Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A Basic Travel Guide To Cairo, Egypt

By Kelly Bean


Cairo is a city steeped in history. For centuries, Cairo was passed as a territory from empire to empire. It is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of the Middle East" for its beautiful riverside views and stunning architecture.For travelers looking to adventure in Cairo, follow this guide for some great tips on planning your trip and being safe along the way.Being an urban center, Cairo is one of the busiest and most densely-populated cities on Earth. Traditional Egyptian culture and modern influence from the West are evident here, and vary from district to district.Midan Tahrir. This is the center of Cairo. This nexus area links up to about every single district in the city. It also hosts the world-famous Egyptian Museum, where King Tutankhamen and other pharaohs and their possessions are featured.

Many Western styled restaurants can be found in this district, including some popular world chains like McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendys. Hotels around this area tend to be in the upper price ranges, so it would be advisable to find a cheaper alternative unless you have a lot of money to spare.Midan RamsesCairo's transportation district, it is the gateway to railroads, air fields, and shuttle services. Many popular retailers have set up shop in the Midan Ramses over the last couple of years, so it would be a good place to go if you want to find a local cell phone, store-bought souvenirs, or medication.

Giza

The Giza district is on the western half of Cairo. It features a wide variety of interesting shops and restaurants, located closely to the Pyramids of Giza, which are a couple of kilometers outside of the area. Several highways link up with greater Cairo and provide easy access to the center of the city.

Islamic Cairo

Perhaps the most historic district of the city, Islamic Cairo has a central bazaar called the Khan el Khalili. Medieval architecture and Turkish influence is notable here. Many historic sites make Islamic Cairo one of the greatest attractions of the entire metropolitan area.

Safety Advisories

It is important to be safe while traveling in a foreign country. While Egypt is arguably the least dangerous place in Africa to travel, there have still been major plots by Islamic fundamentalists against foreigners and tourists since the 1970's. It is important not to wander into strange districts or cities outside of Cairo without knowledge of the area from a travel agent or tour guide. Many areas are still closed off to foreigners and tourists because of past violence by fundamentalists and zealots.Make sure that you avoid any kinds of pudding, cold or wet vegetables, and tap water as a foreigner. The locals have built up a resistance to the microbes in these dishes, but foreigners could at least get an upset stomach or diarrhea from consuming these types of foods.

It is advisable to pack medicine ahead of time, or at least to purchase medicine from a local Egyptian drug store in Cairo. Entocid and Atinol should help with most common stomach problems.Nearby are the Cleopatra Hospital and Dar El Fouad Hospital in Cairo, both of which have English-speaking staff members who will care for tourists if they come down with a sudden illness.A Basic Travel Manual To Cairo, Egypt

Cairo is a city steeped in history. For centuries, Cairo was passed as a territory from empire to empire. It is oftentimes known as the "Venice of the Middle East" for its stunning riverside views and stunning architecture.For vacationers seeking to adventure in Cairo, follow this guide for a few great tips on preparing your trip and being safe along the way.Being an urban center, Cairo is one of the busiest and most densely-populated cities on Earth. Traditional Egyptian culture and contemporary influence from the West are evident here, and differ from district to district.

Midan Tahrir.

This is the center of Cairo. This nexus area links up to about each and every district in the city. It also hosts the world-famous Egyptian Museum, where King Tutankhamen along with other pharaohs and their possessions are featured.

Many Western styled restaurants could be discovered in this district, including some well-known globe chains like McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendys. Hotels around this region tend to be in the upper price ranges, so it might be recommended to find a cheaper alternative unless you've lots of cash to spare.

Midan Ramses

Cairo's transportation district, it is the gateway to railroads, air fields, and shuttle services. Many common stores have set up store in the Midan Ramses over the last couple of years, so it might be a good place to go if you would like to find a local cell phone, store-bought souvenirs, or medicine.

Giza

The Giza district is on the western half of Cairo. It features a broad selection of interesting stores and restaurants, located closely to the Pyramids of Giza, that are a few kilometers outside of the region. A number of highways link up with greater Cairo and offer easy access to the center of the city.

Islamic Cairo

Perhaps the most historical district of the city, Islamic Cairo includes a central bazaar called the Khan el Khalili. Medieval architecture and Turkish influence is notable here. Many historical sites make Islamic Cairo among the greatest attractions of the whole metropolitan region.

Safety Advisories

It's essential to be secure whilst vacationing in a foreign country. Whilst Egypt is arguably the least dangerous place in Africa to travel, there have nonetheless been major plots by Islamic fundamentalists against foreigners and visitors since the 1970's. It is important not to amble into unusual districts or cities outside of Cairo without knowledge of the area from a travel agent or tour guide. Many areas are nonetheless closed off to foreigners and visitors because of past violence by fundamentalists and zealots.Make certain that you avoid any types of pudding, cold or wet vegetables, and tap water as a foreigner. The locals have built up a resistance to the microbes in these dishes, but foreigners could at least get an upset stomach or diarrhea from eating these types of meals.

It's recommended to pack medicine ahead of time, or at least to buy medication from a nearby Egyptian drug shop in Cairo. Entocid and Atinol should help with most common stomach problems.Nearby are the Cleopatra Hospital and Dar El Fouad Hospital in Cairo, both of which have English-speaking staff members who will care for tourists if they come down with a surprising sickness.






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