Egypt
Egypt: History, Culture & Economy
July 31, 2010 by A'Keiba Burrell
Egypt (pronounced /ˈiːdʒɪpt/), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Thereby, Egypt is a transcontinental country, and is considered to be a major power in North Africa,Mediterranean Region, African continent, Nile Basin, Islamic World and the Red Sea. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 78.7 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt’s residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world’s most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. Its ancient ruins, such as those of Memphis, Thebes, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, are a significant…
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Egypt, or, Where I Freely Walk Into Oncoming Traffic
July 24, 2010 by Susie Hughes
WHAT a nightmare! I almost died about five times a day (make that hour, actually), but somehow we survived six days in Egypt.
It didn’t start well (it’s actually my LEAST favorite place thus far, you’ll hear why…). We had booked a hostel online, as this is how we’ve been operating everywhere, we just sort it out on the way. All we knew about how to get to this place was to take “Bus #356″. OK. We got off the plane in Cairo and walked out into the stifling heat and set of to find the bus terminal, which turned out to be the sketchiest place in the world. EVERYONE was staring at us (although we would get used to that) and all the buses were about 100 years old with ancient Egyptian men hanging out of the windows smoking and there were no numbers anywhere. A super dodgy policeman tried to help us, but he didn’t really speak English so we gave up on him but he proceeded to follow us around for the next 15 minutes saying “Bus three-six-five, bus five-three-six, bus six-five-three?” Eventually we decided to go back to the airport terminal and there we were able…
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Photo of the Week Egypt
July 15, 2010 by Sherry Ott
I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t even know where this was shot. Sure, I know I was in Egypt in yet another temple, but I had my overdose of temples much earlier in my stay, so I stopped really keeping track. As I wandered around yet another temple I turned around to look for my friend and that’s when I saw this perfectly lit shot.
The ancient Egyptian gods provided a single ray of light to shine on this lucky man. A natural wonder.
To see more travel photography – check out Briefcase to Backpack’s Photo Friday
Kushari: Egypt’s National Dish
July 13, 2010 by Eric Ackerson
Greetings fellow travelers! I have returned from an extended break and am hungrier than ever. So at long last we again sail the seven seas in search of the iconic dishes of the planet.
It seems fitting that the return of this global adventure comes on the heels of the finale of the World Cup in South Africa. This one sporting event more than all others signals the unification of mankind in a common endeavor with relatively peaceful methodology. I have learned to love the grace and the underlying message of the World Cup. If only every NFL or baseball match began with a pledge and commitment to end racism in its ugliness. It did not come without a physical toll however. Some of you soccer fans may be slightly tone deaf like myself, from the incessant buzzing of the now famed Vuvuzela, a constant at South African football matches. Painful indeed, yet oddly hypnotic at the same time.
Hearty congratulations are in order to Spain for their fast paced and exciting victory versus the Netherlands. Both teams fought hard and long to bring home the cup for what would be the first time in either of their nations…
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Top 5 Things to Do in Egypt
July 10, 2010 by Marcello Arrambide
It’s one of the most exotic and historical ancient places in the world. Egypt is known as the Land of the Pharaohs and also as the gift of the Nile because without the Nile river there would be no Egypt. Egyptian civilization has lasted for over 3,000 years starting in 3100BC (that is before the Persians and the Greeks) all the way to 31BC when the Romans annexed the kingdom of Egypt and made it a province of its growing empire. The capital is Cairo, a massive city nestled right next to the Nile river. Here are the top 5 things to do Egypt:
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The Pyramids at Giza & the Sphinx
This is one of the most popular things to do in Egypt. The Pyramids are 4,500 years old and are made up of over 2.5 million stones. The Great Pyramid is the only surviving wonder from the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Each individual stone can weight several tons (that’s a few elephants put together!). The Great Pyramid was the highest structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower was built in the late 19th century. The Sphinx has a head of a…
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50+ Things to Do in 50 African Countries
July 8, 2010 by Bernard Pollack
We had fun writing this post for Matador Trips called “50+ Things to Do in 50 African Countries”. Having visited more than 17 African countries so far, and spoken with hundreds of travelers, we’ve accumulated this list. If you’re looking for something amazing to do in any of the countries on the continent, here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Algeria: Spend a day walking in Algiers to see Turkish palaces and the Martyrs Monument. The Dar Hassan Pacha Palace is a good one.
