John

Egypt was were I finally got the hang of backpacking. It’s been 15 years but I doubt it has changed much. Cairo is a wonderful nightmare for the senses with cheap hotels and street markets, pushy vendors and honking traffic, spices and donkey dung. If you hate to be touched stay away from Egypt, as they can be a boisterous energetic people. I’m not sure about safety post 9/11.

Southern Egypt has a much slower pace and is lots of fun. A fellucca ride down the Nile is a must as is Luxor and the various ancient tombs and artifacts. Nothing is very well kept in Egypt, including priceless antiquities, but the people make up for it. Sometimes using public transportation can feel like a risk to life and limb.

If you like a bit of adventure but not something too far off the beaten track, Egypt is a wonderful stop.

The coast is quite touristy and post-colonial with a French twist. It’s cheap and easy for Euros to get to, so that is generally who you find there: tourists on a weekend lark. The Sahara on the other hand is quite amazing in a stark, extreme way. I went to a small oasis town which was a sudden green bloom in the middle of the desert, with tall trees and jungly bush. I first hear Rai music there (a la Khaled) and have loved it ever since.

Overall Tunisia is cheap and accessible but not exciting. The standard of living is quite high (for the region.)

Not sure what it’s like now, but it was a wonderful place to grow up in the 1970s. I remember the beaches and folk dancing in Stanley Park. It was kinda hippy back then, which was great for my creativity and playfulness.