Egypt - Egipto

Introduction Egypt (officially, the Arab Republic of Egypt; in Arabic, جمهوريّة مصرالعربيّة Gumhūriyyat Maṣr Al-ʿArabiyyah) is a country in the north of Africa, although the sinai peninsula is found in Asia. It has coasts on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and borders Sudan to the south, Libya west e Israel northeast. Much of the country is covered by deserts, except for the fertile valley of the Nile and its delta, where great civilizations have flourished since ancient times. It is one of the main tourist destinations in the world due to its great and iconic monuments.

Capital Cairo Idiom Arab Surface 1 001 459 km² Population 100 917 000 (2019) Currency pound Time zone UTC 2 (UTC 3 in summer) Telephone prefix 20

Understand

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was a civilization that originated along the middle and lower reaches of the Nile River, and reached three periods of pharaonic splendor in the periods called: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom.

Its territory also encompassed, at different periods, the eastern desert and the Red Sea coastline, the Sinai peninsula, and a large western territory dominating the scattered oases. Historically, it was divided into Upper and Lower Egypt, south and north respectively.

The Egyptians worshiped gods with the head of an animal or with a human figure; they even imagined them in plant form. Their religion was not homogeneous since, in the form of numerous gods, the same religious principle could be venerated. It is impossible to sort the Egyptian deities in precise categories. There are two main reasons: the complexity of religious ideas in Egypt and the long period of time in which they developed.

History

The regularity and richness of the annual flooding of the Nile River, together with the semi-isolation provided by the deserts to the east and west, allowed the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 BC. C. and a series of dynasties ruled Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 BC. C., who in turn were replaced by Greeks, Romans and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks, took control around 1250 and continued to rule after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal In 1869, Egypt became a major world transportation hub, but he also got into a lot of debt. Apparently to protect its investments, Britain took control of the Egyptian government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the United Kingdom in 1922. The completion of the Great Aswan Dam in 1971 and the resulting Lake Nasser have altered the sacred place of the River Nile in Egypt's agriculture and ecology. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land and dependence on the Nile continue to strain resources and stress society. The government has struggled to prepare the economy for the 21st century through economic reforms and massive investments in communications and physical infrastructure.

Cities

• Cairo the capital of Egypt, home to the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and fabulous Islamic architecture.
• Alexandria (al-Iskandariya): Egypt's window to the Mediterranean, with still palpable glimpses of the past
• Luxor: gateway to the Valley of the Kings, among other fabulous attractions, and the capital of Egypt

• Aswan- A more relaxed option than Luxor, full of incredible views
• Hurghada- a city on the Red Sea, full of all-inclusive resorts and numerous diving options

• Port Said- The center of the third largest metropolitan area, has a cosmopolitan heritage, home to the Port Said lighthouse
• Sharm el sheikh- A very popular resort town on the Sinai Peninsula, with some of the best diving in the world.
• Quseir- A historic city with an ancient fort and a center on the Red Sea coast, with some of the best diving and holiday destinations in Egypt

Other destinations

Traveling to Egypt all inclusive or free is the same in both cases. However, traveling through a closed trip will allow you to forget about all the details of which cities to visit, where to eat, where to stay, etc. Something that normally if it were other countries you would not think about it much and you would decide to organize it on your own.

• Abu simbel (Arabic: أبو سمبل): a very remote city in the far south, with some impressive ancient temples and a different history
• Dahab (Arabic: دهب) - in the Sinai, east of Sharm el Sheikh, a center for backpackers, with excellent diving
• Karnak- Scattered temples built with an emphasis on size, an impressive avenue of ram-headed sphinxes runs through the middle
• Memphis (Arabic: مَنْف,Manf) Y Saqqara (Arabic: سقارة) - Both filled with ancient Egyptian relics and ruins, often combined as a day trip from Cairo
• Siwa (in Arabic: واحة سيوة,Wāḥat Sīwah): a stunning remote oasis near the Libyan border
• Santa Catalina (Arabic: سانت كاترين): home to the oldest continuously inhabited monastery, Mount Sinai and Mount Catherine (the highest mountain in Egypt) and a truly Bedouin culture
• Taba Heights (Arabic: طابا,Taba) - purpose complex built overlooking Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia
• King's Valley (Arabic: وادي الملوك,Wādī al Mulūk)

Understand

It is essential to be aware that we are not traveling in Europe. Islamic customs and culture is essential to understand and respect, so it is very important to be respectful both in clothing and education. However, Egyptians are very used to tourists and, possibly, they are a bit heavy when it comes to selling you souvenirs. In any market that you pass, many sellers will try to show you things and put them directly so that you stop and talk with them. Be patient, traveling to Egypt involves all these things, but it is well worth it to see and enjoy the wonders of this ancient civilization.

Culture

Haggling is the best thing that can happen to you in Egypt. Even if the first price is very cheap in your currency, don't accept it. The Muslim world takes it as an insult not to discuss the price. In Cairo above all they love to talk and haggle. In other cities it may be a bit more difficult, although they always have to haggle. Do not buy beetles, they are colorfast and not true.

A friendly and polite haggling should allow the seller to give the last price even if the discussion is tough. If a friend plays the disinterested role (come on, come on, we're wasting time, etc), the process tends to accelerate.

If women want to avoid certain annoying glances, it is useful to cover the shoulders, knees and forearms. They will not have inconveniences to enter certain places and they will pass less heat even if it does not seem like it.

If the word is given, it must be kept; Even if he is a heavy salesman who tries to put a figure on you, do not tell him that you will buy it later to get rid of it.

Festivals

Banks, shops and businesses are closed on the following Egyptian national holidays (civil and religious), and public transport can only offer limited services:

• January 7 (Eastern Orthodox Christmas)
• January 25 (Egyptian Revolution Day)
• April 25 (Sinai Liberation Day)
• May 1 (Labor Day)
• July 23 (July Revolution Day)
• October 6 (Armed Forces Day)
• 1st Shawwal, the tenth month of Hegira (Eid al Fitr, "Feast of breakfast")
• 10th Dhu al Hijjah, the twelfth month Hijra (Eid al Adha, "Feast of Sacrifice")
• Work for shorter hours during 29 or 30 days of Ramadan

Since Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar, their exact dates vary from year to year.

Ramadan

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar and lasts between 29 and 30 days. Muslims fast every day for its duration and most restaurants will be closed until the fast breaks in the evening. Nothing (including water and cigarettes) is supposed to pass the lips from sunrise to sunset. Non-Muslims are exempt from this, but should still refrain from eating or drinking in public as this is considered very rude. Working hours are also reduced in the business world. The exact dates of Ramadan depend on local astronomical observations and may vary somewhat from country to country. Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr , which can last several days, generally three in most countries. April 13 - May 12, 2021 ( 1442 d . H. ) April 2 - May 1, 2022 ( 1443 d . H. ) March 23 - April 20, 2023 ( 1444 d . H. ) March 11 - April 9, 2024 ( 1445 d . H. ) If you plan to travel to Egypt during Ramadan, consider reading Travel During Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most important month of the Islamic calendar for Muslims, the majority religion in Egypt. To commemorate the time when God revealed the Quran to Muhammad, during this holy month, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking or smoking until after sunset each day. Although strict adherence to Ramadan is for Muslims only, some Muslims appreciate that non-Muslims do not eat or smoke in public places. During Ramadan, many restaurants and cafes don't open until after sunset. Public transport is less frequent, shops close before sunset, and the pace of life (especially in business) is generally slow.

Unsurprisingly, at exactly the minute of sunset, the whole country calms down and is busy with the main meal of the day (iftar, "breaking the fast") which is almost always held as social events in large groups of friends. Many richer people offer (Tables of the Merciful God موائد الرحمن) on the streets of Cairo serving free full meals for passersby, the poorest or workers who could not leave their shifts at that time. The prayers become popular 'social' events that some like to enrich with special foods before and after. An hour or two later, there is a surprising resurgence of the cities. The sometimes richly decorated streets throughout the month have continuous rush hours until very early in the morning. Some stores and cafes make most of their annual profit at this time of year.

Weather

It is extremely hot, and the sun is very strong. It is recommended to wear sunglasses, a hat, and good shoes, since you will be walking all day.

If you go on excursions to the desert further south of Assuan, it is advisable to wear long pants, long-sleeved cotton clothing and it is not unreasonable to have a folding umbrella as a parasol.

Egypt's climate is generally classified as desert. It is an extension of the great Sahara that covers North Africa and, except for the thin strip of irrigated land along the Nile River, very little could survive there. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus said: "Egypt is the gift of the Nile."

Please note that sandstorms can occur from March to May, especially during the day. These storms not only make the air sandy and very dry, but also temporarily raise the temperature. Sand storms at other times of the year can still break out, but rarely and in winter they usually do not increase the temperature.

Summers are generally hot, without rain, and extremely sunny. But the air can be humid on the coasts and very dry in the south, far from the coast and far from the Nile Delta. Winters are mild. November to March are definitely the most comfortable months to travel to Egypt. Only the North Coast (which extends from the sea up to 50 km to the south) receives a little rain in winter; the rest of Egypt receives little or no rain.

Thunderstorms coupled with heavy rains that often last for several hours are not uncommon in Alexandria, Marsa Matruh, and all other northern coastal areas, and even in the Delta. In some years, storms can last a whole day, although the rain tends to be lighter. Hail is also not uncommon, especially in the desert, where the weather is often colder and allows soft hail to fall and even frost to form on non-rainy days.

In the moutains of the Sinai and also in the Red Sea Mountains, which stretch along the eastern side of the country along the Red Sea coast, there is generally more rain than in the surrounding desert, as rain clouds tend to form when the warm air evaporates and rises. while moving through higher ground. Floods in these areas are a common weather phenomenon, as a lot of rain can fall in a very short time (often a day or two), with thunder and lightning as well. Due to the desert and the lack of abundant vegetation, rainwater falls rapidly through the hills and mountains and floods local areas. Every year there are stories in the local newspapers about flash floods in areas of Sinai and also in Upper Egypt (southern Egypt) like Assiut, Luxor, Aswan and Sohag. These floods, however, generally only occur two or three times a year and do not occur at all in some years. However, when they do occur, it is often early in the season, such as September or October, or late winter, such as February. Due to this risk, one must be careful when venturing into the desert or camping in certain areas, as water can suddenly rush from the nearby mountains and hills. It can sometimes carry a fairly strong current which is known to destroy the houses of the rural population who build their houses with mud, bricks and other weak materials. The poor could drown in floods, which is strange for a desert country that doesn't receive much precipitation.

