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SOCIAL SCENE | TRANSPORTATION
IN EGYPT | ACCOMMODATION | EMERGENCY
CONTACTS
SOCIAL SCENE
Cairo
The heart of Egypt for more than 1000 years, Cairo demonstrates the dichotomy
of all things Egyptian. It's in Cairo where the medieval world and the contemporary
western world come together in a confusion of earthen houses and towering modern
office buildings, of flashy cars and donkey-drawn carts. Nobody really knows
how many people live in Cairo, but estimates put it at about 16 million, and
the city's many squatter camps and slums alone accommodate around 5 million
people. Housing shortages are terrible and the traffic is appalling, but the
government has begun a campaign to ease these pressures, opening an underground
metro system and constructing satellite suburbs.
Islamic Cairo (which is no more Islamic than the rest of the city)
is the old medieval quarter, and stepping into its neighbourhoods
is like moving back six or seven centuries. This is the most densely
populated area of Egypt, and probably the whole Middle East. Districts
like Darb al-Ahmar are full of tiny alleyways, mud-brick houses, food
hawkers, and goats, camels and donkeys. The streets are lined with
mosques and temples, and the air is filled with the pungent smells
of turmeric and cumin, animals and squalor. Some of Islamic Cairo's
highlights include the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, dating from the 9th century
and the city's oldest intact and fully functioning Islamic monument;
the 15th-century Mosque of Qaitbey, considered the jewel of Mamluk
architecture; Al-Azhar Mosque, the keystone of Islam in Egypt; and
the Citadel, an awesome medieval fortress that was the seat of Egyptian
power for 700 years. The Citadel has three major mosques and several
museums.
Coptic Cairo was originally built as a Roman fortress town. Pre-dating
the founding of Islamic Cairo by several hundred years, it was home
to one of the world's first Christian communities and is also a holy
place for Jews and Muslims. The sole remaining section of the Fortress
of Babylon includes two towers which were built in AD 98 and originally
overlooked an important port on the Nile before the river changed
course. The Coptic Museum at the foot of the towers explores Egypt's
Christian era from the years 300 to 1000. The stunning collection
includes religious and secular art, stonework, manuscripts, woodwork,
glass and ceramics.
Giza is on the west bank of the Nile and takes in an 18km (11mi)
swathe that includes the Great Pyramids. The pyramids were one of
the seven wonders of the ancient world, and despite the crowds that
visit every year, they are still a truly overwhelming sight. They
have survived the rise and fall of great dynasties and conquerors,
and share the flat desert surrounds with the Sphinx and a number of
smaller pyramids and temples.
Cairo has various precincts with cheap tourist accommodation and
places to eat, but central Cairo is popular with budget travellers,
particularly Midan Orabi and Midan Talaat Harb.
Alexandria
The mighty Macedonian Alexander the Great
came to Egypt in 331 BC after conquering Greece and selected a small
fishing village on the Mediterranean coast to establish his new
capital, Alexandria. The city is oriented around Midan Ramla and
Midan Saad Zaghoul, the large square that runs down to the waterfront.
Alexandria once had a great library that contained more than 500,000
volumes, and at its peak the city was a great repository of science,
philosophy and intellectual thought and learning.
The Graeco-Roman Museum contains relics that date back to the 3rd
century BC. There's a magnificent black granite sculpture of Apis,
the sacred bull worshipped by Egyptians, as well as an assortment
of mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, jewellery and ancient tapestries.
Another highlight is one of the few historical depictions of the Pharos
of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The only Roman
Amphitheatre in Egypt was rediscovered in 1964. Its 13 white marble
terraces are in excellent condition and excavation work is still under
way, although the dig has shifted a little to the north of the theatre.
Pompey's Pillar is a massive 25m (82ft) pink granite monument measuring
9m (30ft) around its girth. The pillar should rightfully called Diocletian's
Pillar, as it was built for the emperor in AD 297, and was the only
monument left standing following the violent arrival of the Crusaders
around 1000 years later. The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa are the
largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, and consist of three tiers
of burial tombs, chambers and hallways. The catacombs were begun in
the 2nd century AD and were later expanded to hold more than 300 corpses.
There's a banquet hall where the grieving would pay their respects
with a funeral feast. Experts are hoping to discover Cleopatra's Palace
under the sea bed off Alexandria; columns were found in 1998, and
recently archaeologists raised a beautiful statue of Isis from the
depths. Cleopatra's Library was destroyed by the Crusaders.
