Originally posted by kirksey957I love fishing. Do they sell the worms individually or do you have to buy an entire case? I did visit Alexandria for 4 days, but didn't get about much and that was over 20 years ago. Not so sure I'd run around the same area by myself these days.
One of my earliest memories as a kid was when my dad came back from Egypt he got a case of the worms. These worms were so long you could use them as bait for catfish. Big catfish.
Originally posted by RagnorakWent there for 3 weeks - can't remember most of the place names ...
What can't I miss? What should I watch out for?
Cheers,
D
Drink only bottled water - that you buy! (I took a swig from a bottle an Egyptian friend had ... tap water - spent 12 hours at Changi Airport on the toilet!)
Take 2 wallets - an old crappy one - put 1-2 Egyptian pounds in it and when the very pushy 'hawkers/salespeople' are harassing you, pull it out to show you have no money. Keep your real wallet hidden.
When you bargain, aim for about 60% of their first offer ... I think.
You need to have lots of small notes for tipping - coming from NZ, I wasn't used to that.
If you pay a little extra, you can often take photos in places they ordinarily don't allow (with flashes - you'll need to check) - in the tombs at The Valley of Kings/Queens and inside one of the pyramids etc (actually, our tour guide said no photos inside the pyramid so we left our cameras on the bus - got inside and the guy was like, 'No problem, no problem. You can take photos.'😉
You can spend hours in the museum in Cairo.
There was a funky resort in the middle of the desert - near some place with about 4 million steps you climb just before dawn - I think it was where Moses saw the burning bush.
We had a 3 day cruise on some boat down (up) the Nile - awesome! sailing in the felluccas (sp) was cool as well.
I'll see if I can dig up my photos and other stuff and will let you know of where I went.
How long will you be there?
Drivers on the main roads are nutters, worked there for 2 months about 60k North of Sharm el Sheik and in that time about 30 people were killed on the roads immediatly around us, one particularly nasty bus crash as well. For some reason when two cars approach each other at night about 200yds from meeting they both switch OFF their lights until they have passed!😲
Negotiate all prices before you start taxi journeys too
Originally posted by Mat KelleyForgot about that - the only time I've ever closed my eyes in fear was when an Egyptian taxi driver was driving!
Drivers on the main roads are nutters, worked there for 2 months about 60k North of Sharm el Sheik and in that time about 30 people were killed on the roads immediatly around us, one particularly nasty bus crash as well. For some reason when two cars approach each other at night about 200yds from meeting they both switch OFF their lights until they have passed!😲
Negotiate all prices before you start taxi journeys too
When you sort out the price - make sure you don't get stiffed by the driver asking you to pay for toll gates etc - mine went berserk when I initially refused to pay for a toll gate.
I was there some years ago. As well as seeing the Giza pyramids / Sphinx, it's worth getting down south to Luxor to take in the Thebes temple and visit some of the tombs in The Valley of the Kings. Further south is the town of Aswan, from where you can set out to see some amazing giant statues of Ramses II. Sailing down the Nile on a felucca (the local sailboat) is a great experience too. In Cairo there are plenty of impressive mosques, loads of atmosphere (some of it not very breathable!) and absolutely mad traffic. cairo is also host to the Egyptian Museum, full of awesome artifacts you'll recognise from books. I saw Tutenkhamen's gold sarcophagus there. I was only there two weeks, so I didn't make it to bedouin camps in the desert, snorkelling in the Red Sea or ancient Christian monasteries in the Sinai, but these are apparantly awesome as well. Most of all, go out of your way to meet the people, who I found extremely friendly and hospitable. Watch out for scams though.
Originally posted by monster truckI think they give them away free.
I love fishing. Do they sell the worms individually or do you have to buy an entire case? I did visit Alexandria for 4 days, but didn't get about much and that was over 20 years ago. Not so sure I'd run around the same area by myself these days.
Originally posted by Ragnorakyou cant miss out on the fantastic diving or snorkelling,you need to go quad biking in the desert for a day...wow ! cant miss the blue and white peugeot taxi ride from hell... they are fab.. and you can get anywhere with the power of bartering...take a boat ride down the nile... sample the food...dont buy any alabaster..its usually not the real deal...and most of all enjoy yourself these people are the friendliest sociable people I have had the pleasure to come across... only pushy if you let them its no different to any holiday rep or resort where someone is trying to sell you something...
What can't I miss? What should I watch out for?
Cheers,
D
You can miss the pyramids...they are spoilt and erroded by years of people going to visit them,chemicals (not to mention the various fast food joints within stepping distance of them... the valley of the kings was like being on a conveyor belt waiting to see the next obelisk...such a shame,so many people bumping into each other...try some less popular laces to visit like marsa alam or hughada,sharm el sheikh is ok but losing its identity by being a victim of its own success...enjoy your holidays
Originally posted by RagnorakDon't drink the water!
What can't I miss? What should I watch out for?
Cheers,
D
And I mean: Don't shower with your mouth open either.
Brush your teeth with mineral water.
Go to the Western Sahara and look at the mushroom rocks.
Go to Karnak.
Float down the Nile on one of their little boats with a sack full of marijuana...
Originally posted by treetalkIs that at the base of Mount Sinai?
There was a funky resort in the middle of the desert - near some place with about 4 million steps you climb just before dawn - I think it was where Moses saw the burning bush.
I'll see if I can dig up my photos and other stuff and will let you know of where I went.
How long will you be there?
Please do, I'd love to see the photos. Did you find any hidden gems?
Our trip will be between 12 and 16 days. Pretty much 2 of those days will be taken up getting from Ireland to Egypt and vice-versa.
D