Also, at higher elevations, such as at the top of the Sinai Mountains, temperatures can drop much lower than in surrounding areas, allowing for snowfall in the winter months, as temperatures can drop below the point of freezing, as well as the formation of frost even at low temperatures. desert areas where temperatures are generally several degrees cooler than in cities.

December, January and February are the coldest months of the year. However, the winter days in the southern parts of the Nile Valley are warmer, but their nights are just as cool as in the northern parts.

Visitors should note that most houses and apartments in Egypt do not have central heating like countries with colder climates, because the main climate concern in Egypt is heat. Therefore, although the climate is not that cold for a Westerner, inside the apartment it may be colder during the day, but the temperature inside is more stable than outside. In Cairo, in indoor buildings without air conditioning, temperatures hover around 15 ° C (59 ° F) on the coldest days of winter and around 34 ° C (93 ° F) on the hottest days of summer.

To get

Egypt is one of only three Middle Eastern countries that tolerate Israeli citizens in their country. As such, entry into Egypt will not be a problem for Israeli passport holders. However, if you are concerned about this issue, read Problems with Visa.

Visa

As a major tourist destination whose economy depends on tourists' money, Egypt is relatively easy to enter and / or obtain. visas if required. There are three types of Egyptian visa:

• Tourist Visa - Generally valid for 3 months or less and issued with a single or multiple entry
• Entry visa: required for any foreigner coming to Egypt for purposes other than tourism, for example, work or study. Possession of a valid entry visa is required to complete the residency procedure in Egypt.
• Transit visa - rarely needed and only for certain nationalities

Entry visas can be obtained from Egyptian diplomatic and consular missions abroad or from the Entry Visa Department of the Travel Document, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). Non-Egyptians must have a valid passport.

The visa on arrival it is available for many western countries; look down. However, citizens of the following countries must have a visa before arriving, which must be applied for through an Egyptian consulate or embassy outside of Egypt:

• Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, R Congo, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, DPR Korea, R Kosovo , Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey (except those under 20 and over 45), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Sharm el Sheikh and its surroundings can be visited without a visa by some nationalities that would otherwise need an Egyptian visa

Visitors entering Egypt at the land border crossing in Taba or Sharm el Sheikh The airport may be visa-free and obtain a free fourteen-day entry visa to visit the coast of Aqaba on the Sinai Peninsula, including Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and St. Catherine's Monastery. Visitors wishing to leave the Sinai Peninsula and visit Cairo and other Egyptian cities are required to have full Egyptian visas, although strictly speaking there is a slim chance that this will not be verified by anyone unless you are trying to leave the country. These are not issued at the Taba border crossing and must be purchased in advance in the country of residence, at the Egyptian consulate in Eilat, or at the airport on arrival. Visitors on package tours can often get their visas issued at the border, but should check in advance with their travel agent or tour operator if this option is available.

Tourists visiting Sharm el Sheikh and planning to dive outside the local areas (i.e. Ras Mohammed) must obtain the tourist visa to leave the Sharm el Sheikh area. Boat officers can check dive boats while they are in the water, so it is recommended to obtain the visa beforehand - there may be fines for you and the captain of the boat if you are caught without the corresponding visa. Most reputable dive centers will ask to see your visa before allowing you to take trips.

Egypt has peaceful relations with Israel, but the degree of friendship varies and, with it, the direct connections between the two countries. EgyptAir operates a direct air service between Cairo and Tel Aviv under the guise of "Air Sinai". The bus service appears to continue, as described below. In any case, check the situation as planned and again at the last minute.

Visa on arrival

Citizens of Bahrain, Guinea, South Korea, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen receive a 3-month visa upon arrival. Kuwaiti citizens can obtain a 6-month residence permit upon arrival. Citizens of China and Malaysia receive a 15-day visa upon arrival. Citizens of China (Hong Kong and Macao SAR only) can have a 30-day visa-free visit.

Citizens of the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine, and the US can also get a visa upon arrival to the main points of entry.

The visa on arrival is US $ 25 for all. You won't necessarily need US dollars, most major currencies, even small bills ($ 1, € 5, £ 5), are accepted and exchanged by the visa fee collection officer at a more than fair rate. The officer will also affix the visa fee label to your passport, with which you must go through passport control. The sticker is quite loose - if you feel like it is in the wrong location or taking up too much space, you can move it to a more convenient location or hide a stamp with it that you may want to hide for certain reasons.

Electronic visas: a As of August 2018, many companies offer e-visas through websites that look like official websites and have official sounding names like "egyptvisa.com". They will charge you significantly more than you would pay for a visa on arrival (for example, US $ 90 instead of US $ 25). There are complaints that they may not even provide e-visas after charging you.

By plane

The airports of Luxor and Cairo are at the Spanish level in terms of prices, the entry VISA can be obtained at the airport, upon arrival. It has a fixed price of $ 15 (USD) which, depending on the change, corresponds to approximately 12 EUR or 95LE. This VISA is valid throughout Egypt and for 30 days, with 15 days of courtesy.

In organized trips the price triples.

If you arrive by plane from outside Egypt to Sharm El Sheikh you will also get a free entry VISA at the airport, valid for 1 week and only in the Sinai Peninsula.

Egypt has several international airports:

1. Cairo International Airport (CAI ^IATA). This airport is the main entry point and hub for the national airline, Egyptair
2. Borg el Arab International Airport (HBE^IATA). All flights to Alexandria now use this airport.

1. Hurghada International Airport (HRG ^IATA). Today, it is a major airport for budget tourists who arrive in Egypt and stay along the Red Sea most of the time. Many airlines to Hurghada can be booked without paying for a vacation package.
2. Sharm el Sheikh International Airport (SSH ^IATA). Like Hurghada, very frequented and one of the cheapest options to enter Egypt. Edit
3. Luxor International Airport (LXR ^IATA). This airport is now receiving a growing number of scheduled international flights, mainly from Europe, in addition to charter flights. Edit
4. Aswan International Airport (ASW ^IATA).  
5. Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF ^IATA).

Boat

The usual thing is to get to Luxor, by plane and there your guide will be waiting for you and will take you to your floating "hotel", which will accompany you for 4 or 7 days, or more, depending on the case, it is a very pleasant experience. the Nile, especially when you are repairing that the vegetation on the shore diminishes its amplitude as you go up the Nile, towards Assuan.

You will also have the experience, if you do not already have it, to see how the lock system works, to go up, I think I remember on this journey to Assuan, the unevenness marked by the first Assuan dam.

It is this facet of the visit to Egypt that I recommend, whether you go with an "organized" trip or not, including those people with bad experiences "of seasickness and others" of maritime cruises. Since here there are no waves or "dizzy" movements in the boat, since we are going up a river. You will make the different stopovers at the places of interest, docking the boats in these "bulwark" places (glued to the sides) with each other until in number of five or six, so that to disembark you will have to pass, normally, through the reception room of the different ships until you reach the shore. Let no one see it as a discomfort, it just is. Looking at it from the good side, this transit between the different ships to disembark and embark can serve you at the same time.

Ferries run regularly from Aqaba to Nuweiba on the Sinai Peninsula, bypassing Israel and the sometimes complicated border arrangements. There is generally no visa fee charged to enter Jordan through Aqaba as it is part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by AB Maritime. It is also possible to travel from Saudi Arabia to various ports on the Red Sea coast.

There is also a weekly ferry between Wadi Halfa, Sudan and Aswan, connecting with the train from Khartoum.

There are no scheduled passenger ferries between Europe and Egypt. For those trying to recreate the classic way to get to Egypt, freighter travel is still an option.

By bus

Traveling to Egypt by bus is a cheaper option than short-haul flights from neighboring countries. A trip between Jordan and Cairo can cost as little as 45 dollars (35 euros). The downside of course is that it is time consuming and even if today's buses have plush seats and air conditioning, it is quite uncomfortable as you are confined to one seat for up to 40 hours. In addition, foreigners entering Egypt by bus must pay a LE63 (Egyptian Pound) tax.

Israel is the most popular country for bus travel and travelers can easily access Egypt by bus from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. However, there are no cross-border services. The most common route is to take a bus to Eilat, where you can cross the border to Taba and take a bus to Cairo or Sinai. Generally, only two or three buses leave Taba to the various destinations each day; one service in the morning and another in the afternoon, departing in the afternoon from time to time. Plan your arrival in Eilat accordingly and prepare to spend the night in Eilat or Taba if you arrive late. As usual, crossing into Israel by bus means stamping your passport and many Arab countries deny you entry (read Visa issues).

Other routes to Cairo include; direct services from Amman twice a week by the Jordanian State Bus Company, JETT. There are daily services of SAPTCO from Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. There are also buses from Benghazi, although they can be suspended due to the fluid security situation there. Travel times for all of these destinations range from 25 to 40 hours.

Travel

Traffic lights and crosswalks are often for aesthetic purposes only. To cross a busy avenue on foot ask for the help of an Egyptian, who has experience and will help you cross in a relatively "safe" way.

By car

It is difficult to drive in the big cities, especially in Cairo and Alexandria.

Almost no traffic regulations are respected. Take into account that the roads are in terrible condition, have potholes and holes, the pavement is bad, the speed bumps are very high, accidents are signaled by makeshift bonfires and many cars drive without lights.

In case you decide to rent a car, get a GPS, which, in Cairo at least, works quite well.

Gasoline is very cheap. About 2.5 LE / liter of gasoline 92.

Also keep in mind that many gas stations suffer from cuts in their gas supply, so if you find gas, fill up the tank.

In taxi

Best means of transport in Cairo, although due to the intense traffic it is a bit slow. You always have to use the WHITE TAXIS, they have TAXIMETER !, so we save unnecessary haggling. Always ask the taxi driver to put it into operation. If the taxi driver tells us that the meter is broken and it does not work, we get out of the taxi and take another one.

The flag drop is 2.50 LE (year 2013).

If the race starts or ends at the airport, you should know that 5 LE is added to the amount indicated by the meter, which is what the airport entrance fee is worth.

Traveling by taxi in Cairo is very cheap. THERE IS NO NIGHT OR WEEKEND RATE: the price is the same for the day as it is for the night. Also if you like strong emotions you will not be disappointed. The driving is insane, but still safe.

If you want to go on excursions from Cairo, you can rent a taxi for a whole morning. Normally the price would be around 200 LE.

Include taxi travel in Egypt as a high risk sport.

Taxi is the best way to get around Cairo.