Luxor
Built on the site of the ancient city of
Thebes, Luxor is one of Egypt's prime tourist destinations. People
have been visiting the magnificent monuments of Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut
and Ramses III for thousands of years. Feluccas and old barges shuffle
along the Nile between the luxury hotel ships of the Hilton and
Sheraton cruising to and fro Cairo and Aswan.
Luxor Temple was built by Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) on
the site of an older temple built by Hatshepsut and added to by Tutankhamun,
Ramses II, Nectanebo, Alexander the Great and various Romans. Excavation
work has been under way since 1885. The Temples of Karnak are a spectacular
series of monuments that were the main place of worship in Theban
times. They can be divided into the Amun Temple Enclosure, which is
the largest; the Mut Temple Enclosure on the south side; and the Montu
Temple Enclosure. The lonely statues of the Colossi of Memnon are
the first things most people see when they arrive on the West bank,
though the Valley of the Kings, including the spectactular tombs of
Nefertari and Tutankhamun, are the big attraction. Luxor is accessible
from Cairo by buses or trains which run every day.
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TRANSPORTATION IN EGYPT
Taxis
Service (pronounced ser-vees) taxis are usually Peugeot 504 vehicles which hold
about six or seven people and which tend to congregate near bus and railway
stations.
This is a relatively fast way to travel between cities, but the driver will not
begin the journey until his vehicle is full, which can be inconvenient. The whole
vehicle can be hired for an increased fare, however.
A larger version of the service taxi is the microbus, which is built to hold
about 12 people and often holds twenty or more. Needless to say, it is not particularly
comfortable and passengers are often charged extra for luggage. Microbus fares
are roughly the same as service taxis, but there are fewer routes.
Regular taxis operate in most Egyptian cities. In Cairo these are black and white,
and in Alexandria black and orange. Although most are fitted with a meter, many
are non-functional and arguments between passenger and driver over the correct
fare are quite common. As in all Middle Eastern countries, it is probably best
to avoid this by negotiating the fare before beginning your trip.
Buses
Bus services are to be found everywhere in
Egypt. Deluxe buses, which run between most of the main towns and
cities, are air-conditioned and fairly comfortable. The basic intercity
bus service is less luxurious and is often crowded.
Tickets can be bought at a bus station window,
or, sometimes, on the bus. Regular ticket inspections are the norm.
On longer runs, seats can be booked in advance, but for short distances
those who board first will get the best seats.
Visitors should be a little wary of 'video
buses' which, despite their superior speed and cleanliness, show
non-stop movies at high volume, and are not for those with delicate
eardrums.
Rail
Egypt's railway system has over 5,000km of
track, connecting almost every major city and town. Timetables
are generally reliable, although the system itself is in need of
some modernisation.
First-class rail travel is either by wagon-lit,
which has air-conditioning, hot and cold running water in each sleeper
compartment and a full meal service; or by first-class seated accommodation.
Second-class travel is divided into two sub-sections: with or without
air-conditioning. Third-class travel is extremely basic, very cheap
and can be crowded.
Trams
Cairo and Alexandria have their own tram
networks. In Alexandria, the trams are often fairly crowded, but
the network is extensive and the system is reliable. In Cairo,
the system is smaller, consisting of only three lines.
Car rental
Roads are hazardous and local driving skills
leave a great deal to be desired, roadside heaps of post-accident
scrap metal constantly bear witness to this.
Visitors are strongly advised against hiring
a car themselves, although there are plenty of rental agencies in
all major cities. Driving at night is particularly dangerous, as
many drivers do not use headlights.
Mounted transportation
Camels and donkeys can be hired on an hourly-basis
to enable visitors to wander around many of Egypt's ancient sites.
A guide will usually accompany you.
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ACCOMMODATION
Institution Accommodation Facilities
Most of the institutes have segregated,
conveniently located and cost-effective accommodation
facilities. The accommodation fees vary from
institute to institute.
Private Rental Market
Many furnished and unfurnished
apartments are available throughout the Egypt.
When you rent a unit in a private building
you will have to sign a rental agreement
or lease that specifies your rights and responsibilities
and those of the property owner and his agent.
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EMERGENCY CONTACTS
The following is a list of emergency telphone numbers from within
Egypt
Police Help : 122
Fire : 180
Ambulance : 123
Railway Police : 145
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(Source: www.arab.net, www.telecomegypt.com) |
