civilized community. Within the long sweep of Egyptian history certain events or epochs have been crucial to the development of Egyptian society and culture. One of these was the unification of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt sometime in the third millennium B.C. The ancient Egyptians regarded this event as the most important in their history comparable to the "First Time or the creation of the universe. With the unification of the Two Lands" by the legendary if not mythical King Menes the glorious Pharaonic Age began. Power was centralized in the hands of a god-king and thus Egypt became the first organized society. The ancient Egyptians were the first people of antiquity to believe in life after death. They were the first to build in stone and to fashion the arch in stone and brick. Even before the unification of the Two Lands the Egyptians had developed a plow and a system of writing. They were accomplished sailors and shipbuilders. They learned to chart the heavens in order to predict the Nile flood. Their physicians prescribed healing remedies and performed surgical operations. They sculpted in stone and decorated the walls of their tombs with naturalistic murals in vibrant colors. The legacy of ancient Egypt is written in stone across the face of the country from the pyramids of Upper Egypt to the rock tombs in the Valley of the Kings to the Old Kingdom temples of Luxor and Karnak to the Ptolemaic temples of Edfu and Dendera and to the Roman temple to Isis on Philae Island. The Arab conquest of 641 by the military commander Amr ibn al As was perhaps the next most important event in Egyptian history because it resulted in the Islamization and Arabization of the country which endure to this day. Even those who clung to the Coptic religion a substantial minority of the population in 1990 were Arabized; that is they adopted the Arabic language and were assimilated into Arab culture. Although Egypt was formally under Arab rule beginning in the ninth century hereditary autonomous dynasties arose that allowed local rulers to maintain a great deal of control over the country's destiny. During this period Cairo was established as the capital of the country and became a center of religion learning art and architecture. In 1260 the Egyptian ruler Qutuz and his forces stopped the Mongol advance across the Arab world at the battle of Ayn Jalut in Palestine. Because of this victory Islamic civilization could continue to flourish when Baghdad the capital of the Abbasid caliphate fell to the Mongols. Qutuz's successor Baybars I inaugurated the reign of the Mamluks a dynasty of slave-soldiers of Turkish and Circassian origin that lasted for almost three centuries. In 1517 Egypt was conquered by Sultan Selim I and absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. Since the Turks were Muslims however and the sultans regarded themselves as the preservers of Sunni (see Glossary) Islam this period saw institutional continuity particularly in religion education and the religious law courts. In addition after only a century of Ottoman rule the Mamluk system reasserted itself and Ottoman governors became at times virtual prisoners in the citadel the ancient seat of Egypt's rulers. The modern history of Egypt is marked by Egyptian attempts to achieve political independence first from the Ottoman Empire and then from the British. In the first half of the nineteenth century Muhammad Ali an Albanian and the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt attempted to create an Egyptian empire that extended to Syria and to remove Egypt from Turkish control. Ultimately he was unsuccessful and true independence from foreign powers would not be achieved until midway through the next century. Foreign including British investment in Egypt and Britain's need to maintain control over the Suez Canal resulted in the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. Although Egypt was granted independence in 1922, British troops were allowed to remain in the country to safeguard the Suez Canal. In 1952 the Free Officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Gamal Abdul Nasser took control of the government and removed King Faruk from power. In 1956 Nasser as Egyptian president announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal an action that resulted in the tripartite invasion by Britain France and Israel. Ultimately however Egypt prevailed and the last British troops were withdrawn from the country by the end of the year. No history of Egypt would be complete without mentioning the Arab-Israeli conflict which has cost Egypt so much in lives territory and property. Armed conflict between Egypt and Israel ended in 1979 when the two countries signed the Camp David Accords. The accords however constituted a separate peace between Egypt and Israel and did not lead to a comprehensive settlement that would have satisfied Palestinian demands for a homeland or brought about peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Thus Egypt remained embroiled in the conflict on the diplomatic level and continued to press for an international conference to achieve a comprehensive agreement. Source: Library of congress _________Practical Information Edit This Visas: Required by all except nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and the UAE. These regulations may change at short notice and those planning to visit Egypt should consult the nearest embassy. Visa for US citizens are easily obtained for approx. $US 15 upon landing at Cairo International. Customs Regulations: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits; gifts up to the value of E£500. All cash, travellers cheques, credit cards and gold over E£500 must be declared on arrival. Currency: 1 Egyptian Pound (E£) = 100 piastres Exchange Rate: US$1 = E£5.75400 (September 2006) Currency Regulations: No restrictions on the import of foreign currency provided it is declared; export is limited to the amount declared on arrival. The import and export of local currency is limited to E£100. It is no longer mandatory to change a minimum of US$ 150 on arrival. Health Requirements: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from those arriving from infected areas. Visitors arriving in transit without a certificate will be detained at the airport until their onward flight departs. Precautions are advised against cholera, typhoid and polio. Climate and Clothing: Hot, dry summers and mild winters with some rainfall along the Mediterranean coast. Inland rainfall is negligible and summers are very hot. In April the hot dusty Khamsin wind blows from the Sahara. Cairo, average temperatures: January 13C, July 29C, annual rainfall 30mm. Tipping: Hotels and restaurants: 12 per cent service charge is included in bills but an additional 5 to 10 per cent is usually given to waiters. A 7 per cent tax is also added to hotel bills. Taxis: 10 per cent. Porters: LE2 per bag. Contributors March 07, 2005 change by giorgio September 24, 2006 change by karulm Currency The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP) ___________Getting Around Edit This Climate [Add Local transport mode] Accomodations Edit This A great place to stay while in Cairo is the Canadian Hostel. Private rooms available, satelite TV in the common room, laundry machines on site, free breakfast. If I remember correctly, it was $15USD per night. Located right off of Tahrir Sqaure, downtown. If a prolonged stay there is planned, the hostel offers discounted group tours into the desert and other places during the high season. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: (02) 3925794 address: 5 Talaat Harb st __________Getting There Edit This Egypt is easy to reach by air from various parts of the world. A considerable number of air companies fly to and from Egypt . The national airline Egypt Air flies from several cities in Europe and from most major cities in the Middle East and North Africa . It also flies from a number of sub-Saharan cities, including Addis Ababa , Khartoum , Nairobi , Entebbe , Johannesburg , Lagos , Kano and Accra , as well as from New York , Bombay , Singapore , Kuala Lumpur , Bangkok , Peking , Guangzhou , Tokyo and Osaka . Its daughter company Air Sinai flies from Tel Aviv. Many other companies fly to Cairo from their home bases, including (at least) Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, Aeroflot, Czech airlines, Malev, Aegean airlines (Athens), Turkish airlines, Aerosvit Airlines (Kiev), Emirates Airways, Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Oman air, Qatar airways, Yemenia Yemen Airways, Middle East Airlines (Beirut), Royal Jordanian Airlines, Syrian Arab Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airways, Libyan Arab Airlines, Tunis Air, Air Algerie, Royal Air Maroc, Sudan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Korean Air and Singapore Airlines. There are also charter flights from several cities in Europe , many of which land at various locations in the tourist areas. Those who want to avoid flying can reach Egypt by ferry from Aqaba (Jordan) to Nuweiba or by train from Khartoum to Wadi Halfa from where there is a steamer on the Nile which runs weekly to Assuan. There is also said to be a direct bus from Amman to Cairo , but passengers should be aware that their passports will be stamped by Isreali authorities along the route. Travellers from Saudi-Arabia may try a ferry from Jeddah to Suez . There seem to be no ferries at present from Europe. _________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: At the end of the 1980s Egypt faced problems of low productivity and poor economic management compounded by the adverse social effects of excessive population growth high inflation and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three successive IMF arrangements the last of which was concluded in October 1996. Egypt's reform efforts—and its participation in the Gulf war coalition—also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Although the pace of reform has been uneven and slower than envisaged under the IMF programs substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance. Budget deficits have been slashed while foreign reserves in 1997 were at an all-time high. And Egypt has been moving toward a more decentralized market-oriented economy. These economic reforms and growing investment opportunities have prompted increasing foreign investment but incoming capital has largely been concentrated in stock market portfolio flows. Egypt's economy also has been hit by a sharp downturn in tourism—a key foreign exchange and job producing sector—following the 17 November 1997 massacre of foreign tourists at Luxor. Although Egypt will probably regain these revenues over time the slump in tourism is likely to slow the GDP growth rate in 1998. In 1999 egypt lost a lot of money due to a majoir drought. _______Day Trips Edit This please add info [Add Day Trip] Hot Air Balloon over the West Bank - Luxor Edit This See ancient Luxor from a different angle. Imagine drifting silently over temples at dawn, not only seeing ancient sites and ruins but also villages waking up in the early morning sun. Sail through the air over sugar cane fields and temples. See desert land and the Nile in the distance. See if you can spot Madenet Habu, the Ramesseum, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. You can on a hot air balloon flight! World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +2 010 4598270 url: www.gattours.com address: 5 mohammed Ibrahim St. Dokki email: gat3@gattours.com Ms Lady Diana 08 Days & 07 Nights Luxor To Luxor Everyday Friday With EUROS 235.- Per Person. Edit This Day 1 - Check in and overnight on board Day 2 - Visit Karnak and Luxor temples. Sail to Esna. Overnight in Esna. Day 3 - Visit Khnoum temple in Esna . Sail to Edfu and visit hours temple. Sail to Kom Ombo Day 4 - Sail to Aswan. Visit the high dam. Unfinished Obelisque and philae temple. Overnight in Aswan. Day 5 - A.M Optional visit to Abusimbel. P.M visit the botanical Garden by Felucca. Overnight in Aswan. Day 6 - Early sail to Kom Ombo, visit sobekTemple. Sail to Edfu. Sail to Luxor Day 7 - A.M Visit the west bank of the river Nile ( Valley of the more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 002 010 80 85 89 6 url: www.nilecruisereservationcenter.com address: 5 Mohamed Ibrahim Street- Nawal Off - Dokki - Cairo - Egypt. email: gat6@gattours.com MS Nile Dream 05 Days & 04 Nights Luxor & Aswan Every Saturday With EUROS 110.- Per Person. Edit This Day 1 - Check in before lunch. P.m Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on the. Overnight on Board. Day 2 - Visit the West Bank( Valley of the Kings, Valley of the queens, HatshepsuteTemple, Colossi of Memnon). Sail to Esna. Overnight in Esna Day 3 - Visit Khnoum Temple in Esna. Sail to Edfu and Visit Horus Temple. Sail to Kom Ombo and Overnight. Day 4 - Visit Sobek temple. Sail to Aswan. Visit the high Dam, Unfinished Obelisque and Philae Temple. Overnight in Aswan. Day 5 - Check out and Visit the Botanical garden by more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 002 010 80 85 89 6 url: www.nilecruisereservationcenter.com address: 5 Mohamed Ibrahim Street- Nawal Off - Dokki - Cairo - Egypt. email: gat6@gattours.com Ms Tamr Hena 05 Days & 04 Nights Luxor To Aswan Every Saturday With Euros 150.- Per Person. Edit This Day 1 - Check in before lunch. P.m Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on the. Overnight on Board. Day 2 - Visit the West Bank( Valley of the Kings, Valley of the queens, HatshepsuteTemple, Colossi of Memnon). Sail to Esna. Overnight in Esna Day 3 - Visit Khnoum Temple in Esna. Sail to Edfu and Visit Horus Temple. Sail to Kom Ombo and Overnight. Day 4 - Visit Sobek temple. Sail to Aswan. Visit the high Dam, Unfinished Obelisque and Philae Temple. Overnight in Aswan. Day 5 - Check out and Visit the Botanical garden by Felucca in the River Nile. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 002 010 80 85 89 6 url: www.nilecruisereservationcenter.com address: 5 Mohamed Ibrahim Street- Nawal Off - Dokki - Cairo - Egypt. email: gat6@gattours.com Ms Tulip 05 Days & 04 Nights Luxor To Aswan Every Monday With Euros 150.- Per Person. Edit This ITINERARY Day 1 - Check in before lunch. P.m Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on the. Overnight on Board. Day 2 - Visit the West Bank( Valley of the Kings, Valley of the queens, HatshepsuteTemple, Colossi of Memnon). Sail to Esna. Overnight in Esna Day 3 - Visit Khnoum Temple in Esna. Sail to Edfu and Visit Horus Temple. Sail to Kom Ombo and Overnight. Day 4 - Visit Sobek temple. Sail to Aswan. Visit the high Dam, Unfinished Obelisque and Philae Temple. Overnight in Aswan. Day 5 - Check out and Visit the Botanical garden by Felucca in the River Nile. World66 rating: [rate it] address: 5 Ms Beau Soleil 05 Days & 04 Nights Luxor & Aswan Every Sunday With Euros 180.- Per Person. Edit This Day 1 - Check in before lunch. P.m Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on the. Overnight on Board. Day 2 - Visit the West Bank( Valley of the Kings, Valley of the queens, HatshepsuteTemple, Colossi of Memnon). Sail to Esna. Overnight in Esna Day 3 - Visit Khnoum Temple in Esna. Sail to Edfu and Visit Horus Temple. Sail to Kom Ombo and Overnight. Day 4 - Visit Sobek temple. Sail to Aswan. Visit the high Dam, Unfinished Obelisque and Philae Temple. Overnight in Aswan. Day 5 - Check out and Visit the Botanical garden by Felucca in the River Nile. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 002 010 80 85 89 6 url: www.nilecruisereservationcenter.com address: 5 Mohamed Ibrahim Street- Nawal Off - Dokki - Cairo - Egypt. email: gat6@gattours.com Shore excursion from Port Said to Cairo Edit This Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & the Egyptian Museum of Antiquitie It is approximately a three-hour ride along the scenic desert road to Cairo , The capital of Egypt . Upon arrival in this vast city, you will first visit the great pyramids of Giza . The largest of these, Cheops, is the only one remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. View the amazing Sphinx, part lion and part man. Carved from a natural rock, the Sphinx is 190 feet long and 66 feet tall at its highest point. more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 0020105603297 url: www.egypthighlights.com address: Dokki, Egypt email: tours@egypthighlights.com Day Trip from Hurghada Edit This a suggestion for a afternoon trip from Hurghada is to take a jeep tour to the sand dunes, have a simple dinner with the local inhabitants in the nearby mountains and the most beautiful part.. see the stars at the early evening. We were able to see Saturnus very bright with the right telescope. World66 rating: [rate it] Day tour visiting El Alamein from Cairo Edit This Leave Cairo at 07:00 am by car through the Western Desert road to El Haman and El Alamein (the Two Flags), where one of the most decisive battles of World War II (October 1942) took place. Visit the battlefield, the Allied Forces cemetery, Rommel's headquarters, and the German and Italian Memorial Monument. lunch box will be served. Return to Cairo in the evening. (You can do this tour also starting from Alexandria) World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +2 010 4598270 url: www.gattours.com address: 5 mohammed Ibrahim St. Dokki email: gat3@gattours.com Adventure Desert Safari Edit This Day 1: Departure from Cairo to El Bahariya Oasis (385km) about four hours. Visit the little museum in Bawiti with some fascinating local finds. Then we will enter the marvelous and refreshingly original tomb of Benantui from the 26th dynasty. Next, to the Amasis chapels which are being preserved in an unusually sympathetic style. After a visit to the Temple of Alexander drive to visit the English house, the hot springs and watch the sun go down over the salt lake. Overnight Camping. Day 2: After breakfast, in the morning more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +2 010 4598270 url: www.gattours.com address: 5 mohammed Ibrahim St. Dokki email: gat3@gattours.com __________People Edit This i Population: 66 050 004 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 12 173 882; female 11 637 239) 15-64 years: 60% (male 20 108 426; female 19 718 302) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1 074 271; female 1 337 884) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 1.86% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 27.31 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 8.41 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 69.23 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.07 years male: 60.09 years female: 64.14 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.41 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians Bedouins and Berbers) 99% Greek Nubian Armenian other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate) Coptic Christian and other 6% (official estimate) Languages: Arabic (official) English and French widely understood by educated classes Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.) __________Beaches Edit This The beaches in Egypt are very pleasant with warm clear waters and sandy shores. Egypt has some of the best beaches in the World with fantastic diving locations which are also ideal for snorkelling. There are a wide variety of water sports, deep sea fishing, parasailing etc. The marine life is rich and varied with lots of bright colored fish and wonderful corals hundreds of years old. I strongly recommend visiting Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada on the Red Sea. Or for a more chilled out option and some great diving, head to Dahab (1 hour north of Sharm). You could also have a wonderful time at the "North Shore" beaches on the Mediterranean, west of Alexandra, check out a place called "Marina" or "Porto Marina". :::::::::::Abu Simbel Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The Queens Temple The Queens Temple Jose Canedo Abu Simbel is on the top priority list of anyone going to Egypt. The temples of Abu Simbel are located in the southernmost part of the country; go any further and you are in the Sudan. The easiest way to visit Abu Simbel is as an organized daytrip from Aswan you leave very early, you see sunrise somewhere in the desert and you can be at the site before it gets to hot. Many of these tours have arrangements for lunch included. This is quite expensive, it normally would include an early morning flight and return by early afternoon. (driving takes several hours) The main sight of the place are the two huge temples: the one for Ramses and the one for Nefertari. The view from this place is incredible, in the middle of the desert, and at the shores of Lake Nasser, which was created with the damming of the Nile River to create the Aswan Dam. The temples got world fame when an international UNESCO operation was needed to save them from the rising water of Lake Nasser. The operation, which cost US$40 M and took 6 years, was a monumental engineering feat. Literally, the