2. Angola: Head to Luanda in February for their annual carnival and join other expats for live shows and movies at Karl Marx. Claudio Silva has more in 5 Reasons to Go to Angola in 2009 (And Beyond).
3. Benin: See lions, leopards, hippos, and more at the Parc National de la Penjari. In Contonou, we hear the bar Le Costa Rica is a lot of fun.
4. Botswana: The best-value walking safari in Southern Africa is right next to Gaborone at a place called Mokolodi Nature Reserve. We love their permaculture projects, and they offer rhino tracking and safaris by horseback.
5.…
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Chronicles of the melting luggage
June 21, 2010 by Marcello Arrambide
Ahhh Egypt, the land of the pharaohs. Unique in its own right, no land is as mysterious and ancient as Egypt. From the prowess of the Roman Empire or the determination of the British Empire, nothing compares to the longevity of the Egyptians. Their civilization lasted for 3,000 years. Till this day there are still [...]
McDonalds and the RTW Traveler
May 27, 2010 by Sherry Ott
The McDonalds stigma is strong…
It has to be said…and this may be controversial…
Eating at McDonalds in a foreign country does NOT make you a despicable traveler.
In all honestly – up until I took my career break and traveled around the world, I would have scoffed at that statement. I thought Americans who ate at McDonalds while traveling abroad were heathens; some lower form of tourist I was embarrassed to associate myself with.
As successful as they are, McDonald’s somehow has a terrible stigma associated with it. Lazy, fat Americans going to McDonalds instead of trying a country’s local food items is often a picture that is painted. People wonder “Why go abroad?” if you are just going to eat at the same places you did at home.
However on the other side of the coin is the argument that there is something comforting in knowing what to expect and having something familiar. This is how I found myself in a McDonald’s in Luxor on one very hot day in…
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Photo of the Week – Sinai Egypt
May 13, 2010 by Sherry Ott
Color Canyon Hike in the Sinai Region of Egypt
The wind had formed the sandstone of Color Canyon in Sinai Egypt is a memorable hike. The canyon floor ‘trail’ was sometimes wide and sometimes very, very narrow. As you walked through the canyon and followed the path of the wind, you saw the various colorful rocks weaving through the sandstone as if it were a Paint –n-Swirl work of art. The canyon got so narrow at one point that we had to crawl through a small opening blocked by a boulder.
Read further about adventurous travel through the Sinai Region at Ottsworld!
If you want to view more photography this Friday – check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby
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Egypt’s Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Sites
June 16, 2009 by Erin Kiskis
1. Marsa Alam: Marsa Alam does host a lot of Italian, Spanish, and Russian tourists by charter flight who come to sit at the resorts. But there is so much more to Marsa Alam – beautiful tent camps, opportunities to swim with dolphins, live-aboard diving opportunities, desert treks and jeep safaris to visit the indigenous people of the area.
Photo Courtesy of flickr: Youssef Abdelaal
2. Lake Nasser: Most people only see Lake Nasser from a bus window on a 3-hour ride from Aswan to Abu Simbel. Why not spend a few nights on the lake itself on a specially designed boat that can fit into every inlet. A full staff accompanies each boat, including a guide and chef. Visiting secluded temples, trekking through the dunes, and fishing are all part of the experience.
Photo Courtesy of Backpacker Concierge
3. Gilf Kebir: To think people used to live out here. Gilf Kebir is home to endless expanses of untouched desert, cave drawings, and rocky outcroppings – perfect for the desert adventurer. It’s a multi-day journey from Dakhla and requires a convoy of jeeps to carry supplies and GPS…
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