Tips:

• ALWAYS TAXIS BANKS.
• Avoid taking a taxi at the door of the hotel, since if you are in a category hotel the taxi driver will try to get you a greater amount of money. It is preferable to walk a little and catch it later.
• Avoid telling the hotel security to ask you for a taxi, since they will try to agree on a commission with the taxi driver and therefore it will be more expensive.
• Before getting into the taxi, make sure the meter works.

By subway

There are only 2 lines and 1 third line under construction.

The subway does not go to the airport.

A ticket costs 1 LE, regardless of the number of stops.

It is a fast, safe and clean means of transport, although avoid rush hours due to crowds. There are, in the middle of the train, 1 or 2 wagons JUST FOR WOMEN. The rest of the wagons are mixed.

By plane

Overland trips between cities in Egypt are often long, hot, bumpy, dusty, and not entirely safe. There is a good national air network and advance rates are not expensive, so flying internally is usually a good option. The obvious exceptions are Cairo - Alexandria and Luxor - Aswan, both only 220 km apart, so the ground transport will be faster and you would only fly between them to connect to another domestic or international flight.

Cairo has direct flights to all other major cities, including Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Alexandria, Marsa Matruh, Marsa Alam, and the Kharga oases. These operate at least daily and the main cities have several flights a day. There are also daily flights directly between Alexandria, Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Most of the flights are operated by the national airline, EgyptAir. This is the first place to look. Algunos sitios de reserva de Internet (por ejemplo, Expedia) no ofrecen sus vuelos; parecerá que necesita volar a través de Estambul o tonterías similares. Si no tiene acceso a Internet, Egyptair no realiza ventas telefónicas, pero tienen muchas oficinas de reserva en el centro; su hotel puede señalarlas.

Hay aerolíneas rivales como Nile Air y Al Masria . Nile Air tiene vuelos desde El Cairo y Alejandría. Al Masria vuela a El Cairo desde Hurghada y Sharm El Sheikh. Las aerolíneas extranjeras de paquetes (por ejemplo, TUI) a veces tienen una ruta interna, pero eso es para trasladar a sus clientes en días festivos en varios centros, y no están disponibles para reservar como vuelos nacionales de punto a punto.

By train

Mejor transporte para ir a Alejandría.

También se puede viajar a Luxor y Aswan en tren (además de en avión). Recomiendo el tren cama nocturno, o sleeping train. Sale de la estación de Giza y el precio ida y vuelta son 120$.

El ferrocarril principal de Egipto sigue el Nilo: desde Asuán hacia el norte a través de Luxor hasta El Cairo y Alejandría. Los ramales se abren en abanico a través del delta del Nilo, tan al este como Suez y Port Said, y al oeste a lo largo de la costa a través de El Alamein hasta Mersa Matruh. El tren es una excelente manera de viajar entre El Cairo y Alejandría, y entre Luxor y Asuán, con servicios frecuentes durante el día que demoran de 2 a 3 horas. Los trenes también funcionan entre El Cairo y Luxor y Asuán, tanto de día como de noche. No hay trenes a los centros turísticos del Mar Rojo ni al oasis de Siwa.

Casi todos los trenes son operados por la empresa estatal Egipcia National Railways (ENR) (la excepción es el coche cama Cairo-Luxor-Aswan operado por Watania, que se describe a continuación). Los trenes expresos tienen clases con aire acondicionado denominadas AC1 y AC2 (1ª y 2ª clase). Son limpias y cómodas. To trenes ordinarioslas clases AC1 y AC2 también están disponibles, con A / C a veces en AC1, pero nunca en AC2. Las tarifas son muy baratas para los estándares occidentales, incluso el billete sencillo El Cairo-Alejandría más caro cuesta solo LE51 (octubre de 2018). Es la mitad que para los trenes más lentos y la otra mitad para AC2, respectivamente. La puntualidad podría describirse como "nada malo para Egipto": los trenes generalmente parten a tiempo desde la primera estación, pero se retrasan en el camino. Los retrasos de hasta una hora no son infrecuentes, especialmente entre El Cairo y Luxor. Por lo tanto, si su tren viene de otro lugar, no espere que llegue a tiempo.

Además, trenes locales de tercera clase son una excelente manera de explorar las atracciones de los alrededores. También se pueden usar para distancias más largas si desea conectarse con los lugareños y tiene un presupuesto ajustado. La tercera clase suena peor de lo que realmente es: las sillas son de madera pero el interior a veces está bien pintado. Son muy baratos, LE1.50-4 por 50 km, pero asegúrese de tener billetes pequeños o monedas disponibles; incluso un billete LE5 puede ser un problema. El horario del tren local no está disponible en línea, por lo que debe hacer consultas en la estación. Sea insistente, es posible que simplemente le digan el horario regular de trenes que ya conoce en el sitio web de ENR, esperando que no quiera usar nada más allá de AC2 o incluso más allá de AC1. Además, la información a veces puede ser muy difícil de confirmar; a qué hora, qué plataforma, qué se detiene. Es mejor preguntar a varias personas / oficiales y averiguar qué dicen. O eche un vistazo al tablero de salida de la estación aproximadamente un día antes de su viaje previsto, es probable que los trenes pasen a la misma hora todos los días. Algunos trenes locales pueden llenarse bastante, pero en su mayoría solo los que viajan lejos.

Los viajes de extranjeros pueden estar sujetos a restricciones de seguridad, pero (a principios de 2018) no existían restricciones reales. Si le dicen que un tren no está funcionando, podría deberse simplemente a las expectativas, por ejemplo, por parte del personal de la estación, o que no se puede reservar en línea, por ejemplo, por un empleado de viajes.

Tickets

La mejor manera de comprar boletos para trenes expresos es en línea, con anticipación, desde ENR. Esto no genera cargos adicionales, garantiza su asiento y le ahorrará muchos problemas en las estaciones u oficinas de reserva. El contenido del sitio está en inglés y árabe. Primero regístrese en el sitio, luego la compra es torpe pero sencilla. Los boletos salen a la venta 2 semanas antes de la salida; por lo general, todavía están disponibles el día de la salida, pero los trenes pueden reservar en horas punta. El sitio solo reservará expresos, es decir, 1ª y 2ª clase, y solo para las principales ciudades. Deberá presentar los datos del pasaporte de todos los viajeros de su grupo. El sitio de ENR acepta pagos de la mayoría de las principales tarjetas de crédito y débito. Si no puede imprimir su boleto de inmediato, asegúrese de registrar el número de confirmación para poder recuperarlo más tarde; ENR no le envía la confirmación por correo electrónico. (La impresión horizontal es la mejor, ya que vertical puede recortar el número de confirmación. ) Intente tomar una captura de pantalla de su boleto lo antes posible; se sabe que el sitio web intenta actualizarse constantemente y perderá su boleto si lo hace. Los principales detalles de la confirmación están en inglés, en medio de una confusión de letra pequeña árabe. Otros sitios web y oficinas de agentes de viajes simplemente le venderán lo que está disponible en ENR o Watania y le cobrarán más por hacerlo.

De lo contrario, puede hacer cola en la estación; asegúrese de estar apuntando a la ventana correcta y clasifique su dinero primero para evitar exponer la billetera y el pasaporte. O puede abordar sin billete y pagar al conductor del tren. Hay un recargo de LE6 por esto, y la seguridad de la plataforma no parece importarle si no tiene un boleto, incluso para expresos que supuestamente son solo de reserva.

Las máquinas expendedoras de billetes de autoservicio de las estaciones principales ofrecen servicio en árabe e inglés. Si la máquina le dice que el "Viaje [no] está disponible", intente en la ventanilla de boletos; aún puede obtener boletos allí (octubre de 2018).

Compre los boletos con anticipación, ya que en las horas pico de viaje, los trenes pueden estar completos, especialmente los económicos. Excepto durante los períodos de vacaciones ocupados, normalmente no es difícil comprar boletos el día del viaje o el día anterior. Para evitar complicaciones, reserve con la mayor antelación posible.

The servicio of literas Cairo-Luxor-Aswan está a cargo de Watania, una empresa privada. Compre boletos en línea de ellos, ya que ENR no muestra esos servicios en su horario y no vende boletos.

By bus

Egipto tiene una extensa red de autobuses de larga distancia, operada principalmente por empresas estatales. Entre las empresas más grandes son beduinos Bus, Pullman, West Delt, Golden Arrow, Super Jet, Delta Oriental, El Gouna, Ir autobús Y el Alto Egipto Bus Co. Las rutas populares son operadas por más de una compañía. Algunas compañías de autobuses le permiten reservar asientos con anticipación; algunos venden lugares según la disponibilidad de asientos. La venta de entradas en línea también está disponible a través de algunas empresas.

Tenga cuidado con comprar boletos de los revendedores de autobuses en la calle o fuera de su hotel. Las empresas más pequeñas a veces no tienen licencia y pueden tomar atajos con seguridad. Desde enero de 2006 se han producido ocho accidentes de autobús graves en los que han participado ciudadanos extranjeros, en los que han muerto más de 100 personas. Si es un pasajero en un vehículo que viaja a una velocidad peligrosa, debe indicarle firmemente al conductor que reduzca la velocidad.

Los accidentes de tráfico son muy comunes en Egipto, principalmente debido a las carreteras en mal estado, la conducción peligrosa y el incumplimiento de las leyes de tráfico. La policía calcula que los accidentes de tráfico matan a más de 6.000 personas en Egipto cada año. Esto es el doble de la cifra del Reino Unido. Otras estimaciones sitúan la cifra mucho más alta.

Talk

El idioma oficial en Egipto es el árabe. El inglés y el francés son hablados sobre todo en zonas turísticas. El español también es bienvenido.

Se recomienda saber algo de inglés para defenderse, estos días también es común el español pero a una escala bastante menor que el inglés o el francés.

El idioma nacional hablado es el árabe egipcio; hágalo si desea que lo entiendan y reconozca que es un visitante extranjero y respetuoso. Sin embargo, hay varias versiones del árabe, a menudo denominadas "dialectos", pero en realidad son idiomas diferentes, en su mayoría mutuamente ininteligibles.

El idioma oficial de Egipto es el árabe estándar moderno o MSA. Se enseña en las escuelas y así lo entienden todos. MSA se utiliza en la mayoría de las formas oficiales y escritas, como la televisión, los periódicos, los discursos gubernamentales, la enseñanza y la educación, pero no la escuchará en el habla cotidiana. Por lo tanto, necesitaría aprenderlo para ser un erudito serio del idioma, pero no para visitas breves.

Las ciudades del sur, como Luxor y Asuán, tienen un dialecto de árabe saidi, similar al idioma de Sudán y el Hejaz saudí. La mayoría de los egipcios ni siquiera comprenden el idioma siwi del desierto occidental y el dialecto beduino del Sinaí. Solo un arqueólogo comprende los jeroglíficos de los faraones, mientras que su descendiente moderno copto solo se escucha en la liturgia.

