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Adel Murad
Egypt for Children is Wonderland
Many would-be tourists, traveling with children,
wonder whether their own trip of a lifetime would appeal to the
young. Would the Nile cruise, the pyramids, the Cairo museum and
the zoo be a good substitute for Playstations and computer games?
The answer can only be a resounding "yes!" as provided
by those who have visited Egypt with their children, and were so
pleased with the whole experience.
Several years ago, I took my two young children,
a girl and a boy, to Cairo. They still remember their adventures
and cherish their photographs laughing by the pyramids. They
enjoyed the simple things in Cairo: the baby animals in the zoo,
the swings in the park, the gold of King Tut in the museum and an
Egyptian neighbor 's wedding that they were invited to attend.
They remember most of all how people loved them and spoilt them so
much to the point of teasing them.
Other travelers who went to Egypt more recently
with their children may look at the experience more seriously as a
learning experience; and it is - in every sense. The German
novelist Herman Hesse once said that education should be breathed
in, not won in dull toil. Children may not ask many questions
about the Old Kingdom but they would listen and observe more than
the adults; they also absorb the kind of knowledge that comes only
from experience. Their experience in Egypt will last them a
lifetime.
There are many attractions geared for children,
which may need a little research, such as Dr. Ragab's Pharaonic
Village, which gives a glimpse of what life used to be 5,000 years
ago. The live action atmosphere, with its village scenes and
actors in period dress, suits children more than still museums.
Other pleasures may come as a surprise to
parents, the bustle of the Cairo streets, the noise of the souqs,
and a walk in the sand. They would also love the stories of
ancient Egypt, of gods and kings, myth and discovery, and ancient
visitors who came to Egypt as tourists. They are attracted to the
genius of simplicity in the ancient Egyptian inscriptions.
And they can also have their balloons and ice
cream and a dip in the swimming pool. Egypt for kids is history's
greatest theme park.
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Gold Medal Win for Egyptian
Tourism
Egypt took part in the Milan International
Tourist Fair, held in February 2001 in the Italian Renaissance
city, with a delegation of 40 companies, headed by the Minister of
Tourism Dr. Mamdouh El Beltagy. The Minister received a gold medal
from the organizers for his efforts in promoting Egyptian tourism
and for developing Egyptian - Italian tourist exchange. This is
the first time ever that the organizers decided to give the gold
medal to an individual rather than to a participating company.
Among the more than 5,800 companies from 140
countries the Egyptian participation was a focal point of
attention. Italy now stands second in the European league of
tourists to Egypt with 750,000 tourists last year. Germany is
still first. Italy is also the third largest investor in Egyptian
tourism.
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When Egypt Was The Fashion in
Rome
More information has emerged about the proposed
exhibition at the British Museum entitled "Cleopatra of
Egypt: From History to Myth". It is now confirmed that the
dates will be from April 12 to August 26, at the Joseph Hotung
Great Court Gallery. There is an admission charge to be set later.
The exhibition will include many new finds from
Alexandria from recent excavations which provide a picture of life
in the royal capital. The exhibits will reveal the impact of
Alexandrian culture on the wealthier inhabitants of the Bay of
Naples and upon Rome itself, where Cleopatra held court for nearly
two years during Caesar's rule.
Cleopatra's life ended in 30 BC when she
committed suicide rather than submit to the invading army of
Octavian.
Egyptian Proverbs:
"Il Gamal Gamal Il Rouh "
Beauty is that of the soul. |
