A Survival Guide to Egypt

Don't believe everything the travel guides tell you, being there is truly different from what I read about it. If anyone is ever going, I will be more than happy to tell you as much info as you want.

IN GENERAL

~ Whatever it is, you will get used to it. Arabic music, prayer call, horns honking, all of it.

~ Despite what you may hear, you do not need to keep your head covered, wear long pants or skirts, or long sleeves. Just don't show too much skin. Sleeveless tops and shorts or a mini skirt would be a no no. Dress conservatively, but comfortably. In Mosques you do need to be covered, however.

~ Single women, you don't need to wear a wedding band to look unattainable, it doesn't matter, believe me.

~ The people are very friendly and will always stop to say "hello" and ask where you are from, not failing to welcome you to Egypt.

~ Smoking is permitted everywhere.

~ Prayer call is done every few hours, at first it is annoying, after a while, it's just a part of life.

~ Wear sunscreen

~ Hot desert sun and beer don't mix.

~ Cairo is a lot like New York City.

DRIVING

~ First off, there are no rules.

~ It is like the horns are attached to the gas petal, constantly honking, it doesn't stop.

~ Lanes don't matter, there are three lanes of highway and five lanes of vehicles, drivers can actually reach out and touch each other. They squeeze through the tiniest place they can, but yet, no road rage.

~ People walk anywhere, and cross streets randomly, cars come so close to you, you feel they will run over your toes. There is not enough sidewalk space and you do have to walk on the street.

~ Taxi drivers will kick out locals to pick up a foreigner (of course we said 'no').

~ Taxi drivers will not pick you up if they are not going in the direction you are going.

~ "Pimp my taxi" became a phrase of ours, they have black lights and all the other little 'pimped' gadgets that the ricers have.

~ Most taxi drivers are very friendly and like to chat.

MEN

~ They love the white woman!

~ Most are very friendly, gentlemen, very clean, good manners, and will go out of their way to protect you.

~ They are "good boys" in public, but very affectionate at home.

~ They are very open about feelings and such.

~ Like to make sure you eat.

~ Good senses of humour. Big open laughs.

~ When they want something, they will keep trying until they get it.

SHOPPING AND VISITING ATTRACTIONS

~ Vendors will be always in your face, learn to say 'no'.

~ Sellers will walk up to you and give you 'gifts', but then expect a "small baksheesh", learn to say 'no'.

~ Don't look anyone in the eye.

~ Don't seem interested in anything.

~ Haggeling over prices is the norm, it will sound like arguing to an outsider and can get very dramatic.

~ Most importantly, learn to say 'no'!!!

~ Visitors pay more to get into attractions than an Egyptian.

~ If you are going to visit someone, call the embassy and enquire about a 'friendship card'. Apparently there is difficulty for an Egyptian to tour a visitor around, they need to be a 'legal' tour guide or have proof of friendship. Definitely enquire to save trouble.

FOOD

~ All food is very tasty, especially veggies, the nutrients from The Nile are responsible for this.

~ There is a high variety of food.

~ Everything is very healthy.

~ Egyptians love to eat.

~ Everything delivers, grocery store, all fast food, even the coffee shops.

BATHROOMS

~ BYOTP Make sure to always have some sort of tissues with you. You walk into a bathroom and get handed TP by an attendant, they take the roll, go around three times, rip it off, and hand it to you. That's all you get. (This really sucks after a bout of food poisoning).

~ That little hose beside the toilet, it's to wash your butt after a crap, nope didn't try it, have no regrets about that either.

~ There will be someone in the bathroom to hand you TP, turn on the tap for you, squeeze the soap for you, and hand you a drying towel, and yes, they expect Baksheesh.

~ Squat toilet? WTF is a squat toilet, did't see a single one!

~ The thing about the right hand being clean and the left hand being dirty (ie used to wipe the butt) is not true. Egyptians are very modern and very, very clean, always washing hands and faces, and no odor (no curry), in fact they smell kinda good.