El árabe es un idioma difícil para la mayoría de los occidentales, ya que la gramática y los patrones de palabras son muy diferentes. Sin embargo, si no aprende nada más, aprenda algunas palabras básicas y cortesías. Hay un ritual de ping-pong en el que cada saludo o saludo tiene una respuesta estándar, así que aprendan esto juntos. Después de un par de intercambios, la gente cambiará al inglés en lugar de aguantar más tu árabe, incluso antes de que reconozcas la derrota con betetkallem engelīzi. - "¿Habla usted Inglés?" (Por supuesto que eso es betetkallemi engelīzi? Cuando se dirige a una mujer). Por ejemplo, si dices shukran que significa "gracias", su respuesta estándar viene en inglés: "¡Aah, pero hablas tan bien árabe!" Podrías encogerte de hombros y decir ana talib, bas - "Estoy aprendiendo" y desprecio tus intentos.

El árabe escrito es un trabajo aún más difícil, pero debes aprender los números que se muestran a continuación. Lo que llamamos "números arábigos" son en realidad números arábigos occidentales, y el mundo de habla árabe usa los diferentes números orientales. Son fáciles e instructivos de aprender, porque cuando veas los precios mostrados para los locales, te darás cuenta con sorpresa de cuánto más te están exigiendo.

Las personas en el sector de servicios aprenden cualquier idioma que pueda ganar su próximo pago, y el personal de hoteles y restaurantes tiene un buen inglés o llama rápidamente a su colega que lo sabe. De lo contrario, busque cualquier idioma que pueda servir. Durante la década de 2010, los rusos y ucranianos siguieron visitando Egipto en una época en la que muchos occidentales se mantenían alejados, por lo que a menudo se entienden en los principales centros turísticos. El alemán, el francés, el italiano y el español de la gente pueden estar oxidados, pero pronto lo recuperarán. A lo largo de la franja costera del Sinaí, a menudo conocen algo de hebreo, ya que hay muchos visitantes israelíes. Sin embargo, aunque el Greek Marine Club en Alejandría todavía sirve buen pescado, su griego es tan deplorable como el árabe.

To buy

Money

Tipos de cambio de libras egipcias As of January 2020: Precio FOB de Referencia: US $ 1 ≈ LE16 € 1 ≈ LE18 Reino Unido £ 1 ≈ LE21 Australiano $ 1 ≈ LE11 Canadiense $ 1 ≈ LE12 Japonés ¥ 100 ≈ LE15 Chino ¥ 1 ≈ LE2.3 Sudáfrica R1 ≈ LE1.1 Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com

¡Guarda tus pequeñas notas! Egipto tiene una escasez perpetua de billetes y monedas pequeñas: incluso los bancos son reacios a romper demasiados billetes. Los proveedores también dirán perpetuamente que no tienen cambio. Guarde sus billetes pequeños tanto como pueda, esté preparado para visitar los bancos con frecuencia para cambiar y romper sus billetes en las situaciones más fáciles, como grandes supermercados.

How much does it cost? A veces, los puestos del mercado (de frutas y verduras) tienen carteles de precios, cotizando en Piastre por kg. Por tanto, es de gran ventaja comprender los números arábigos orientales. Te dirán que el precio es por medio kg, porque ven que eres un turista, pero eso es mentira. Lo mejor es simplemente exigir el peso de lo que desea y dar la cantidad (casi) correcta, dejando la impresión de que conoce la situación. A continuación, algunos precios comunes. Naranjas: LE5 / kg Mandarinas: LE3.5 / kg Plátanos: LE8-10 / kg Jugo fresco grande (naranja, granada, caña de azúcar): LE10 Coque 0,33 l: LE3 Agua 1,5 l: LE5 Sándwich de falafel decente: LE5 Pequeño sándwich de falafel en pita blanca: 2.5 LE Falafel sencillo: LE1-1.50 Porción de Baba ghanoush o Tahini / hummus: LE5-8 Pizza grande: LE30-40 Concha grande (recuerdo): LE15 Guía turístico: 40 LE / día Frankinsence: LE100-200 / kg Cardamomo: LE400-500 / kg Azafrán LE15 / g Luffa / esponja vegetal: LE30

La moneda local es la libra egipcia (código ISO: EGP), que se divide en 100 piastras. La moneda se escribe a menudo como LE (abreviatura del francés livre égyptienne , o usando el signo de libra £ con o sin letras adicionales: E £ y £ E. En árabe, la libra se llama genē [màSri] / geni [màSri] ( جنيه [مصرى] ), a su vez derivado del inglés "guinea", y piastres (pt) se conocen como ersh (قرش). Wikivoyage usa la notación "LE" para mantener la coherencia, pero espera ver una variedad de notaciones en las tiendas y otros empresas.

• Currencies: Las denominaciones son 25pt, 50pt y 1 libra. Realmente no necesitará saber el nombre piastra , ya que el valor más pequeño en circulación a partir de 2014 es 25 piastras, y esto casi siempre se llama "cuarto de libra" ( rob` genē ربع جنيه) y las 50 piastras " media libra "( noSS genē نص جنيه).
• Papel moneda: Las denominaciones de los billetes son 25 y 50 piastras; 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 y 200 libras.

En Egipto, la libra esterlina se llama genē esterlīni (جنيه استرلينى).

La libra egipcia se ha devaluado gradualmente durante las últimas décadas. En las décadas de 1950 y 1960, la libra egipcia se valoraba casi lo mismo que la libra esterlina británica. Desde 2011, el tipo de cambio se ha vuelto relativamente inestable y la inflación se aceleró. El 3 de noviembre de 2016, el banco central decidió devaluar la libra egipcia a un tipo de cambio similar al del mercado negro.

Currency exchange

Los bancos y las oficinas de cambio o cualquier persona que cambie divisas le cobrarán un poco más por el tipo de cambio oficial. Las monedas extranjeras se pueden cambiar en las oficinas de cambio o los bancos, por lo que no hay necesidad de recurrir a los poco fiables cambistas callejeros. Muchos hoteles de gama alta cotizan en dólares estadounidenses o euros y los aceptarán con gusto como pago, aunque a menudo a un precio inferior al de las libras egipcias. El horario del banco es de domingo a jueves, de 8:30 a. M. A 2 p. M.

Los billetes falsos u obsoletos no son un problema importante, pero cambiar libras fuera del país puede resultar complicado. Antes de salir de Egipto, incluso si viaja a países vecinos de Oriente Medio, convierta su moneda a euros, libras esterlinas o dólares estadounidenses. Los cambistas de otros países te darán entre un 30% y un 50% por libra egipcia que la tasa que obtendrás en Egipto, si es que aceptan la moneda egipcia. La conversión hacia y desde dólares estadounidenses, euros o libras esterlinas tiene un margen relativamente pequeño, por lo que solo perderá un pequeño porcentaje.

ATM machines

Puede retirar dinero local con una tarjeta Mastercard o Visa de muchos cajeros automáticos en todo Egipto. Los cajeros automáticos son omnipresentes en las ciudades y probablemente la mejor opción. Permitirle a su banco local hacer la conversión de moneda cuando usa un cajero automático, ofrece la mejor tasa. Muchos bancos extranjeros tienen sucursales en Egipto. Estos incluyen Barclay's Bank, HSBC, CitiBank, NSGB, BNP Paribas, Piraeus Bank, CIB y otros bancos locales y árabes.

Credit cards

Se aceptan Visa y Mastercard en muchos lugares frecuentados, pero solo los hoteles o restaurantes más grandes de El Cairo y los restaurantes de las zonas turísticas aceptan American Express y Diners Club como forma de pago. Los cheques de viaje ya no se pueden utilizar.

Shopping

Egipto es un paraíso para los compradores, especialmente si está interesado en souvenirs de temática egipcia y kitsch. Sin embargo, también hay una serie de productos de alta calidad a la venta, a menudo a precios de ganga. Algunas de las compras más populares incluyen:

• Alabastro Cuencos, figuras, etc. de alabastro son comunes en todo Egipto.
• Antigüedades (NB: no antigüedades, cuyo comercio es ilegal en Egipto)
• Alfombras y tapetes
• Artículos y ropa de algodón Se pueden comprar en Khan El Khalili por alrededor de LE30-40. Se puede comprar ropa de algodón egipcio de mejor calidad en varias cadenas de tiendas, incluidas Mobaco Cottons y Concrete, que tienen muchas sucursales en todo el país. La ropa es cara para Egipto (alrededor de 180-200 LE por una camisa) pero barata para los estándares occidentales dada la calidad.
• Productos con incrustaciones , como tablas de backgammon
• The Cartouches de joyería son un gran recuerdo. Estas son placas de metal con forma de óvalo alargado y tienen grabados de su nombre en jeroglíficos.
• The maquillaje de ojos Kohl (delineador de ojos) en polvo de Kohl se puede comprar en muchas tiendas por un precio reducido. Es un polvo negro, del valor de una cucharadita, que generalmente se vende en un paquete pequeño o en un recipiente tallado en madera y generalmente se aplica generosamente con algo parecido a un palillo de dientes grueso / palillo fino en los párpados internos y delineando el ojo. Muy dramático, y un poco va muy lejos Cleopatra se habría maquillado los ojos tumbándose en el suelo y alguien le habría echado una cucharada en miniatura del polvo en cada ojo. A medida que el ojo se llenaba de lágrimas, el maquillaje se distribuía agradablemente alrededor de los ojos y se deslizaba a los lados, creando el aspecto clásico. Sin embargo, tenga en cuenta que la mayoría de ellos contienen sulfuro de plomo, que es un problema de salud. Solicite un kohl sin plomo.
• Linternas (fanūs; pl. Fawanīs) Las linternas de metal con intrincados cortes y estampados, a menudo con ventanas de vidrio de colores, sostendrán una vela votiva con estilo.
• Artículos de cuero
• Music
• Papiro (bardi) Sin embargo, la mayoría de los papiros que verá están hechos de un tipo diferente de caña, no "papiro", que es extremadamente raro. Sepa lo que está comprando, si le importa la diferencia, y regatee los precios en consecuencia. En caso de duda, asuma que se trata de un papiro no auténtico que se ofrece a la venta.
• Perfumes : los perfumes se pueden comprar en casi todas las tiendas de souvenirs. Asegúrese de pedirle al vendedor que le demuestre que no hay alcohol mezclado con el perfume. Las tasas estándar deben estar en el rango de LE1-2 por cada gramo.
• Pipas de Water (shīsha)
• Especias (tawābel): se pueden comprar en coloridos puestos en la mayoría de los mercados egipcios. Las hierbas y especias secas son generalmente de mayor calidad que las disponibles en los supermercados occidentales y representan entre una quinta y una cuarta parte del precio, aunque el precio final dependerá de la negociación y las condiciones locales.

