Introduction to Egypt

Egypt.  Mystical.   Magical.  Ancient.  Land of the pharos, of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, of the Sphinx and the Pyramids beckons you to come visit.  Embark on the trip of a lifetime poised between two worlds, the old world of ancient civilizations and wonders, a world of beauty and knowledge, with powerful links to the past, yet always keeping an eye to the future and the progress that pulsates in the country today.     

The Egypt of today is a far cry from its former self, having transformed from a country ruled by Pharaonic Dynasties and constant plots to unseat its leaders, usually carried out by members of the Pharo's own family, to a future-bound country locked hand-in-hand with its rich past, never willing to move forward without remaining bound to the past tragedies and triumphs which have made it into what it is today.

Today Egypt is so progressive and modern that it is considered an essential link for international air and sea traffic.  A place where you can begin a journey in the here-and-now and suddenly be surrounded by the past in the form of ancient monuments created by some of the oldest civilizations known to man:  Pharaonic, Greek, Roman and Byzantine to name a few.  And the endlessly flowing Nile river with its hundreds of stories to tell. 

Come escape to Egypt and take what will be one of the most exciting and rewarding trips of your life.  Don't worry about the cost because it will be extremely low.  With it's brilliant sunshine spanning a cloudless sky,  invigorating sea breezes and sparkling blue Mediterranean waters, Egypt opens its arms to welcome you to its shores; to its kind and courteous people, its cities overflowing with culture, to a vacation filled with new experiences and pleasures, and a lifetime of wonderful memories that you will create in the most amazing country on earth.

Facts About Egypt

Egypt has 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 square miles).  It is located in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.  It is estimated 75.4 million people.  Most of them live near the Nile River banks.

History of Egypt

Although Egypt's existence dates back to the pre-historic era, a unified kingdom was founded in 3150 BC by King Menes.  This was the beginning of a series of dynasties that would rule Egypt for the next 3,000 years.  The Pharaonic era is perhaps Egypt's greatest, and it is divided into three periods:

The Old Kingdom 2700-2200 BC

During this time its capital was Menf or (Memphis), built by King Mena, who was fated to be the first king of I Dynasty.  It was his destiny to unite Upper and Lower Egypt.  Another of the prominent kings of that Dynasty was named Djoser.  It is he who erected the Saqqara pyramid, proven to be the first large-scale stone structure created in the history of the world.  Egypt was at the height of its power in this period, and  It was also during this time that the Giza pyramids were constructed.

The Middle Kingdom

Now the capital had been changed to Thebes.  This was a period of relative peace and prosperity, host to an artistic renaissance, when agriculture and trade thrived here along the banks of the Nile.

The New Kingdom

This period begins with the 18th Dynasty the father of which was King Ahmos.  It's capital was also Thebes, except for a brief time when King Akhenaton ruled and moved it to Tel-eI-Amarna.  His wife was the famous Nefertiti. 

After the Pharaonic era followed other, less notable eras:  the Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras.

In 1952 came a revolution which effectively ended the monarchy that had been in place since 1840, and established a republican regime in its place.

Economy

In the past the Egyptian economy has focused mostly on agriculture, but the government has since turned to being more supportive of industry, and now encourages Arab and foreign investment.  As a result of it's more modern treatment of the economy, one of the businesses which has grown considerably is the tourism industry.

Language

The official language of Egypt and the language spoken by most of its population is Arabic.  There are, however, many Egyptians who are fluent in foreign languages, the most spoken being English and French.

Climate

The climate in Egypt can best be described as temperate, with nearly constant sunshine all year long.  Yes, there are rainy days, but they are few and far between.  While you might think that the summer months of June -- August are brutally hot, this isn't true for all of Egypt, as the Nile Valley maintains a temperate climate year round.  Of course, for the desert regions it's a different story.  The heat there can reach killer temperatures, but there are areas of Egypt cooled by north wind breezes that are perfectly comfortable.

Passport and Visa Requirements

Here are the rules and regulations regarding passports and visas in Egypt:  All Egyptian consulates are given the authority to grant transit visas for one month.  The only catch is that the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.   It is also permissible for passport authorities at all airports to grant a transit or entry visa immediately, even if the individual holding the passport had never been given a visa before.  It is possible for tourist groups whose trip was arranged by a tourist agency to obtain a collective entry visa, but everyone must depart together, with no one stay behind.

An entry visa costs $27.00 for a single entry.  If you obtain your visa from the Egyptian Consulate in Montreal you will need to submit a completed application  form along with 2 photographs, a certified check or money order in the amount of $27.00 per visa and a stamp registered self-addressed envelope. 

Should you opt to get your visa at Cairo airport,, you will pay $20.00 and no picture is needed.  You must, however, have a valid Canadian passport for 6 months.

Tourists are given 7 days in which to register themselves after their arrival in Egypt.    Normally this is done by the hotel, or the cruise staff.

Clothing

It is highly recommended that you take cotton clothes on your trip in summer and woolen clothes in winter, along with comfortable walking shoes.  If you want to wear shorts that is acceptable also.  There are plenty of shops in Cairo and most of the larger towns which carry a nice selection of clothes and other items a tourist might need at prices that won't hurt your wallet too much.  Egypt has a reputation for its top-notch cotton textiles, which are among the cheapest prices in the world.

Dining

Throughout Egypt many hotel restaurants which specialize in certain dishes.  It's not uncommon to find American-style snack bars.  Although Egypt is an Islamic country, alcohol can be served in many restaurants and cafe-style bars.

Nightlife

Once the sun goes down, people begin flooding the streets, hanging out in groups in restaurants and coffee shops. It can be quite a colorful scene as street vendors sell Falafel, Kebabs, Shawerma with great barbeque taste to the public. 

But the main nighttime attractions are definitely the dazzling sound and light shows that are held at many of the country's archaeological sites.

There are also cosmopolitan nightclubs, discos and casinos in Cairo, Alexandria and most of the larger towns. 

Currency

The unit of currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, divided into 100 Piasters.  For example, (1 Canadian dollar is equal to approximately 6 pounds).  Egyptian Bank notes come for 100 Pounds, 50 Pounds, 20 Pounds, 10 Pounds, 5 Pounds and 1 Pound, 50 Piasters, 25 Piasters, 10 Piasters and 5 Piasters.  The exchange rate is basically the same among all banks. 

Best Way to Travel in Egypt

Because there is massive congestion and Cairo is so populous -- 12 million people) -- you are strongly discouraged from renting a car.  The best thing to do is to rent a car with a driver or use taxies.  Taking the bus is not a good idea as it might be too hard to find out how to get from one place to another because there are no good city maps to rely upon. 

Tourist Sites in Cairo

The Pyramids

Looming into sight from the western bank of the Nile, on the Giza plateau.  Ordered to be built by Cheops, Chepren and Mycerinos, they face Cairo, while close by at attention, the Sphinx watches over them.

Al Moalaqa Church (Hanging Church)

Built on the pillars of the Roman fort of Babylon, it dates from the late 4th and early 5th centuries AD.  These dates are carved into a wooden screen that is a picture of Jesus as he triumphantly entered Jerusalem.  If you have the time, the church has a large collection of around 90 icons you can view.

Alexandria

Don't forget the ancient city of Alexandria.  A tribute to Alexander the Great, on whose command it was built,  Egypt's largest port is also the most prestigious summer resort in the entire Middle East.  Situated on the glistening Mediterranean, it is 225 km from Cairo if you take the Agriculture road and 221 km if you use the Desert road.