al-Qāhirah (Cairo)

In Cairo, you can live cheaply or live very cheaply.

The language is Arabic, the dialect is Egyptian. In Cairo, many people can manage a few English words, and few are fluent in English.

It’s not a pure Arab experience, it has had so many identities and influences in the past that it feels quite “hybrid” in Cairo. This is not surprising, since Cairo is one of Africa’s largest and most populated cities.

The people are incredibly beautiful, the energy palpable.
Tradition lives side by side aspiration.
Almost everybody smokes, I assume lung cancer is common.

Ah yes, the tourism. It’s good.

Cairo was one of my favorite places in the world.

As my taxi driver told me when I arrived, “Cairo is crazy!”

The traffic is crazy.

Many of the people are crazy (where aren’t they though?).

It’s a very dirty city (lots of trash), and it’s very poor.

But what an exciting place!

The people are nice… especially because they want your money. Everybody will treat you very graciously. Although I believe most are genuinely friendly people, you can tell that a lot of them just want money.

Any why not give it to them? After all, just a few bucks can really make somebody happy there.

My favorite place in Cairo was the Cairo Jazz club. It is a very ecclectic place with a wonderful ambience. The band that was playing was one of the most unique bands I’ve ever heard. The people there were welcoming and very interesting (mostly foreign exchange students from Europe on the night I wen there). I made some very nice friends and I wish I could have spent more time in Egpt to get to know them better.

Of course, the PYRAMIDS were amazing! What a magical feeling when I first saw them lit up at night. The only time I’ve felt something similar was when I saw Acropolis lit up at night for the first time. So magical, so familiar. The pyramids are the most amazing things on this planet, so you MUST see them at least once in your life.

Also, if you talk to the right people, you can climb up the smaller pyramids for $10-$20 or so. If you’re willing to pay $500 to $1000 you can even climb up the Great Pyramid first thing in the morning. But you have to: 1) talk to the right people (and don’t be so overt about it in case you dont find the right person the first time) and 2) be ready to negotiate.

Remember, the cost of living is very low there (so is the standard of living though LOL), so $20 goes a LONG way. I had a taxi driver for four days. He was waiting for me every day when I woke up. He waited for me everywhere we went. He showed me the best places. He tried to get me to spend money at his friend’s stores to get his kick-back (99% of Egyptians are natural-born hustlers). He showed me all the safe places to eat. He was an awesome host and almost like my personal butler for the trip. Anyhow, at the end of the trip, he asked for only $40!!! Of course, I was grateful for his help and gave him more, but it just shows that a little money can go a long way there.

Of course, the locals will sense you are a tourist and they’ll try to charge you “normal” prices. For example, when you get a taxi at the airport, never take the first price you get. Ask the first taxi driver for a price to your hotel. He’ll say, ”$100” very confidently. Say thanks and go to the next one. He’ll say ”$70”. By then the rest of the drivers will have spotted you like a pack of hyeenas and you’ll be crowded around with screams of offers as low as $10.

A taxi drive of 10 to 15 minutes shouln’t cost more than a few US dollars.

When you’re in the bazaars, be ready to negotiate even harder. Don’t give over your money unless you AT LEAST got 50% off!

If you want more travel stories, videos, pics and tips, my friend and I are going to be sailing around the world (starting with several months in the Caribbean)... check out our blog at www.2guys1boat.com/blog We are going to be creating video episodes at each location we go to, and we are going to be focusing on the people in those places. It’s just getting started but it’s going to be really cool

Egypt, where the grandeur of ancient vastly outshines the frustration of modern. Like most tourists to Egypt, I was drawn to the Pyramids and the Pharaohs. Some 5,000 years ago, the first empire emerged in the Nile river valley, and from that great empire some of the world’s greatest advances emerged: writing, paper, permanent stone monuments. But alas, present day Egypt is overcrowded, polluted and frustrating. continue: http://blog.730steps.com/egypt-tips-and-impression.html

This city is absolutely wonderful! Everyone we met was incredibly nice. The city is an amazing combination of the ancient and the modern. There are so many beautiful places to see! We stayed in Zamalek, which is a lovely neighborhood.

The Art History, mystery, and allure are enough for me.

I think Egypt would be unlike any culture that I have ever traveled to and I am very interested in seeing the pyramids.

I’m a little concerned being an American there – while I like to think I am not a stereotyped ‘typical’ American traveler, I worry a little about being singled out for that. Hopefully I would be safe.

We are considering this trip for our one year anniversary.

I like Cairo so far. I’ve been here for a week now. A couple of days I spent training people at a local company and now I’m doing some site-seeing.

The hospitality is simply amazing! I feel like a guest and that’s how they’re treating me as well. Not having to pay a single thing anywhere (although I tried to insist sometimes), the people here have taken me all kinds of places. I’ve seen large parts of the world, but this hospitality is unbelievable.

I just got back from the pyramids of Giza and yes, it’s true that you have to be careful once you’re up a camel or horse. You can easily pay 150 pounds per horse for an hour. I only paid 25 pounds (euros) per hour per horse, which is pretty reasonable I guess. I must have been because I came with a local guy.

Tomorrow, I’ll be visiting the museum, which is amazing too, from what I’ve heard.

I’m staying in the Sheraton, which (so far) is really good. I’ve heard good stories about the Palatial Marriott and the Grand Hyatt too.

i live here

Cairo القاهرة
al-Qāhirah

Life is Time and some other things..
when we Just think Only one time ! how and when we can make our dreams be real ?..It’s The time for Real Life and happiness.
then difficulty will be interesting.

wishing To you as i do for my slef ;) Great life an real things come true ..

Amged – Cairo,egypt

these are few tips about Cairo, I hope you find them beneficial :)
-Don’t drink from the tap water.
-Don’t eat the street food.
-Fruits are amazing in Egypt, but please wash them very well.
-Don’t believe everything said to you!
-Have a good guide who knows good amount of history.
-Ladies, please dress modestly to prevent any bad looks or harassment.
-Cairo is so much different in winter, more calm and cleaner envirnment, less traffic, less pollution. if you can, book your trip “not in the summer”.

have fun and enjoy your time :)

I was only six years old when I visited Egypt with my parents and my Brother so my memories are a little hazy as I am now 25 years old!
What I do remember is how exotic and mysterious Egypt seemed, the vibrant colours, tantalising smells and unfamiliar language meant the whole trip was like a magic carpet ride.
I recall the amazing Bazaars, the scent of incense burning and the delicious felafel we purchased from a stall then ate in the street.
The concept of fast food was truly credible there as no sooner had we asked for the felafel than they were ready!
Visiting the pyramids and sphinx at Giza was amazing and I sat on the back of a camel but I did not ride on it because I was too small.
We stayed at two different places during our holiday, Cairo and Luxor. The hotel in Cairo had a swimming pool so that was my favourite and Cairo seemed daunting in comparison because it was so noisy and busy.
We rode a faluka boat down the Nile and ate on a floating restaurant. My family tried traditional Egyptian meals but I stuck to a hamburger and chips!
It was a beautiful, diverse place and I would love to visit again as an adult.