Cuando compre en mercados o trate con vendedores ambulantes, recuerde regatear . Esto es parte del juego del arte de vender en el que se espera que participen ambas partes.

También encontrará muchas marcas occidentales por todas partes. Hay muchos centros comerciales en Egipto, el más común es Citystars Mall , que es el centro de entretenimiento más grande de Oriente Medio y África. Encontrará todos los restaurantes de comida rápida que desee, como McDonald's, KFC, Hardees y Pizza Hut, y marcas de ropa como Morgan, Calvin Klein, Levi's, Facconable, Givenchy y Esprit.

En Egipto, los precios a menudo aumentan para los extranjeros, por lo que si ve un precio en una etiqueta de precio, puede ser aconsejable aprender los números arábigos orientales locales :

Están escritos de izquierda a derecha. Por ejemplo, el número (15) se escribiría como ( ١٥ ).

Comprar en Egipto incluye productos y productos básicos que representan recuerdos de las cosas antiguas y modernas de Egipto. Estos incluyen artículos como pequeñas pirámides, obeliscos y estatuas de recuerdo que se pueden comprar en áreas más turísticas como Khan El Khalili y El Cairo islámico.

Los modernos centros comerciales, City Stars, City Center y Nile City, venden marcas de diseñadores como Guess, Calvin Klein, Armani y Hugo Boss.

Tips

Siempre en libras egipcias y no en euros. En 2008 un euro son más de 8 libras, que es una cantidad considerable (por 1 libra se obtiene un viaje en metro, o 2 zumos de caña). Así que no deis cantidades desorbitadas para el nivel de vida egipcio, por mucho que os lo pidan, o estaréis contribuyendo a la subida de precios.

Los egipcios no dan propina en los restaurantes, ni los dueños de los restaurantes las esperan, aunque en los restaurantes más elegantes se puede agregar un cargo por servicio a su factura. Muchos restaurantes en áreas turísticas inflarán los precios para los extranjeros de todos modos, y probablemente ni siquiera lo sabrá a menos que note un precio impreso o que a otro cliente se le cobre un precio diferente por lo mismo.

Las propinas son principalmente una cosa turística. El 90% de las personas que trabajan en la industria de servicios / hotelería intentan obtener su principal fuente de ingresos de vivir de las propinas. No tiene que pagar grandes propinas ya que a menudo se agradecen las notas más pequeñas. Sin embargo, no tiene que dar propina si siente que no ha recibido ningún servicio o ayuda, o si siente que el servicio fue malo. Nadie se ofenderá ni será irrespetuoso si no les dio propina.

La mayoría de los baños públicos cuentan con personal y se espera que los visitantes den propina al asistente. Algunos encargados del aseo, especialmente en los lugares turísticos, reparten papel higiénico según la propina que reciben. Los extranjeros pueden ser especialmente susceptibles a esto, y aunque algunos lugareños piden o exigen propinas, a menudo no están justificadas.

Si le pide direcciones a un extraño, las propinas no son necesarias e incluso pueden considerarse ofensivas. Los funcionarios uniformados, como los policías, no deben recibir propinas. Recuerde que el soborno es ilegal, pero es probable que no le pase nada. Ten en cuenta que a medida que un turista extranjero, que son vistos por muchos como el dinero fácil y usted debe do not se deje presionar en el depósito de "servicios" innecesarios o no solicitados como guías de turismo auto-designados para prenderse en su caso.

Algunas pautas generales:

• Restaurants: no se necesita propina, aunque en los restaurantes más elegantes se puede agregar un cargo por servicio (10-12%) a las facturas
• Taxistas: No es necesario, siempre se acuerda la tarifa con antelación
• Conductores turísticos: LE10 / día
• Auxiliares de baño: LE1-3
• Cruise ships: 30 LE / día, dependiendo del precio inicial (dividido por todo el personal a bordo)
• Botones del hotel: LE10 para todas las maletas
• Portero del hotel: LE10 por servicios prestados (como señalización de taxis)
• Custodios del site: LE5 si hacen algo útil, ninguno de lo contrario

To eat

• FE-LF-El-AH (zona museo del CAIRO) (APROX. 14€/PAX.). Especialidad en cocina tradicional egipcia.

• Hotel Mena House (APROX. 20€/PAX.). Principalmente carnes.

• Khan-El-Khalili El Cairo (APROX. 15€/PAX.). Especialidad en cazuela de cordero con salsa de yogurt.

No es fácil salir a comer en el Cairo y más si no se conoce, os sentiréis un poco agobiados por tanta gente y todo os parecerá "sucio" o sitios no fiables, os lo digo por experiencia, sin embargo también existen sitios de comida rápida (McDonalds, KFC etc)en los que os sentiréis mejor y podréis comer bien y barato (dos menús Big Mac gigantes por 36 libras que vienen a ser 4.5 euros).

Hay muchos restaurantes bien equipados a los que va la clase media egipcia (es decir, no restaurantes pobres), que los turistas dejan de lado por los prejuicios citados en el párrafo anterior. En ellos podéis comer excelentemente por unas 30 libras (menos de 4 euros). Nuevos, limpios y bien atendidos.

Egipto puede ser un lugar fantástico para degustar una variedad única de comida: no demasiado picante y bien aromatizada con hierbas. Para una conveniente selección de cocina egipcia y alimentos básicos, pruebe la cadena de restaurantes Felfela en El Cairo . Algunos visitantes se quejan, sin embargo, de que estos se han vuelto casi demasiado amigables para los turistas y han abandonado algunos elementos de autenticidad. Una alternativa más asequible y más extendida es la cadena de restaurantes Arabiata, Arabiata es considerada por los lugareños como el destino número uno para las delicias egipcias como falafel Y fūl también.

Tenga cuidado con cualquier restaurante que figure en guías y sitios web populares. Incluso si el restaurante alguna vez fue excelente, después de la publicación, es probable que creen un menú en inglés "especial" que incluye precios very altos.

Como en muchos países costeros, Egipto está lleno de restaurantes y mercados de pescado, por lo que es imprescindible probar el pescado y el marisco. Con frecuencia, los mercados de pescado tienen algunos puestos de comida cerca donde puede señalar especies específicas de pescado para cocinar. Los puestos suelen tener mesas compartidas y los lugareños son tan frecuentes como los turistas.

Higiene

Tenga en cuenta que la higiene puede no ser de los más altos estándares, según el lugar. El número de turistas que padece algún tipo de infección parasitaria o bacteriana es muy elevado. A pesar de las garantías en contrario, ejerza el sentido común y lleve los medicamentos adecuados para tratar los problemas. "Antinal" (Nifuroxazide), un antibiótico intestinal, es barato, eficaz y está disponible en todas las farmacias. "Imodium" o productos similares son medicamentos recetados únicamente.

Aunque Antinal es muy eficaz, a veces cuando nada más lo es, las personas mayores deben consultar el nombre de la marca con su médico antes de confiar en él, ya que contiene una alta concentración de ingrediente activo que no está aprobado por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de EE. UU. O la normativa británica. cuerpo farmacéutico.

Las personas que esperan permanecer en Egipto durante más de 2 a 3 semanas deben tener cuidado con el uso de Antinal, ya que puede obstaculizar su capacidad para adquirir inmunidad a las bacterias locales y hacer que la diarrea del viajero sea un problema más frecuente.

Platos locales

Muchos alimentos locales son vegetarianos o veganos, en función del alto costo de la carne en Egipto y la influencia del cristianismo copto (cuyos frecuentes días de ayuno exigen comida vegana).

Platos egipcios clásicos: El plato fūl medammes es uno de los platos egipcios más comunes; consiste en habas (fūl) cocidas a fuego lento en una olla de cobre (otros tipos de ollas de metal no producen el tipo correcto de sabor) que se han triturado total o parcialmente. fūl medammes se sirve con comino, aceite vegetal, opcionalmente con perejil picado, cebolla, ajo, jugo de limón y pimiento picante, y típicamente se come con pan egipcio ( baladi ) u ocasionalmente con pita levantina (shāmi).

Uno debe probar el falāfel clásico, que son bolas de habas molidas fritas (pero más conocido en todo el mundo por la versión de garbanzo molido que se encuentra típicamente en otras cocinas de la región del Medio Oriente) que se cree que fue inventado por los beduinos egipcios. Generalmente se sirve como comida rápida o como refrigerio.KoshariEl koshari es un plato famoso, que suele ser una mezcla de macarrones, lentejas, arroz y garbanzos, cubierto con salsa de tomate y cebollas fritas. Muy popular entre los lugareños y una visita obligada para los turistas. La variación gratinada se llama Tâgen .

Además, el hummus, un alimento a base de garbanzos, también está muy extendido en Oriente Medio.

kofta (albóndigas) y kebab también son populares.

La cocina egipcia es bastante similar a la cocina de los países del Medio Oriente. Los platos como verduras rellenas y hojas de parra y sándwiches de shawarma son comunes en Egipto y la región.

Frutas exóticas

Egipto es uno de los países más asequibles para que un europeo pruebe una variedad de frutas exóticas recién cultivadas. La guayaba, el mango, la sandía y el plátano están ampliamente disponibles en los puestos de frutas, especialmente en los mercados no turísticos orientados a los locales.

Drink and go out

Una bebida típica es el karkadéh, una infusión a base de flores de hibisco que se toma fría.

A menos que se tenga una confianza total en el establecimiento, no es recomendable tomar bebidas que no sean embotelladas, frutas con piel, ensaladas, etc. Las infusiones no llevan el agua a ebullición por lo que tienen riesgo de transtornos digestivos.

No pague más de 2,5 LE por una botella de 3 litros de agua.

Consulte también la sección Manténgase saludable: líquidos para obtener información sobre higiene e información relacionada.

Water

El agua embotellada está ampliamente disponible. Las marcas locales (las más comunes son Baraka, Hayat, Siwa) tienen el mismo precio que las opciones de marcas extranjeras que también están disponibles: Nestle Pure Life, Dasani (embotellada por Coca-Cola) y Aquafina (embotellada por Pepsi). Evian está menos disponible y es caro. Si bien es seguro para beber, algunos pueden encontrar que la marca local, Baraka, tiene un regusto muy leve de bicarbonato de sodio, debido al alto contenido de minerales de su fuente de agua de pozo profundo.

