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Egypt – Not Just A
Vacation, It’s The Trip Of A Lifetime!
By: Paul Groffie
Argument aside, there is a difference between a vacation
and the trip of a lifetime. According to the Merriam
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary a vacation is
defined as "a period spent away from home or business
in travel or recreation." A trip is simply
defined "to make a journey."
In my opinion, there is no greater journey that could be
made than a trip to Egypt.
If you asked me just a few years ago what my thoughts of
Egypt were, I would have told you, The Pyramids, King Tut
and The Nile River. That was the extent of my
"knowledge" on Egypt. Then something special
happened just two years ago – as I was reading a brochure
about an African Safari; it mentioned a side trip to Egypt.
Next thing I knew, I was totally enthralled with the thought
of visiting Egypt. It consumed my every thought and just a
few short weeks later I made the decision to go. I invited
my Parents and before I knew it I was on the phone making
reservations with Egypt
Tours & Travel for our wonderful journey!
My sudden enthusiasm for Egypt may have sounded bizarre
and it quite possibly could have been, but as it is often
said "things tend to happen for a reason." Just by
reading that brochure on Africa, I was meant to fall in love
with Egypt and everything the country has to offer!
From the time I made our reservations I was very eager to
learn everything I could about Egypt. I watched every show
that was on the television, I purchased videos, and read
just about every conceivable book I could about this amazing
place. I made the decision to be an educated visitor and was
willing to learn as much as possible before the trip. This
trip was going to be the trip of a lifetime! Why all the
preparation? I felt that building a simple foundation on
everything concerning Egypt would make the trip that much
more enjoyable and the knowledge I would obtain while
sightseeing would be increased.
How did I prepare? Simple, I sat at my computer on this
very web site and I began filling a notebook full of
information on all of the possible sites that I felt my
Parents and I could see while we were there. I included much
of the information you will see on our web site along with
maps, pictures and other notes that I jotted down from my
research. Our web site has so much information that you
could not possibly go wrong by starting here.
Please understand, I am not suggesting that you do this
much research but I would ask you to gather as much
information as you possibly could because your trip of a
lifetime will be that much more enjoyable!
As you prepare for your trip to Egypt, there are
basically five distinct categories you should learn about:
The Egyptian
People
Why should you learn about the Egyptian people? In
all honesty, it is because they are amazing. There is
a simple beauty in the people that words can not properly
express. You see it in their smiles, in the clothing they
wear, and in their homes and businesses. The Egyptian’s
that we were so happy to come in contact with were
incredibly kind, very caring and genuinely concerned for us.
I have made friends that will last a lifetime.
One word of advice, it is very important that you respect
the Egyptian people’s religious and social beliefs while
you are visiting. What occurs in other countries throughout
the world may or may not occur in Egypt.
Travel
When preparing for your journey, please research
everything you can on travel. There are several key areas
that should be considered. They are air
travel, automobiles, train,
and cruise ships.
Traveling through Egypt can be accomplished using any of
the ways mentioned above but understand that certain areas
of Egypt are easier or more accessible than other areas.
Depending on your time constraints for example, driving to
Alexandria from Cairo is very straightforward and only 3
hours away. But Luxor is easier to reach if you fly or take
a train.
There are many very good travel books that will be useful
in your planning. This web site alone touches on all of
these areas and should be used to make planning your trip
that much easier! REMEMBER - you may also post your
questions on our Web Board where our loyal readers will be
happy to give you a hand. You may also make a new friend!
Air Travel
There are several airlines with flights to Egypt
throughout the world. One of the most popular in the United
States and within Egypt is EgyptAir. EgyptAir flights are
comfortable and the flight staff is very kind and courteous.
You may obtain information on this airline by clicking EgyptAir
or by going to our web site for additional information.
Automobile Travel
Driving a car in Egypt is so very different than in the
USA for example. The famous motto, "If you can drive in
New York City, you can drive anywhere!" no longer holds
the same meaning to my Parents or me. Our new motto is
"If you can drive in Cairo, driving in New York City
will be a breeze!" Cairo has one of the world’s
largest populations and it seems that there are that many
cars on the road! Not to mention the donkeys and oxen that
you will see walking along side the road! Driving in Egypt
generally takes on a special significance to visitors after
their first trip. When I returned home to New Jersey, I
could still hear the horns honking and picture the
headlights flashing in my sleep. (Throughout Egypt, drivers
talk to each other by using their horns and headlights to
pass each other.)
