Aude wrote: > I have been in Egypt for over a month now, living in Cairo, as a > student. Since arriving, I have traveled around the country, including > Sinai, Alexandria, and will be in Luxor this weekend. With people > arriving soon for Wikimania, I'd like to take the opportunity to share > advice and experiences as a female. > > Language - > > English is widely spoken in Egypt, and you will get by just fine if you > don't know any words in Arabic. Though it's good to know a few basics > in Arabic: "shukran" - thank you; "aywa" - yes; "la" - no; "la shukran" > - no thanks; "kwayis" - okay, good; "low samaht" - please, excuse me; > "asif" - sorry (said by a male)/"asifa" (said by female); "hina kwayis" > - here is good (useful in a taxi for saying where to stop); "mish fahim" > - I don't understand; "betikkallim ingleezee" - do you speak English? > > Arriving- > > I found it unusual when arriving in Cairo, when we had to walk down > stairs (out of a jumbo-size Boeing 767) and onto the tarmac. We road a > shuttle bus from there to the airport terminal. Go ahead and exchange > some money in the airport - best to do before going through customs. > Getting through customs and immigration was quick and easy for me, > though I obtained my visa in advance. > > Safety - > > * I feel extremely safe here -- safer than I do back in the U.S. Crime > is not much of a problem at all. Also, there is a strong police > presence everywhere. In Sinai and other places, there are checkpoints > on the highways. Most of the time, our tour groups have been completely > on our own, but we had police accompany us a few times. > > * There is some harassment on the streets, but it's mainly words. > Knowing a few things in Arabic helps (e.g. "la shukran"). It helps to > walk in groups, but I have walked around my neighborhood and other > places on my own without problems. > > * For the most part, Egyptians are very welcoming, especially with > tourism so important to the economy here. I even have some friends here > who are Jewish, who are getting along fine here. > > Getting around - > > * The biggest difference between the U.S. and Egypt (and elsewhere in > the Middle East) is that traffic lights are pretty much lacking here. > In a few spots, there are traffic lights and/or police controlling > traffic. To cross the street, it's like playing the video game > "Frogger", hurrying across the street when there is a small break in > traffic. Also, when riding in a taxi, the taxi driver may go quite fast > and it takes getting use to the manner that they drive. > > What to wear - > > * I brought lightweight long/half-sleeve blouses, pants (linen or other > lightweight material), and long skirts. At the last minute, I tossed a > t-shirt in my luggage before I left the US. I'm so very glad that I > brought a t-shirt, and really wish I brought more short sleeve tops. In > the area of Cairo where I live (Zamalek), as well as around the > university and many other areas, it is acceptable to wear short > sleeves. Same goes for Alexandria (Bibliotheca and other areas), which > is located along the waterfront. > > * If you are going to see the pyramids in Giza or other such sites, > anything goes for clothing. It's not a problem to for women to wear a > tank top/or t-shirt and shorts. Such attire was also absolute > acceptable when I was in Sharm el-Sheikh (in Sinai) and in similar > locations. > > * For all places, sandals are completely acceptable for women. You will > even see women covered in hijabs who are wearing sandals. > > Shopping - > > * In Khan al-Khalili (Cairo) and other markets, the vendors are > aggressive in wanting you to come into their shop and buy. As well, the > crowds at the markets can be overwhelming. > > * Bargaining - The prices that vendors tell you are way overpriced and > you need to bargain. For example, they may want 50 LE (khamseen) for a > scarf, but you can get it for 10 LE (ashrun) or not more than 20 LE > (ashreen). To get out of bargaining and move along, you can say "hagee > tania" which means "I'll come back another time". Pretty much all the > vendors will know some English, but a little bit of Arabic can help. > > * Khan al-Khalili is located in Islamic Cairo section of the city, which > is more conservative. It's good advice to dress more conservatively > when going shopping. To visit Al-Azhar Mosque, women should also wear a > scarf. > > Despite having to put up with all this, it is definitely well worth it > to visit Khan al-Khalili or other such places for shopping and souvenirs. > > Taking a taxi - > > * Prices - Taxi is a cheap and easy way to get around. It's one flat > price, no matter how many people are riding in the taxi. There are no > meters. You set the price, and it should be fair for the driver. If > you don't know what the fare should be for a particular destination, > then you should ask someone (hotel concierge, staff at the dorms, at > Bibliotheca, etc.) what's a reasonable price. 