temple complex was removed piece by piece and then restored in the new (higher ground location) Inside these temples, it it absolutely incredible. The bright colors in the carvings are essentially intact. While places like Valley of the Kings are also very amazing.... Abul Simbel is still worth the expensive visit. Many tourists hesitate...but...if you do go....you will be very glad you did! ::::::::::Alexandria Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see sanstafno and gleem2 sanstafno and gleem2 Alexandria, the city of legend, is the world's gateway to the land of the Nile. Home to the great philosophers, thinkers and professers of ancient times, this great city has impacted the world more than any other city, not by force like its counterparts, Rome and Carthage, but by the ingenious power of the human mind. Founded by a young king who had conquered the known world by the time he was 30, on a breezy strip of land on the fringes of the bright blue Mediterranean Sea, this amazing city, although lacking its dominance it once attained over the world, is still the most amazing city in the world's oldest tourist destination, the country of Egypt. Alexandria is a wonderful city to just get lost. Throw away your map and walk into a back alley and witness the extreme kindness and generosity of the Egyptian people. Listen to the stories and immerse yourself into the cultures. When the day is coming to a close, follow the smell of the sea and fish back to the Corniche, Alexandria's waterfront avenue, and watch the sun glide under the sea while the waters of the harbor crash into the rocks below. Alexandria is still a city of legend, even though the city of the past is now only in the collective memory of writing and art. Don't skip Alex as so many tend to do. Experience it! Visit the museums, stand in the soft Egyptian sands, taste the culture and and the foods, and thank yourself for an adventure you will cherish. :::::::::Aswan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Aswan Aswan Anne Aswan is the major travel hub of the south of Egypt. The area has many things worth exploring - Elephant island, the Philae Temple, the Aswan dam and further afield Abu Simbel, which can be see as a day trip from here. Aswan and its surroundings were known as Nubia in ancient times. You will find that event today, Aswan had more of an 'African feel' to it than any other city in Egypt. Although you might want to give the 'Nubian dancers' performing in the expensive hotels a miss, getting a real taste of this ancient culture would be an excellent opportunity and an experience you will not forget - the Nubian Cultural center is a good option here. The city proper lies on the east bank of the Nile. Relax here, visit a few mosques, but then prepare for an adventure. The bazaar runs along the Corniche, which continues past the Ferial Gardens and the Nubian Museum, and continues on to the Cemetery, with its forest of cupolas surmounted tombs from the Fatimid period. Just east of the cemetery in the famous area quarries is the gigantic Unfinished Obelisk. Just to the south of this, two Graeco-Roman sarcophagi and an unfinished colossus remain half buried in the sand. The west bank is really worth a visit. Take a walk (or a cycling trip) in the Nubian villages and green agricultural area near the Nile river or visit the many sites on the West bank: Tombs of the Nobles & Kubbet al Hawa The northern hills of the west bank (Kubbet al-Hawa meaning windy dome) are filled with the rock-hewn tombs of princes from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period. The 6th Dynasty tombs, some of which form linked family complexes, contain important biographical texts. Inside, the tombs are decorated with vivid wall paintings showing scenes of everyday life, hieroglyphic biographies and inscriptions telling of the noblemen's journeys into Africa. Monastery of St. Simeon The history of the monastery of St. Simeon dates back to the 7th century, and survived long as a Christian stronghold of southern Egypt until destroyed by Saladin in 1173. While still in use it housed 300 monks, and could in addition receive up to 100 pilgrims at a time. The monastery was surrounded by a 10 metre high wall, and doubled as a fortress. Apparently, the monastery did not return to its original use after Saladin's destruction. Elephantine Island Elephantine Island is the largest of the Aswan area islands, and is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt, with artifacts dating to predynastic periods. This is probably due to its location at the first Cataract of the Nile, which provided a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia. As an island, it was also easily defensible. In fact, the ancient town located in the southern part of the island was also a fortress through much of it's history. At one time, there was a bridge from the mainland to the island. One of it's main attractions is it's Nilometer . Another major attraction is the ruins of the Temple of Khnum . Don’t forget to visit Animalia . It’s the small museum of guide Mohamed, who collected all kinds of Nubian products and objects from nature around Aswan and Lake Nasser. You’ll find a lot of information about daily life in Nubia and even connections with the history of the pharaohs. The botanical gardens on Kitchener Island Kitchner's Island is a botanical garden, filled with exotic plants and trees imported from all over the world. It is a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon in the shade. The island must be reached by boat, and is located on the other side of Elephantine Island from Aswan. The Island was given to Lord Kitchner for his campaigns in the Sudan, and he moved their and created his garden, importing plants and trees from all over the world. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.adifferentegypt.com :::::::::::Buto Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Excavation at Buto Excavation at Buto Ingvar Buto (the greek name of Per-Wadjet) is an important archaeological site in Kafr el-Sheikh governorate in the Nile delta, about 95 km SE from Alexandria and 35 km NW of Kafr el-Sheikh. The site consists of three mounds, covering two cities and a temple complex. The older remains show that Buto was inhabited for at least 500 years during the Predynastic time, which ended 3100 BC, and it seems then to have been the capital of northern Egypt. Later, Buto did not have a big influence as such but seems to have been kept in living memory as the site of an old capital. It remained a religious centre as described by Herodotos. The site was occupied still during Roman times. Buto is a large site but only partly open to the public. The number of tourists is small, since the visible remains are not spectacular and the site is off the route for most tourists. ::::::::Cairo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_4 Samer Bassam Cairo is the capital of Egypt, and with a total population in excess of 16 million people, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East (which regions it conveniently straddles) - it is also the 13th largest city in the world. Situated on the River Nile, Cairo is famous for its own history - preserved in the fabulous medieval Islamic city and in Old Cairo - and for the ancient, Pharaonic history of the country it represents. No trip to Cairo would be complete, for example, without a visit to the Giza Pyramids, to nearby Saqqara, or to the Egyptian Museum in the center of town. Though firmly attached to the past, Cairo is also home to a vibrant modern society. As you fly into to Cairo, Egypt you will be left speechless as you look out the window and see the contrast of the setting. Out of one side of the plane, you will see the vast arid desert which seems to be never ending; out of the other side is a busy city which looks like a modern day oasis. Travelers from all over the world have been marveling at Egypt 's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years. Although these antiquities still exist today, a visit to Cairo , Egypt is more than an immersion into the past, as it also encompasses many modern day amenities which anyone will be sure to enjoy. Just walking around downtown and in the older residential parts inside the wall of the city where craftsmen work on the sidewalks outside their homes is also a real pleasure. It is easy to meet real Cairenes that are eager to discuss anything with you. Some of them try to lure you into their carpet shops; others are really interested and interesting to talk with. If you are hungry, make sure to try the most popular Egyptian dish, Koshray. Koshray is a traditional Egyptian meal that consists of a delectable combination of macaroni, spaghetti, rice, black lentils, chick peas, garlic sauce and a spicy tomato chili sauce, all topped with fried onions. A visit to the pyramids and the Sphinx is a must, since these icons are landmarks of the country's fascinating history. Beware, however, of the aggressive friendliness of Egyptian camel drivers and policemen, who may try to earn a few Egyptian pounds from you (they call it bahshis, or a tip) for small favors; to avoid this, simply ask another friendly tourist to take your picture, instead of one of the locals. While in the city make sure you visit the museum first before going to see pyramids, as it will help you appreciate the culture of ancient Egypt even more. It is advised not to make the pyramid visits on Fridays, due to mass at noon time 12pm-1pm, during which time the pyramids are closed. :::::::::::Colossi of Memnon Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x The Colossi of Memnon Howard Banwell This massive pair of statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, rise 18 metres from the plain. These faceless, enthroned statues are all that remain of a huge funerary temple complex built in the second half of the 14th century BC by Amenhotep III. Unfortunately, being on the flood plain of the Nile, most other traces of the temple have been eroded away over the centuries by the frequent floodwaters of the great river. Only the Colossi have withstood the ravages of time. (Contributed by Howard Banwell) ::::::::::Dahab Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see dahab sinai, bedouin new town 2004 dahab sinai, bedouin new town 2004 www.subvision.net Update 11 May 2006: Just a quick note to say thank you to all the people around the world who have been sending best wishes to the people in Dahab. We're all very sad for the ones we've lost, but everyone is determined not to give up on our wonderful little part of the world. The nice news is that, between us, we have had thousands of emails and phone calls from people telling us not to worry, that nothing would ever stop them coming to Dahab. Some people are even changing their holiday plans so that they will see us this year. Amazing. This is the Dahab spirit at work! The result is that life is pretty much as normal here now - people diving, freediving, climbing, out on safari, enjoying yoga on the rooftops. Many different cultures and religions, all happily enjoying an amazing place - as it should be. Thank you again. Dahab is the Arabic word for gold - have a look at the colour of the sand of the beaches around here and you immediately know where the town took its name from. Though Dahab is not yet as popular as El Jadida to the south, but the combination of soft sand, gorgeous blue water, and a luxuriant strip of palm trees is pulling in visitors in growing numbers. Assalah is the most developed part of Dahab, a sprawling conglomeration of palm trees, shops, campgrounds, hotels, bars, and restaurants that lie along the shore of Ghazala Bay. Assalah has a distinctly bohemian feel, and during the Israeli occupation it wasn't uncommon to see soldiers patrolling the same beaches as dreadlocked vagabonds from Europe and America. Less laid back, but still relaxed, is the area just south lying along El-Qura Bay. Within just a few miles of Dahab are some great adventure spots. Excellent dive sites lie both to the north and south, including Blue Hole, one of Sinai's best. Just south are the wadis of Qnai el-Rayan and Qnai el-Atschan. :::::::::Dendara Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Outside the town of Qena Dendera has the large wonderfully preserved Temple of Het-Heru (Hathor) built on the site of an older temple, and is a replica of the original. The inscription on the present temple states that the original building was erected in the far pre-Dynastic times. This was a major healing center for people from all over. 285 mi/460 km southeast of Cairo. The Temple of Hathor at Dendara was built at the very end of the Pharaonic period, largely by the Ptolemies (323-20 BC), and was finished during the early Roman period. This temple is wonderfully preserved, with its main building virtually intact, and is a sight to behold. The walls and ceilings of the outer and inner hypostyle halls, the sanctuary rooms, the crypt and the rooftop suites were carved with highly detailed relief scenes, many of them remarkably untouched by the ravages of over 2,000 years. On the outside of the rear wall is a large relief of Cleopatra with her son by Julius Caesar, Ptolemy XV, better known as Caesarian. (Contributed by Howard Banwell) ::::::::::Dokki Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Dokki is one of the distrcts of Greater Cairo. A residential area famous of restaurants and shops. There is not much sight seeing there, but it is a nice area for those who would like to rent an apartment. Its popular with Arab tourists because of the budget accommodation available, you will find a few hotels listed below. __________Getting Around Edit This You can around Dokki by a cab. There are plenty of them around the streets throughout the day. Main streets are Mohy El deen Abo El ezz, Tahrir street which at their intersection there is an undeground metro station. There is also another metro station 2 km after that one on Tahrir street as well. Other important streets are Dokki street, Messaha