TOP TIPS:
- Use Emo Tours website for good deals
- Use GETYOURGUIDE APP for tour deals
- Don't forget sunscreen
- Avoid leaving the hotel with too much cash
- Cairo: Pyramids and Museum a must
- Luxor: Valley of Kings and Karnak Temple a must
Our one year anniversary was coincidentally at the same time as our Turkey trip which became the perfect serendipity. Our second had to be just as special so what better way to celebrate it than going to Egypt, where M has been wanting to go since she was a child.
After a 3 hours flight, we arrived at Cairo International Airport. B got his visa a month in advance from the Egyptian Embassy and M got visa on arrival for $25USD, We stepped outside of the airport to a dozen Limousine Agencies offering their services. We agreed to the first man that approached us without browsing around. He told us that the drive from the airport to our hotel was 40 minutes at a charge of 350 Egyptian pounds. We gave him 400 pounds but he refused to give us back the change saying that the 50 pounds was his tip. M got out of the car and demanded the change back otherwise we wouldn't take their services. B handled the situation and alas got only 30 pounds back after a few attempts. We read online that locals will rip money out of you without the slightest integrity but we didn't know it would be this bad, and trust us! this was just the beginning.
We arrived to Cleopatra Hotel located near Tahrir Square, where the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak had taken place. We saw the incident on news channels and now we were walking the streets of thousands killed during those protests.
The receptionist was rather uptight while reviewing our details and gave a slight smile when handing us the key card. Our room on the ninth floor was nice but the furniture was very old-fashioned.
We went out to eat KFC which was a five minutes walk from the hotel. On our way back, we saw a small accident between a middle-aged driver and a teenager. The teenager was being scolded for the mishap and was held by the neck as he was shown the damages he had caused. It was quite an intense scene but no one from the entire crowd that gathered helped the young boy loose from the middle-aged man's tight grip.
Day 2: Nile Dinner Cruise
We barely got any sleep because of the loud honking continuing until 4am. At 9am we went to eat breakfast downstairs before going outside for a little exploration. There were very few selections and all the breads/pastries looked and tasted stale. The milk was salty so we assume it was of a camel. During the 2 hours walk in the heat, we got thirsty so we bought water from a street shop for 30 pounds, only to find out later on that it was actually for 7 pounds. Of course, tourists can be detected easily but that doesn't mean you looting them.
We came home and got dressed for our Nile Cruise Date!
We bought our tickets on GETYOURGUIDE APP for 205sar. Our tour guide, Mohammad that chaperoned us to and from the boat cruise was just awesome. He got us the best seats facing the Nile, helped us in the buffet line to get food and was a great company to be around. Now, he deserved the tip for all his help!
There were three kinds of entertainment on the cruise including, a belly dancer from Russia, an Egyptian singer and a Tanoura dance.
Day 3: Cairo Tour
Our tour guide Ibrahim, was already waiting for us when we went downstairs to the lobby at 8am. We bought the tickets on the EMO website for 455sar. He gave us a complimentary bag of snacks filled with water bottles, juice boxes and chips. The heat on this day was insane. Try to keep an umbrella or a mini plastic/electric fan for a light breeze under the scorching sun.
Seeing the 45 meters tall Pyramids closeup was a moment of disbelief. We've read about them in history class or watched movies but to stand on top of them and visit the inside was the greatest feeling.
The Egyptian Museum was amazing. There was so many artifices, that Ibrahim told us it would take about 2 years to see each one in the building. We were shown the main findings and explained the importance of the scriptures written on stones and slabs.
Before returning home, we went to the Khan el Khalili open market for a 30 minutes shopping spree where we found the magnet. It's surprising to know how many languages the vendors can speak to sell things in their shops.
Day 4: Internal Flight to Luxor
We took a one hour flight to Luxor City. Again, we stepped outside to numerous taxi drivers all shouting to take their service. We paid 200 Egyptian pounds for a 13 minutes drive from the airport to Aracan Eatabe Hotel. The lobby was beautiful and the staff members were really friendly. We arrived at 9am and the check in time was at 2pm but the receptionist gave us a room within an hour of our arrival. The room was nice and open with a small balcony partially facing the Nile.
One of the inconvenient factors about this hotel was that the wifi was only available in the lobby. Everytime B had to check his email from work or M had to post things, we went downstairs to use the wifi which was also really slow. We got some rest and then went out to explore the city which was difficult because men sitting on horse carriages don't leave you alone, walking by your side offering to sit with them for only 5 pounds. One horse carriage left, the next would show up. We hardly got to enjoy the scenery due to the high level of interference. We took a few wrong turns to avoid this annoyance, but ended up walking for almost 3 hours trying to find our way back.
Finally, we bought two fudgsicles and stood to watch the Nile at sunset, but another boat worker came offering his services refusing to give us time alone. We returned to the hotel tired and hungry. For dinner we ordered room service and to our surprise, the spaghetti bolognese was one the best meals we've ever had!
Day 5: Luxor Tour
Our tour guide, Sama was right on time after we finished eating a few fruits and an omelette from the breakfast buffet. We had bought our tickets using EMO website again for 498sar. She had tremendous knowledge about the history and language of the Ancient Egyptians. We were first taken to Valley of the Kings which was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. There were 62 tombs but we had the chance to visit three. Pictures weren't allowed inside and if you were caught taking any, it was a 300 pounds fine.
Next stop was the palace of Queen Hatsheput, the first female pharaoh to rule Ancient Egypt for 15 years. Her story is powerful and an incitement to break a few rules to make a name for yourself. We had lunch at a local restaurant before going to our final stop, The Karnak Temple.
Spreading over 250 acres of land, it is the largest religious construction built in the world. The Great Hypostyle Hall consisting of 134 papyrus columns were designed to worship the God, Amun for for harvest and earth's fertility.
Sama saw our interest in the Cartouche scriptures so she encouraged that we get both of our own names designed as well. We were so intrigued at the moment that we got them made.
Day 6: Flight Delayed
We got some sleep before going to the airport to catch our 7;25am flight back to Cairo. We arrived at 4am and sat there observing the waiting room being cramped with passengers but flights weren't departing. There was an announcement that due to the sandstorm a night before, the visibility was not clear and all flights were cancelled for the next 16 hours. We had a flight that same day at 11am to Riyadh. There was no wifi at the airport so we called a friend to give us the number of the airline to change our flight time. We explained the situation, but unfortunately, they couldn't extend the hours nor give us a refund.
We got a free room for the day at Achi Resort to compensate for time and money lost. We arrived in Cairo 20 hours later, then bought two new plane tickets to Riyadh for the same day. It was a frustrating experience because in all of this, men were dressed in airport uniforms trying to help you put your suitcases on the belt and then saying give us tips. We suggest if you take an internal flight between the cities, make sure you have at least a day gap to catch your current flight home.
Overall, it was great trip! Like always, each trip we make, something unexpectedly happens which makes it a good story to tell.