Train Travel
Traveling by train in Egypt is exciting, especially on
the sleeper trains. Go to sleep in one amazing city and wake
up in another. It is an alternative to flying although the
costs may be similar depending on the situation. Information
concerning train travel and the location of train stations
can be found on our web site by clicking here.
Cruise Ship Travel
No matter what anyone could say, there is nothing better
in the world than cruising down The Nile! The beauty you
will see along the way is breathtaking and truly
unforgettable. There are over 70 cruise ships that go up and
down The Nile so there are differences from one ship to the
next but in all honesty, the ship only adds a small amount
to the overall cruise.
Accommodations
You will find that the majority of accommodations in
Egypt are very nice. Wherever you stay, hospitality is one
thing that you will definitely find in all of the hotels
throughout the country. There are hotels available for every
price range. Some hotels are small and quaint while others
are large and elegant. Every good travel book will have this
information.
As an aside, my first night in Egypt was spent at The
Mena House Oberoi Hotel looking directly at the Great
Pyramid! Being able to wake up every morning and look at The
Great Pyramid was truly amazing! Whatever hotel you do stay
in while visiting Egypt will offer something unique but you
can be assured that the hospitality will be second to none.
The Land
Take your time as you drive, fly or cruise throughout the
country. Take time to notice all of the small things, the
beauty of the desert with its’ colorful and ever-changing
sands, the tranquility of the water that makes up The Nile
River and the amazing farmlands that are so perfectly kept.
If you can drive through the country, take the time to look
at the sugar cane crops, the banana trees and the wildlife.
It is true that the ancient monuments and the thousands
of years of history are what draws many visitors to Egypt
each year but the country itself has so much to offer each
visitor.
The Cities
There is so much to see in Egypt that it should keep you
coming back over and over again. Since there are so many
cities that could be visited, only Cairo, Alexandria and
Luxor will be mentioned here.
Most visitors will begin their journey in the
unbelievable city of Cairo. Most people have five senses:
seeing, touching, tasting, hearing, and smell. Use each and
every one of them as you travel through Cairo. Cairo has
more to offer than anyone could possibly imagine. From
ancient monuments and Mosques, to the Cairo Museum and the
Khan Khalili market place there will continually be
something to interest you.
Alexandria, located three hours to the north of Cairo
offers a view of ancient Egypt totally different than that
from the other cities. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
Alexandria is similar to Cairo in that much of the same
sites (museums, mosques, monuments and shopping areas) are
prevalent. The Greco-Roman Museum gives the visitor a
picture of the Roman period much different than that of the
Egyptian period.
The city of Luxor will offer its visitors many days of
excitement. Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple and the Luxor Museum
are a large part of the city. Take a horse and buggy ride
through the city, especially at night, and the memories you
will experience will last a lifetime. The residents will
wave and smile and make you feel very welcome. My personal
favorite is on the West Bank and the Valley of Kings and
Queens. The serenity of the valleys and the artwork within
the tombs will continually amaze you. After spending a day
in the Valley, you will long to come back over and over
again. Along your way you will see the Colossi of Memnon and
the great Ramesseum. Another amazing site is the Deir El
Bahri (Queen Hatshepsut’s beautiful temple!). Enjoy every
moment!
Ancient History
This is obviously a very difficult subject to properly
address in such a limited space. Please use the references
available at our web site and do as much reading as possible
concerning the areas that you will be. Any time spent
previewing the areas and sites to which you will travel will
prove to be invaluable. Even if you skim over information on
the sites and topics that interest you, you will have a
basis of understanding that could prove invaluable as you
discover Egypt!
It would be very difficult to deny that a trip to Egypt
will be your Trip of a Lifetime. When you
arrive home you will bring back so many memories and you
will continually question "How did they do it?"
Sightseeing in Egypt is not just a vacation; you will think
about her often and wish that you could return – I know I
do – EVERYDAY! As you prepare for your trip please
use all the wonderful resources found on this site and happy
traveling! |