street, Nadi Al Said street Giza street aka Charles De Gaulles. ::::::::::Giza Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see sambar deer, Giza zoo, Giza, Egypt sambar deer, Giza zoo, Giza, Egypt Ramy Rabie Just outisde of Cairo on the West Bank of the Nile you find Giza. This is where the pyramids are, at least the biggest ones. There are a few others a bit more to the south, in Saqqara, where you find the oldest (step) pyramid, but you come to Giza for the big one. There will be self appointed guides and camel drivers waiting for you, to talk you into a guided visit, but this is hardly necessary. Just watch the huge pyramids and let their sheer size impress you. ::::::::::Hurghada Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hurghada Fishmarket Hurghada Fishmarket Andy Wagner www.hurghada-information.com Hurghada, known in Egypt as Ghardaga, was at one time just a simple fishing village. But now, with its crystal clear water, untouched reefs and a multitude of ship wrecks, it has become one of the best Egyptian tourist destinations. The small town centre with its bazaars, mosques and lively atmosphere reflects typical Egyptian life. Further inland lie the Desert Mountains, ideal for desert tours. Most of all Hurghada offers sunshine and relaxation - all you could want for your holiday. Also known for the extensive nightlife, clubland giants Ministry of Sound Egypt and Hed Kandi Beach Bar both operate immensely successful parties 7 nights a week, and opened from the middle of June 2008, the new Hurghada Marina Boulevard hosts over 80 shops, 15 restaurants and 7 bars, not forgetting the country's only Bungee Rocket standing proud at the Marina's entrance... With more than 20 km of hotels along the beach, Hurghada can satisfy the needs of every visitor, from scuba-diving to windsurfing to desert safaris. One can choose from the finest 5 Star Hotels to simple Guest Houses, and everything in-between. Hurghada is world renowned as a center for some of the world's best Diving. Within a couple of hours from your hotel you can be amongst a group of islands that are the home to Dive Sites guaranteed to astound even the most experienced divers. The offshore islands tempt the diver to discovery. Of course many other recreational activities are available. Temperature Throughout the year Hurghada has a warm and dry desert climate with a steady breeze. Summers are very hot - be sure to protect yourself against the sun. In winter the temperature lies between 20° - 25° Celsius and water temperature reaches 20° - 22° Celsius. Enjoy a delightful submarine ride nearby, to view the underwater life in a unique fashion. Other nearby islands and destinations include the Shadwan Island (Diving, snorkeling, fishing but no swimming), Shaab Abu Shiban (Diving, snorkeling and swimming), Shaab el-Erg (Diving, fishing and snorkeling), Umm Gammar Island (Diving and snorkeling), Shasb Saghir Umm Gammae (Diving), Careless Reef (Diving), Abu Ramada Island (Diving), Shaab Abu Ramada (Fishing), Dishet el-Dhaba (Beaches and swimming), Shaab Abu Hashish (Beaches, diving, snorkeling, swimming and fishing), Sharm el-Arab (Diving, swimming and fishing and Abu Minqar Island (Beaches and swimming). http://hurghada.forum2u.org Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://redsea.forum2u.org ::::::::::::::Karnak Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Howard Banwell Karnak is the location of ancient Thebes. The spectacular site is massive, measuring 1,500 metres by 800 metres, and was built, added to, restored, enlarged and redecorated over a period of 1,500 years. The central feature of Karnak is the enormous Amun Temple largely constructed between 1570 and 1090 BC. . Later pharaohs added their own touches, and the Ptolemies and Christians also left their mark. It has many outstanding features including a processional entrance of ram-headed sphinxes, through which one enters the temple, a fifty metre first pylon (unfinished), and the tallest obelisk in Egypt (29.6 metres) soaring up in granite splendour. Its most unforgettable feature, however, is the stunning Great Hypostyle Hall built in the late 13th century BC by Seti I and finished off by Ramses II. The hall is a perfectly proportioned forest of 134 towering papyrus-shaped stone pillars all decorated in delicate sunken and raised relief. One cannot fail to be awestruck at this sight, which covers 6,000 square metres – large enough to accommodate the combined floor plans of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and St. Peter's in Rome. (Contributed by Howard Banwell). __________Sights Edit This Excursions in Cairo, Luxor and many more around Egypt and the Red sea, whatever your taste, theres an excursions to suit you. Excursions that will create memories you will cherish and enjoy again and again. For more information please visit www.egyptexcursions.com ::::::::Luxor Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see fishing in the nile river fishing in the nile river alaa taiea Luxor is high on your priority list: it has some of the most important archeological attractions of the world. The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Noble are unique highlights of the ancient Egyptian Civilization. These complexes of graves and tombs are located 20 km west of town, at the other side of the Nile. The most famous of these tombs is of course that of Tutankamon. In the town itself, superbly positioned on the banks of the Nile, is the beautiful Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) on the site of an earlier sanctuary raised by Hatshepsut in the 15th century BC. The temple was added to by Ramses II, Alexander the Great and the Romans, and is a graceful and striking piece of architecture. It has four pillared courts and hypostyle halls of great beauty, and in front of the enormous first pylon are some colossal granite statues of Ramses II and a pink granite obelisk – the partner of which was removed to Paris's Place de la Concorde. In the Great Court is a 13th century mosque. The modern town is nothing special but not unpleasant. There are a few restaurants where you can get decent food, accommodation options range from cheap to quite expensive. There is no alchohol in the area. It is a sober town. ::::::::::Maadi Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Maadi retains the ancient name of the town that once stood on much the same site as today's district, and which has now turned out to be a significant Predynastic archaeological site. However, building activity in the area has destroyed some archaeologically sensitive places. The town traces its modern history to 1904 when the railway between Cairo and Helwan was built. This in combination with land speculation by the Mosseri cousins gave rise to a new town. Construction was originally limited to the area right near the railway, but eventually spread down to the river Nile. Also, a large army camp was built east of the railway. The town planning was done in 1905 by a retired Canadian officer Captain Alexander