No importa dónde compre agua embotellada (incluso los hoteles no son del todo confiables), antes de aceptarla, verifique que tenga un sello de plástico transparente y que el anillo del cuello todavía esté sujeto a la tapa por medio de hilos de plástico rompibles. Es común recolectar botellas vacías pero nuevas y volver a llenarlas con agua del grifo que puede enfermar al beber una botella. No todas las marcas tienen la cubierta de plástico transparente, pero todas las buenas la tienen.

Seguridad del agua embotellada

Es importante no comprar marcas extrañas, ya que pueden no ser seguras para beber. En 2012, el Ministerio de Salud ordenó retirar de los estantes las siguientes marcas de agua embotellada: Alpha, Hadir, Seway, Aqua Delta, Tiba, Aqua Mina y Aqua Soteir.

A partir de 2013, algunas de las anteriores tenían licencia, pero el Ministerio de Salud advirtió contra otras marcas sin licencia:

• marcas no autorizadas e inseguras: (Safa, el Waha, Ganna, Sahari, Life, el Wadi, Zamzam ).

  (صفا - الواحة - جنا - صحارى - لايف - الوادى - زمزم),

En 2013, el Ministerio de Salud declaró que solo hay 17 marcas autorizadas que son seguras para beber. Estos son:

• 17 marcas seguras con licencia: (Hayah, Safi, Aqua Siwa, Siwa, Aman Siwa, Organica, Nahl, Aqua Sky, Mineral, Vira, Nestlé, Baraka, Alpha, Aquafina, Tiba, Aqua Delta, Dasani, Aqua Paris).

• (حياه, صافى, أكوا سيوة, سيوة, أمان سيوة, أورجانيكا, نهل, أكوا سكاى, منيرال, فيرا, نستله, بركة, ألفا, أكوافينا, طيبة, أكوا دلتا, داسانى, أكوا باريس)

De las marcas con licencia, los lugareños suelen aconsejar a los turistas que eviten Baraka si es posible, ya que contiene una alta concentración de sales minerales y tiene algo de sabor.

Jugos

Como en otras partes del norte de África, el té de menta también es una opción.Los jugos se pueden encontrar ampliamente en Egipto: àSàb (caña de azúcar; قصب); regaliz ( ` erk SUS عرق سوس); sobya (jugo blanco; سوبيا); tàmr (dátiles dulces; تمر) y algunos zumos de frutas frescas (casi se encuentran en la misma tienda que ofrecen todo este tipo de zumos excepto el regaliz que puede encontrar en otros lugares).

Hibisco, conocido localmente como KARKADE (كركديه) o ` ennāb (عناب), es también famosa jugo especialmente en Luxor, que se bebe caliente o frío, pero en Egipto se prefiere tomar frío.

El hibisco y el regaliz no deben consumirse en exceso, ya que pueden no ser seguros para quienes padecen presión arterial baja o presión arterial alta. El hibisco puede reducir la presión arterial, mientras que el regaliz puede aumentar la presión arterial.

Alcoholic drinks

Egipto es una nación predominantemente musulmana y las bebidas alcohólicas están prohibidas religiosamente ( haram ), aunque no legalmente, para los musulmanes practicantes. Los egipcios tienden a adoptar una visión relajada y pragmática hacia el alcohol para los no musulmanes y los extranjeros. Es tolerado por la gran mayoría de los egipcios y consumido por un número considerable de ellos. Los lugares que venden bebidas alcohólicas requieren una licencia especial y pagan impuestos adicionales para operar. Las bebidas alcohólicas y las bebidas embotelladas están disponibles en todo el país (especialmente en los pueblos y ciudades más grandes, así como en los centros turísticos). La embriaguez pública (especialmente la variedad ruidosa y desagradable) definitivamente It is not apreciada, y puede terminar sobrio en una celda de la policía. Intenta ser un buen embajador: si debesponerse "achispado", confinarlo al hotel o muy cerca. Es bastante raro ver turistas borrachos incluso en zonas turísticas. Es ilegal beber alcohol en público y es aconsejable no intentar beber en las calles; sin embargo, en la víspera de Año Nuevo, muchos egipcios en El Cairo pueden estar borrachos y sosteniendo bebidas alcohólicas en las calles.

La bebida alcohólica más barata es la cerveza. Las marcas comunes son: Stella (no Artois) y Sakkara, que son cervezas lager comunes en Egipto (aproximadamente 4%), ambas elaboradas por la subsidiaria egipcia de Heineken, Ahram Beverages Company . Hay otras marcas locales disponibles, la mayoría con una variante de alcohol más alto que han afirmado niveles de 8% o incluso 10%. Las marcas extranjeras fabricadas bajo licencia en Egipto incluyen Heineken Y Meister, pero son un poco más caras.

Las bebidas alcohólicas más caras que la cerveza son los cócteles de vodka carbonatado, con un 10% de alcohol, específicamente ID Double Edge, que es popular entre las personas que beben alcohol. También hay una variedad de licores (generalmente solo se encuentran en las tiendas de licores, y generalmente solo se encuentran a precios razonables en las tiendas de licores que atienden principalmente a los egipcios). El vino está disponible; sin embargo, los precios del vino importado tienden a ser altos, si no astronómicos, y los vinos nacionales (por ejemplo, Omar Khayyam) son demasiado caros por su calidad bastante baja.

No compre nada que no conozca o sospeche, ya que puede existir el riesgo de que sea falso y adulterado con metanol (alcohol metílico). El metanol es un alcohol venenoso pero barato que se suele utilizar, por ejemplo, como disolvente de limpieza o combustible, pero que causa ceguera y muerte si se ingiere.

Restricciones sobre el alcohol

Las leyes egipcias sobre el alcohol son oficialmente bastante liberales en comparación con la mayoría de los países islámicos, excepto en el mes de Ramadán, cuando el alcohol está estrictamente prohibido. Durante el Ramadán, solo los titulares de pasaportes extranjeros pueden comprar alcohol, según la ley egipcia. Sin embargo, la aplicación de esta ley no es de ninguna manera consistente. In tourist areas like Luxor, alcohol is sold even during Ramadan, and those who appear to be foreigners will not be asked to show passports or other documentation.

During Ramadan, alcohol is often sold only in Western-style hotels and pubs / restaurants that cater especially to foreigners. Some days of the year, such as the day of the full moon the month before Ramadan, alcohol is completely prohibited. Also, some hotels and bars catering to foreigners will stop serving alcohol during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan - call ahead to make sure alcohol is still being served to avoid disappointment.

Sleep

Good Traveler in Cairo a long time ago I was at the Roma pension, run by Mrs. Creseti (Italian) super friendly, clean eyes at the level there, and above all very cheap compared to other hotels. Years ago I went and I no longer remember the price but I think it was for € 15 per night with a fan ... but it's really worth it.

If you go with a scheduled trip and the agency lets you choose a Hotel, I recommend the Marriot Zamalek, located on the island of Zamalek, it is very luxurious, the rooms are fully equipped (Air conditioning, different types of soaps, Telephone, television, Internet etc). It is very well located, you can walk to the center of Cairo quietly (to visit the Egyptian Museum etc). The service is very good, and the hotel also has several restaurants inside. Without a doubt a great choice. The Sofitel Pyramids is also recommended (I don't remember if it is four or five stars), from which if you don't feel like going to Cairo, you can literally go "walking" to the Pyramids of Gizeh.

Egypt has a wide range of accommodation options, from basic backpacker hostels to five-star resorts. Most of the major hotel chains are represented in Greater Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh, and Luxor, at least. You can book most of your accommodation online or contact a local agent who can organize both accommodation and travel.

Walk-in rates give you great discounts on online bookings, eg. Eg half price in Aswan. Generally, online reservations are more expensive because they are used by many tourists. However, in Egypt most hotels do not have their own website and do not have to commit to the agreement with the online booking sites to offer the same price online as offline. However, have a screenshot of the actual price ready online, in case you find a hotel that is willing to overcharge you. In high season, it's best to book the first night and haggle for the next night (s). Otherwise, if there is no general shortage of rooms and less than 60% are booked (usually shown at the top of online booking sites), then check out an area with many hotels and go there asking. Hotels will also gladly accept that you cancel your existing online reservation in person for a discount. When booking online, it is often the fixed price, with added taxes and fees. Generally, you will get at least these taxes and fees as a discount (10-15%) when canceling the reservation in person and / or haggling.

Some online hotel sites claim that payment is required by law in Egyptian pounds. However, most hotels will accept Egyptian pounds at a mostly fair conversion of the rate listed online.

Security

There are no disadvantages for Western women who do not dress in Muslim clothes. Downtown Cairo and Aswan are very friendly.

Cairo is not that it is unsafe, but the men are a bit heavy. If you go with your girlfriend or wife, better not wear cleavage, because the guys will not stop looking at her and saying things to her. Apart from this, the Egyptians that I met are very honest and there is no problem whatsoever.

The presence of the tourist police is also detected quite easily, in addition to the rest of the police, since logically, they have to "sell" that image of security despite being in the area of ​​the world that we are. However, that police presence does not bother you.

Emergency numbers Police: 122 Ambulance: 123 Fire Department: 180 Highway: 136 Natural gas: 129 Other of the Yellow Pages

In general, Egypt is a safe and friendly country to travel. Unless you are visiting Sinai, have something against the local government or are too disrespectful to Islam, you can freely move around Egypt and its cities without much worry. Traveling in Egypt is very similar to Morocco, Jordan, Palestine or Turkey.

Egyptians in general are very friendly; if you need help, they will generally try to help you as much as they can. However, be aware of potential scams, especially in overly touristy areas.

Egyptian men will pay compliments to women; don't be offended if they do this to you. Men shouldn't worry either; If you do this to your partner / daughter, it will be nothing more than a compliment and hopefully it will go no further.

If you are a woman traveling alone or with another woman, be aware that some men will touch or grab you anywhere on your body, whether you are negotiating with them or just walking down the street. Dressing modestly will not deter them. Getting angry with them for touching you will be greeted with amusement by them and any spectator, both men and women. The best way to avoid this is to wear a wedding band and not be too friendly.

Terrorism

Terrorism is a security problem, and the country's terrorist groups have a nasty record of specifically targeting Western tourists and the places they frequent. However, lately the focus seems more on the minority of Coptic Christians than on tourists. The Egyptian security forces remain on a very high alert level.