5 LE is a fair price for > a ride from Bibliotheca to the downtown area in Alexandria, since it's > not far. I don't remember for sure exactly how far the dorms are, but I > think 5-6 LE is reasonable, since I don't think the dorms are far. I > paid 10-12 LE to get from BA to the other end of the corniche in > Alexandria. > > * Getting a taxi - If you are going really far (e.g. downtown Cairo to > the Giza pyramids), then you should agree on a price before getting in a > taxi. For most places (medium and shorter distances), do not discuss > price before getting in. Just say your destination and the driver > should agree to take you. A few times, before or once getting in, the > driver has asked me about price. If that happens, you can say your > price. If they don't agree, then find a different taxi. Really, price > should not come up. > > * Paying the driver - When you arrive, everyone MUST GET OUT before > paying the driver. Once everyone is out, then the person with the money > should give the driver the money through the window. Then everyone > needs to walk away. Most of the time, the driver doesn't argue with > me/us, but sometimes they will make a fuss and demand more. The thing to > do is keep walking away. You gave them a fair, reasonable amount. As a > tourist, maybe you can give the taxi driver a tiny bit more to avoid an > argument. > > * You do not need to tip the driver. Just give them the fare. > > Eating - > > I think most meals are provided at Wikimania, but when you are on your > own... > > * Koshari (dish of macaroni, rice, lentils, and sauce) or tamiyya > (falafel) make a good cheap meal. A falafel sandwich can be had for 1-2 > LE each, and koshari meal w/drink for 7-10 LE. Fast food places (e.g. > McDonalds, Hardees, KFC, Pizza Hut) are available most everywhere, > though these are not cheap meals by Egyptian standards. A meal at > McDonalds will cost ~30 LE ($5-6 USD) or more. A meal at a good > sit-down place (American style cafes, and other types of places) will > cost a bit more, but I think the prices are comparable or slightly > cheaper than in the US. > > * I been fine eating the food here, though felt slightly ill after > eating salad in my university cafeteria. It might have been the > tomatoes that were not great. I have avoided salad at other places, > though did get salad at McDonalds which was fine. Some caution about > eating raw fruits and vegetables is a good idea. Cheap tamiyya and > koshari have all been fine. > > * Alcohol is not difficult to find in Egypt. Stella and Sakara are > brands of beer that are available here. There are plenty of bars and > clubs around, as well a hotel bar is a definite place to find alcohol. > > * Restaurants will include a service charge directly on your bill, but > you should also leave a tip. > > Bathrooms - > > * Western-style toilets are available pretty much most places, though > some places (e.g. Islamic Cairo), you might find a squat-style toilet. > When I arrived at the airport in Cairo, I had some difficulty figuring > out how to flush the toilet. There is a knob on the toilet lid that you > pull out and then push back in when finished with flushing. Some > toilets just have a button to push. > > * It's a good idea to carry some toilet paper or tissue with you. > Toilet paper is usually available most places I have been, but not > always. In some places, there is a staff person manning the bathrooms, > who will give you toilet paper for bashish (tip). In some places (e.g. > rest houses/stops on the highway), you will need to pay 1 LE or another > amount to use the bathroom facilities. In places like McDonalds and > other restaurants, as well as hotels, and certainly places like > Bibliotheca, you don't pay to use the bathroom and they have toilet paper. > > Sightseeing - > > I have been to the Pyramids in Giza, Sakkara, to Alexandria, to Sinai > (St. Katherine's and Sharm el-Sheikh) and will be in Luxor this weekend. > I don't have a lot of spare time to organize these better, but I have > quite a few pictures now posted on Flickr of Alexandria and other places > in Egypt: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmf164/ Let me know if you want > sightseeing suggestions or advice. > > Questions - > > http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aude - I have posted all > this on my Wikimania user page. Please feel free to ask questions. I'm > sure I missed mentioning some things. > > -Aude > > -- > Aude >
Aude, That SUPER useful. And already printed... I was trying to gather clothes today and wondering between short and long sleeves... and looking at my sandals with perplexity. Taxi rates are a top idea as well. Thanks a lot Ant _______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