J. Adams. His vision led to the wide boulevards and large villas still seen in Maadi today. There were very strict rules associated with residential development in Maadi with regards to the size of houses, how much of the property could be occupied by the house and how much had to be left for the garden, and the size of the sidewalks. Even window shutters had prescribed colours. During the period between 1940 and 1946, Maadi had an important role in the Military history of New Zealand during World War II; around 76,000 members of the First Echelon, 2 NZEF (Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force) main body trained at a camp near Maadi at the base of the desert slopes of Wadi Degla and Tel al-Maadi. During that time this area belonged to the Delta Land Company which created Maadi in 1907. The rocky plateau was leased to the New Zealand Forces, and for the next six years became New Zealand's main overseas base. [edit] Currently There are many flats in Maadi, most in lowrise buildings. There are several highrises along the Corniche by the river, as well as in the newer, eastern part of Maadi, known as Degla. The Maadi Grand Mall Streets are laid out in a mostly grid pattern; however, there are several boulevards running at angles across the grid. Maadi lies on the river Nile about 12 km upstream from downtown Cairo, on the east bank. The river is parallelled by the Corniche, a waterfront promenade of the kind found in many Egyptian towns. The main road into Cairo follows the Corniche. There is no bridge across the Nile at Maadi; the nearest one is Mounib towards central Cairo. Maadi is the least densely populated neighbourhood in Greater Cairo, and much of the town is inhabited by well-to-do Egyptians as well as expatriates. Residential street in Maadi Many embassies are located in Maadi, among them the Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, and Argentinian embassies. The Cairo office for the USAID is also located in this suburb. Maadi is served by the Cairo Metro's Line 1, which has now taken over the Cairo-to-Helwan railway. There are three stops in Maadi. Further metro construction in Maadi is foreseen, but nothing is beyond the proposal stage as yet. Egyptian National Railways also operates a line through Maadi, but it is strictly a freight line. There is no longer any passenger service; the station is closed. [edit] Culture Services in Maadi are geared to a great extent to serve the town's expatriate population. In addition to numerous western restaurants, there are many churches, and a synagogue. There are also newspapers and magazines catering to this very large sector of Maadi's population. The Maadi Sporting Club has served the local community since 1921. :::::::::::Mansoura Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see kep kep en Mansoura is one of the biggest cities in Egypt but receives very few tourists. It is mainly famous as a university town and it has the most important facutly of medicine in Egypt. Among th historic sights of the town, the most famous is the Dar Ibn Lockman, the house where Louis IX, King of France, was imprisoned in 1250 after the seventh Crusade was defeated. The house has now been turned into a museum for his possessions and memorabilia. Another interesting sight is the Shinnawi Palace. It was built by an Italian architect in 1928 and is considered the most magnificent of its style outside of Italy. For more luxury villas, head to the Touryel area. For lively markets the Al-Khawagat market is the place to go. In earlier times it was run by Greeks, Jews and Lebanese, today's traders are Egyptian and their products include flashy-coloured galabiyas, underwear, textiles, socks, shoes, brass and aluminium pots. ::::::::::Minya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_1 Located roughly halfway between Asyut and Cairo, Minya is skipped by most travelers. The city of Minya is of considerable size, it has a university, and a fairly bustling atmosphere. As Minya is an area with a larger group of Christian, there have been clashes between them and militant Islamists. The latest of these, are not further away than February 1997. The region is rich in archaeological interest: the tombs of Beni Hassan portray in dazzlingly vivid colors scenes of daily life in Ancient Egyptian times; Tel El Amama is the site of the capital built by Akhen Aton out of which he hoped his new monotheistic creed would radiate and convert the world; Tonna'l Gebel is the ancient Hermopolis; and El Ashmounein (Greater Hermopoles) still boasts relics of temples and shrines from the 19th Dynasty to the Christian era. :::::::::Port said Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see JPEG Image JPEG Image JPEG Image Port Said, locally known as Bur Said, is located on the Mediterranean coast at the beginning of the Suez Canal. The city was founded in 1859 when the Suez Canal was inaugurated. A modern city, 135 miles northeast of Cairo at the Mediterranean entrance to the Suez canal. Port Said has a lovely view which runs along its attractive beach. Situated largely on man-made land, the city was founded on a low sandy strip separating the Mediterranean from Lake Al-Manzilah. Lying at the junction of Africa & Asia, it is a famous and vital sea route between east & west. ::::::::::Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hotel that give's you the coral reef at front of it self(Regancy Plaza Nabq Sharm el shik Hotel that give's you the coral reef at front of it self(Regancy Plaza Nabq Sharm el shik Jasmin Avdovic Sharm el-Sheik is one of the largest tourist destinations in the Arabic world. But there are also some very good reasons to visit it if you are not the common tourist, who likes to lay on the beach all day. It is one of the finest diving spots in the world and a trip into the desert is an unforgettable adventure. The Sinai peninsula is a remote desert mountain range. The rocky mountains are parted from the deep-blue sea by a flat desert strip. This combination of desert and sea is an incredible sight and makes you believe your are on a different planet. About 15 years ago, Sharm el-Sheik was nothing but a small fishing village with about 100 citizens, but Egyptians started to build up a tourist destination with now a population of 10 000 people. There is now a nice promenade, a Hard Rock Cafe, one of the most modern hospitals in Egypt and so on. For more information visit http://www.allaboutsinai.com and http://sinaiweekly.com websites. While in Sharm El Sheikh buy your tickets to Sharm's top parties, excursions, water sports, quad bikes and leisure tickets by visiting http://sharmtickets.com or calling 0103451290 (local call) and have your tickets delivered to your hotel Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://allaboutsinai.com/ :::::::::Sinai desert Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see St Catherine monastery St Catherine monastery Osama bin Laden The Sinai Peninsula is a part of Egypt connecting the Continents of Asia and Africa. Surrounded by