Realistically, the odds of being affected by terrorism are statistically low and most attacks have only succeeded in killing Egyptians, further adding to the revulsion that the vast majority of Egyptians feel for extremists. The government takes the issue very seriously only when it hurts them financially and tourist sites are heavily guarded, although the level and competence of the Egyptian police leave much to be desired. For example, if you take a taxi from Cairo to Alexandria, you will be stopped at a checkpoint before leaving Cairo. Sometimes they will ask you where you are going, and sometimes they will contact the checkpoint in Alexandria to make sure you reach your destination within a set period of time. The same goes for most desert trips, particularly in Upper Egypt, which is probably best avoided due to growing religious tensions seeping below the surface and, while it seems safe, has the ability to erupt without warning. . During the different branches of your trip, you may be accompanied by the local police, who will expect some form of financial payment if you are traveling in a taxi or private car. They will usually travel to your destination with you, wait until you are done, and usually stay behind at one of the following checkpoints frequently as they have nothing else to do and because tourists are seen as $ signs. The best example of this is when you travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel to visit the Temple of Ramses II. An armed tourism police officer will board your tour bus and escort you until you reach Abu Simbel, and after your tour, you will ride the same bus with you back to Aswan, again because it is part of your job and without the tourists. there. there would be no jobs and there would be no reason to ensure the safety of their own people, as they do not represent a financial figure to them.

There are also many camel-mounted AK47-armed tourist police patrolling the Giza plateau. They are there to ensure the safety of tourists, as the pyramids are the crown jewels of all Egyptian antiquities. They are very poorly maintained with no future investments from within Egypt, only external investments given by countries and historical groups that cannot bear to see the ruin that the local government is letting them turn into these wonderful places. Some tourists may find it exciting or even fun to take pictures with these policemen on the back of a camel; however, since everyone is on duty, it is not uncommon for them to verbally warn you not to pose next to them to take a picture with them, although everything is possible for economic payment.

Drugs

Egypt treats drug-related crimes with extreme severity. The death penalty is possible for those convicted of drug trafficking.

Unauthorized use can result in up to 10 years in prison, a hefty fine, or both. You can be charged for unauthorized use as long as traces of illicit drugs are found in your system, even if you can prove they were used outside the country. You can also be charged with trafficking if drugs are found in bags that are in your possession or in your room, even if they are not yours and regardless of whether you know them; therefore, keep an eye on your possessions.

Cannabis and other narcotics are prohibited and carry heavy penalties. However, hashish in particular is common, even among Egyptians; it is considered to some extent as part of Egyptian culture and is generally considered much less objectionable than alcohol. Many Egyptian clergy consider it makruh (allowed but disapproved) instead of haram (forbidden). Many Egyptians who recoil from the idea of ​​drinking alcohol do not think about using hashish; It is commonly used on festive occasions in rural areas in some parts of the country and in many Sufi rituals throughout the country. Police may use hashish possession as a pretext to arrest and beat people, but their targets are usually locals, not tourists. As long as you do not confront the security forces or attract their attention, foreigners are unlikely to be punished for private cannabis use in Egypt. But bringing things in or out of the country, or flying nationally with them, will probably end badly.

Egypt, like the Gulf States, has cracked down on the legal painkillers, even when they are accompanied by a prescription and are for the traveler's personal use. Check your embassy website for the current list of what is not allowed. It is not clear how rigorously this will be applied. But probably, as in other matters, discreet personal use will be fine; if you put the vodka and Tramadol in it, you could have problems.

Traffic

Traffic in Egypt is reckless and dangerous. Pay special attention when crossing the street.

Scams and hassles

Scams and hassles are the main concern in Egypt, especially in Luxor. Visitors often complain about being harassed and attempts to scam them. While irritating, most of this is pretty harmless, like trying to lure you to a local papyrus or perfume store.

Be aware that many Egyptians who start a conversation with you want your money. You will usually be approached by a person who is fluent in English, German or Russian and who will strike up a conversation with social pretensions. He (and will always be a him) will try to get you to go have a cup of tea or something similar at his favorite souvenir shop (the one that pays the most). This could also happen outside of museums etc where the scammer will try to make you believe that the "museum is closed" or something similar. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Demand prices for everything, because if you say "I thought it was free" after the fact, you are in for a vicious discussion.

Nuisance, although never dangerous, can also be annoying, especially in the main tourist areas. There's no getting around this, but a polite shukran (no thanks) helps a lot. Other than that, try to go to the trouble with a smile. If you allow yourself to be bothered by everyone who tries to sell you something, your vacation will not be very happy.

Potentially more annoying are taxi drivers or other people who receive a commission to take you to the hotel of their choice, of course paying commissions for each guest they receive. Stand firm on this. If they insist, simply ask to be dropped off on a street or a landmark close to where you are going. This scam is especially common among airport taxi drivers.

Gay / lesbian

Gay and lesbian visitors should be self-aware and refrain from open and public displays. While some gay bars had been able to operate semi-openly in major cities in pre-revolutionary times, the situation has deteriorated and members of gay baths or gay wedding parties were being persecuted for "debauchery" in 2014.

Egypt is an Islamic and conservative country. Any display of homosexuality is considered strange, strange, disrespectful and can lead in most cases to hostile reactions. Depending on the situation and the time and place, it can be anything from strange looks to physical abuse. Therefore, gays and lesbians must be discreet while in Egypt.

The gay scene in Egypt is not open and free like in the West. In the past, the police have arrested gays and detained and even tortured in Cairo for engaging in homosexual activities. Human rights groups have condemned such actions and the Egyptian government has come under pressure from different sources to stop this treatment of homosexuals. The most famous arrests occurred in 2001 on a boat called the Queen Boat located on the Nile River in the Zamalek district. Since then there have been more arrests, but the exact situation of homosexuals in recent years is uncertain.

There are no official gay places for cruising or meeting other people.

Crime

Pickpocketing was a problem in the past in Egypt's largest cities, particularly in Greater Cairo. Therefore, many locals chose not to carry wallets, rather than keeping their money in a clip in their pocket, and tourists should adopt this too. On the positive side, violent crime is rare, especially for tourists, and you are highly unlikely to be mugged or robbed. However, if you are the victim of a crime, you can get the support of local pedestrians by shouting "Harami" (thief) but do not chase because it is the easiest way to get lost and most criminals carry knives; If the crime occurs in a tourist area, you will find a specially designated Tourist Police kiosk.

Demonstrations

Protests against the Egyptian government have been ongoing since 2011. Caution should be exercised near protest areas. The demonstration and / or the response of the security forces could turn violent. Bullies take advantage of the lack of police security in and around protest areas. Many incidents of rape, forced robbery and killing of foreigners have been reported.

Health

Fluids

Be sure to drink plenty of water: Egypt has an extremely dry climate most of the year, which is exacerbated by high temperatures on the summer's end of the year, and countless travelers experience the annoyances and dangers of dehydration each year. The feeling of thirst is not enough to indicate danger: carry a bottle of water and continue drinking. Not needing to urinate for a long time or passing very small amounts of dark-colored urine are signs of incipient dehydration.

Egyptian tap water is generally considered safe by most locals, but it often makes travelers sick. It is not recommended to drink regularly, especially for very local quality differences. Bottled mineral waters are widely available - see the Beverage: Water section. Beware of the old scam in which sellers resell bottles of bottled water, having refilled them from another, perhaps dubious source. Always check that the seal is not broken before paying or drinking from it, and report to the tourist police if you discover someone doing this.

Be careful with fruit juice, as some vendors may mix it with water. Milk must also be treated with care, as it cannot be pasteurized. Try to buy milk only from reputable stores. In general, hot drinks like tea and coffee should be fine, as the water has been boiled during preparation, but you should also be careful with ice.

Sun

In winter, the sun is generally the mildest, especially in December, and is the weakest in northern Egypt. Egypt has a desert climate, which makes clouds almost non-existent in the warmer months, so expect extremely bright sunny days, especially from June to August, try to avoid direct sun exposure from 9 a.m. M. (10 a.m. in the summer) at 3 p.m. M. (4 p. M. summer). Bring good sunglasses and wear good sunscreen, however sunscreen becomes ineffective when exposed skin sweats. Also, wearing a hat can help.

Schistosomiasis

To avoid contracting the schistosomiasis parasite (also known as bilharzia), a skin-piercing flatworm, do not swim in the Nile or venture into other Egyptian waterways, even if the locals are doing it. It's also a good idea not to walk barefoot on freshly watered grass for the same reason.

Although the disease takes weeks to months to appear, it is wise to seek local medical attention if you think you have been exposed, as they are used to diagnosing and treating it, and it will cost you pennies instead of dollars. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue, making the illness easy to mistake for (say) the flu or food poisoning, but flatworm eggs can be identified with a stool test, and the illness is usually can heal with a single dose of Praziquantel.

Outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in Egypt have resulted in 23 human deaths since 2006. The last death was in December 2008.

Vaccines and malaria

In general, the following vaccines are recommended for Egypt:

• All routine vaccinations, including: measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and the annual flu shot.
• Hepatitis A and typhoid fever.
• Hepatitis B if sexual contact, tattoos / piercings, or medical procedures are planned.
• Rabies if a prolonged stay is planned, especially if activities are carried out outdoors.

There is a low risk of P. vivax malaria only in the Aswan area of ​​Egypt. Travelers traveling to Aswan are advised to avoid mosquito bites.

General business

While Egypt is interesting and beautiful, it is fraught with stress from noise, dust, and disturbing people. Especially when you are not staying at the high end hotels or if you are completely dependent on package tours this will make your gears die. So, every now and then, take a break from constant attraction hunting, bargain hunting, and organizing trips; choose a slower pace, just spend a day in the house or stroll through a park with your headphones on. Also, don't forget about earplugs for the night, because there will often be noise even at night or very early in the morning if you are near a school. Egypt doesn't seem to rest, but that doesn't mean you don't have to.

Smoking is allowed practically everywhere in Egypt, and you will regularly find people smoking on the train, in lobbies and in restaurants. While they can sometimes be considerate and sit somewhere away from others, most of the time the smoke gets in anyway. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it.

Respect

Tip

Most Egyptian workers expect tips after performing a service. This can be expected for something as small as pressing the button in the elevator. Many workers will even ask you to tip them before you get a chance. The typical tip for minor services is LE1. Due to the general shortage of small coins, you may be forced to give LE5 to do simple things like use the bathroom. Just understand that this is part of the culture; The value of that tip is very small for most Westerners, but it constitutes a good portion of the tip for many Egyptians.

Greeting people

When you approach any individual or group of people for the first time, the best you can say is the local variation of the Islamic form of greeting "es-salāmu-ʻalēku" which literally means "peace be upon you". This is the most common way to say "hello" to someone. Create a friendship between you and people you don't know, build a relationship, and help generate respect. It is also considered polite to say this if you approach someone, rather than simply asking for something or speaking directly to them.

Other forms of greeting include "SàbâH el khēr" ("good morning"), "masā 'el khēr" ("good evening"), or the more informal "ezzayyak" that addresses a man, or "ezzayyek" that is directs a woman, which means "hello" or "how are you?"

When leaving, he can say the same "es-salāmu-ʻalēku", or simply "maʻa s-salāma", literally: "safely" or "with well-being", which is used to say "goodbye". The most educated Egyptians will say "bye-bye" derived from the English "goodbye" or "buh-bye" when leaving others.

Smiling - Most people appreciate a smile and most Egyptians smile when they speak to someone for the first time. People who don't smile while talking are considered arrogant, rude, aggressive, hostile, etc.

However, be careful not to be too friendly or too smiling, especially if you are a woman talking to an Egyptian man, as they might mistake you for trying to befriend them or asking them to flirt or flirt with you. Even in a man-to-man conversation, being overly friendly can give the other person a chance to try to take advantage of you in one way or another. Always use common sense.

Dress

Egyptians are generally a conservative people and most are religious and dress very conservatively. Although they allow foreigners to dress much more sparsely, it is wise not to dress provocatively, if only to prevent people from looking at you. It is better to wear pants, jeans, long shorts instead of shorts as only tourists wear them. In the trendy nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, and bars of Cairo, Alexandria, and other tourist destinations, you'll find the dress code to be much less restrictive. Official or social functions and fancy restaurants often require more formal use.

At the pyramids of Giza and other similar places during the hot summer months, short-sleeved tops and even sleeveless tops are acceptable for women (especially when traveling with a group of tourists). Although you should bring a scarf or something to cover yourself more while traveling to / from the tourist destination. Also, it is perfectly acceptable for women to wear sandals during the summer, and you will even see some women wearing the hijab wearing sandals.

Women should cover their arms and legs if they are traveling alone, it is not necessary to cover their hair; many Christian women walk comfortably in Egypt with their hair uncovered. However, as a foreigner, you may receive a lot of attention no matter what you wear, mainly including people staring at you along with some verbal harassment that you can try to ignore. Egyptian women, even those who wear the full hijab, are often subjected to sexual harassment, including cat calls. You may find that covering up completely doesn't make much of a difference, regarding bullying, compared to wearing a blouse with shorter sleeves. When it comes to bullying, how you act is also important. Dating a group of people is helpful too, and the best thing to do is ignore men who are giving you unwanted attention. They want to get some reaction from you. Also, a sign of respect is to use the Arabic greeting, "Asalamualaikum" (means "hello, peace be with you"), and the other person should respond "Walaikumasalam" ("peace be with you"). That lets the person know that you want respect and nothing more.

Mosque label

Do not enter a mosque with any type of shoes, sandals, slippers, boots as this is very disrespectful. Always remove them before entering, as they carry dirt from the street, and the mosque (a place of prayer) must be clean. However, you can leave your socks on.

Etiquette in the presence of people who pray

Also, avoid walking in front of people in prayer. The reason is because when people kneel, they kneel before God. If you stand in front of someone while praying or kneeling, it is as if they kneel before you or worship you, a complete taboo and against the basic fundamentals of Islam. Otherwise, it is quite acceptable for visitors or Christian Egyptians to continue as normal in the streets or shops that operate during prayer times.

Public displays of affection

Like most other countries in the Muslim world, the Middle East, and even some conservative non-Muslim countries, affection should not be displayed in public. Egyptians are conservative and doing things like kissing your girlfriend / boyfriend in public is considered offensive, rude, or disrespectful. A public hug is less offensive, especially if you greet a spouse or family member you haven't seen in a while.

You will notice male-to-male kisses on the cheeks when Egyptian men meet their friends, family, or someone they know well - this should not be confused with homosexuality. Less often, some Egyptian men like to walk alongside their friend with their arms linked like a loop within a loop. Again, this is not homosexual behavior.

Other issues

Don't photograph people without their permission, and in areas frequented by tourists don't be surprised if a tip is requested. Smoking is very common and cigarettes are very cheap in Egypt.

Most Egyptians tend to have a strong voice when they speak, which is common in some other countries in the region. They are not yelling, but you will know the difference.

Gamal Abdul Nasser, the second president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and many others are considered national heroes in Egypt; You must say absolutely nothing that could be perceived as offensive or derogatory about him. Consider these topics carefully and let others guide the opening of the discussion. Many Egyptians have a different interpretation of ambiguous expressions such as freedom of speech and democracy. It is advisable not to talk about Israel even if you are tempted; do not speak out loud about it as it may attract unwanted attention even if you are only talking about it as a travel destination.

Be very careful if you decide to drink alcohol (see above), especially if you are from countries where binge drinking is accepted. Even if you are used to it, you cannot estimate the effects of the weather, not even at night. The impact drunkards have on Egyptians is quite large and very negative. The best plan is to simply abstain or limit yourself to one drink per meal while in Egypt; it will also be cheaper.

Keep in touch

Egypt has a reasonably modern telephone service that includes three GSM mobile service providers. The three mobile phone providers are Orange, Vodafone and Etisalat. The main centers are in Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez and Tanta. Roaming services are provided, although you should check with your service provider. In addition, it is possible to purchase mobile phone lines for tourists during the stay, which usually costs around LE 30.

Mobile Internet SIM cards can be purchased for around LE90 for every 2.5 GB in the airport or for around LE130 for every 8 GB in the city.

Internet access is easy to find, cheap, and often free. Nowadays, most coffee shops, restaurants, hotel lobbies and other places offer free WiFi. Connections can be insecure and under surveillance, try using a proxy or VPN for your privacy.

Rain coat

Tourism and locals

The mindset of many Egyptians you will come across as a tourist is that after reckless driving, not making extra stops on the tour, and stressing you out at the sights over time, the tour driver will still demand a tip from his passengers. In many tourist areas, like Luxor, they are unscrupulous about getting money from you. Therefore, always be vigilant when it comes to accepting small "favors", as these often come at a high price. Of course, this behavior is largely driven by the state of the economy and the fact that tourism is a huge income generator for many Egyptians. However, it can greatly spoil your experience in Egypt.

So, it is better to be prepared. Some rules:

Solo confíe en una persona para un servicio a la vez. No permita que su taxista, el chico del hotel, el guía turístico, etc. organicen nada más allá del servicio original acordado. De lo contrario, siempre intentarán cobrarle a usted.

Al aceptar un servicio, aclare qué está incluido y qué no, y si habrá algún costo adicional más allá del precio acordado.

No se deje intimidar. Muchos hoteles, recorridos turísticos y similares se pueden calificar en línea; este es tu bromista, úsalo y defiende claramente tu posición.

Si está en un recorrido y algo no va de acuerdo con el acuerdo, hable con el guía turístico frente a los otros pasajeros del recorrido, es posible que se sientan de la misma manera y estén de su lado, lo cual es muy probable que tenga en cuenta las molestias constantes. en Egipto.

Cuando organice su propio recorrido con un conductor o guía, solo pague al final. Esto le dará un mayor control sobre lo que paga y la cantidad de dinero de la que se separa.

Sin embargo, una vez que salga del entorno turístico, la gente es muy amable y servicial; incluso podrían pagar su boleto de tren si no tiene un pequeño cambio listo. Sin embargo, salir del ciclo de molestias es difícil porque la mayoría de las cosas que querrá ver y experimentar son, lamentablemente, turísticas.

Paquetes turísticos

Si usted es un viajero razonablemente individual, trate de evitar los viajes organizados o los viajes organizados, incluso los viajes de un día. Tienen un precio excesivo, una relación calidad-precio pobre, no aprecian sus necesidades, tienen un horario apretado y en su mayoría inflexible, y muy a menudo abren la puerta a problemas adicionales y a hacer dinero. Muchos tours exigen pagos adicionales por camellos, guías locales, viajes en bote, etc., que se ofrecen a lo largo del camino, aparentemente por un precio justo, pero en su mayoría su guía lo cobrará, y son el doble del precio que pagaría sin el participación del guía. Otros recorridos son mitad viajes y mitad compras forzadas, en las que te obligan a ver papiros o tiendas de aceite. Si se queja, esté preparado para un guía turístico muy enojado. Además, te apresuran a recorrer los lugares de interés y la historia sin tiempo para la digestión. Si bien estos recorridos pueden ser adecuados para algunos viajeros, otros los encontrarán profundamente decepcionantes, molestos y estresantes. Si desea experimentar el verdadero Egipto además del turismo con todo incluido y los recorridos en autobús, es mejor alquilar un taxi (con varias personas o incluso solo), ir en tren o simplemente pasear por una atracción no tan lejana. Como se explica en #Cope, en general Egipto es un lugar seguro para hacerlo.

Números arábigos orientales

Aunque será imposible aprender árabe en uno o pocos viajes a Egipto, es aconsejable conocer al menos los números arábigos orientales. Esto le evitará una gran cantidad de estafas e incluso podrá abordar el vagón correcto de su tren.

Lavandería

Hay varias opciones para lavar la ropa mientras viaja por Egipto:

Con mucho, lo más fácil, práctico y nada caro es encargarse de que su hotel le haga la colada. Si se acuerda previamente, la ropa dejada en la cama o entregada en recepción le será devuelta por la noche recién lavada y planchada.

Los autoayudantes decididos pueden persistir en lavarse las manos o encontrar una de las muchas lavanderías con "agujeros en la pared" donde el personal lavará y planchará su ropa manualmente; un proceso fascinante en sí mismo. Solo tenga en cuenta que su ropa probablemente olerá a humo de cigarrillo cuando la devuelva.

El Cairo posee algunas lavanderías básicas de estilo occidental en áreas donde residen extranjeros y turistas, pero prácticamente inexistentes en otras partes del país. Algunos hoteles en ciudades turísticas como Luxor y Dahab ofrecen un servicio de lavadora en una habitación trasera, las máquinas suelen ser asuntos primitivos y usted se quedará con la tarea de escurrir y planchar la ropa usted mismo.

Camada

Desafortunadamente, Egipto está plagado de grandes cantidades de basura. Espere ver montones de basura plástica a lo largo de los lados de las carreteras, en los ríos y canales y en cualquier otro espacio donde las personas sientan que pueden desechar lo que no se molestan en desechar correctamente. Egipto es candidato a ser el país más sucio del mundo. La gran cantidad de basura también significa que puede haber muchas moscas que te molesten.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on Egypt.w:Egipto
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Egypt. Commons