the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Israeli Negev desert. The most interesting sight is the west southern part of the Sinai. It is mountaineous with its highest peak St. Katherine Mt. 2644 m. Here, below the craggy outcrops, St Katherine's Monastery sits beneath the mountain where a 4th century tradition says Moses received the Ten Commandments, although archaeological investigations have failed to find any evidence that the Israelites ever camped here. Among its treasures is a library of ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican's itself, and a 6th century church reputed to lie directly on the site of the Burning Bush. The start point for trekking is Bedouin village El-Milga near the St. Katherine Monastery. There are also some popular beach resorts. The most famous are Sharm el Sheikh and Dahab, a place very popular with the independent traveller. ________ Nuweiba Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sitting beside the clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, and enclosed by rugged mountains, Nuweiba is a sight in itself. For many years, a friendly dolphin lived beside the Bedouin village at the south of Nuweiba, and tourists and local could swim with her. Attractions at Nuweiba include the diving opportunies, and several dive shops cater for those wishing to see the fish and coral attractions that abound here. _____St Katherine's Monastery Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x St. Katherine's Monastery Howard Banwell A three-hour journey from Sharm el Sheikh, St Katherine's Monastery lies at the foot of Mount Sinai, about 100 kilometres inland. The drive takes you into the heart of the Sinai desert, an awesome terrain of incredible beauty. Dry gravel wadis – some of them vast – slice barren, jagged hills and mountain ranges, and occasional banks of yellow sand cling to the hillsides like snow drifts. In the wadis or at the roadside survive ancient acacia trees and tamarisk bushes, or the odd clump of baitharan where Bedouin camels browse the leaves. Eventually you begin to climb the valley that leads to the foot of the 2,285 metre Mount Sinai. Here twenty-two Greek Orthodox monks live in an ancient monastery founded by the Roman empress Helena who built a small chapel beside what was believed to the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses. Later, in the 6th century, a fortress containing the original chapel, a basilica and a monastery was built by Justinian, and the site has been visited by Christian pilgrims ever since. The walled complex houses the ornate chapel itself as well as an amazing collection of religious icons and jeweled crosses assembled from all over the Orthodox world. Christians, Moslems and Jews alike revere the Mount Sinai region, and although it is now easy to reach by road, the surroundings of St. Katherine's are spectacularly rugged and starkly beautiful. (Contributed by Howard Banwell) ::::::::::Siwa Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Desert around Siwa Desert around Siwa Eric Goodwin Siwa is one of Egypt's most attractive locations. Known for its tribal history, as well as the numorious locations, Siwa has a lot to offer with respect to both people and scenery. ::::::Suez Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The 2nd quay crane and the 9th and 10th yard cranes have arrived in Port Said East Port. The 2nd quay crane and the 9th and 10th yard cranes have arrived in Port Said East Port. Mohamed Tamer Suez is located at the south end of the canal of the same name. It is a transport hub for travel to the Sinai and a good place to watch big ships sailing through a desert landscape. Transiting the Suez Canal On a clear, cool morning, with all signs of the last few days' sand haze blown away, we left Port Suez and lined up behind sixteen other ships for our northbound convoy, and started an enthralling transit of the Suez Canal. For the next ten hours, covering the 200 kilometres between Port Suez and Port Said, there was always something of interest to see. On the eastern side the barren Sinai Desert stopped right at the edge of the canal, and a few kilometers away trucks could be seen on the main highway running south to Sharm el Sheikh. The sand between the road and us was covered with abandoned military posts, burnt out trucks and other debris from the 1967 and 1973 wars. On the western side, towns and villages lined the banks most of the way up the canal, benefiting from the extensive Nile delta irrigation systems. On both sides, a strong military presence was in evidence everywhere, with soldiers based in tents, military posts or tanks, and patrolling the banks in ones or twos. In the Great Bitter Lake we passed a southbound convoy of twenty-five ships, anchored there to let us pass, including a British submarine and minesweeper moving into the Red Sea or around to the Gulf. Everywhere, construction or development was taking place. A huge bridge spans the canal at one point; at another a new tunnel takes traffic beneath it. An ingenious new swing bridge carries a railway track across the water when convoys are not moving past. There are constant repair and improvement efforts on the canal banks, and it appears that new irrigation works are under way to reclaim vast swathes of the Sinai Desert for settlement. One assumes the funding comes from the US$2 billion annual revenue earned by the canal – it cost our ship $100,000 to transit. Finally, in the late afternoon we arrived in Port Said, with the main part of the town on our left. One of the first buildings we saw was the wonderful Suez Canal House with its striking green domes, built in time for the canal's inauguration in 1869. The waterfront looked busy and prosperous, and we tied up right outside the new Port Said National Museum. (Contributed by Howard Banwell) ::::::::: Western Desert Oases Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see writer_of_this_art_2 Menno Alberts Egypt's Western Desert (also referred to as Lybian Desert) is situated in the middle and western part of Egypt. Though connected by a road Egypt has quite some oases towns 'in the middle of nowhere' which are well worth a visit. Especially if you'd like to avoid the tourist buses and crowded places this is something you really should do! You will find old people dressed in desert fashion and young kids playing on the sandy streets, sandy faces, often willing to pose for a photograph, people living in clay houses, donkeys as a way of transportation, etc. If you want to sniff Egypt's desert life instead of visiting the crowded areas you will not be disappointed. Strangely enough I never heard about the Western Egyptian Desert before until I got there and planned the trip with my friends and a fellow Dutch guy who lives in Cairo. If you want to see the other (unknown but impressive and beautiful!) side of Egypt you should definitely consider a trip to the Oases towns of the Western Desert. These are the Oases we visited: Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga. |
