CHARISMATIC CAIRO | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

‘EGYPT IS DANGEROUS’, THEY SAID.

‘YOU WILL DISAPPEAR’, THEY SAID.

‘THERE IS SO MUCH UNREST THERE,’ THEY SAID.

‘BUT IT’S A MUSLIM COUNTRY,’ THEY SAID.

‘WOW’, I SAID.

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The purpose of this blog post is to share my preparation experience for anyone who wants to visit Cairo, Egypt.
Cairo is like no other city I have ever been to. I highly advise doing a lot of research before you decide to go.
Cairo is not for everyone. If you are looking for a luxurious and stress free destination, you may want to consider somewhere else.
If you have imagined yourself exploring this ancient city, then it is time to do so.
Is Cairo dangerous? No. Did I ever feel unsafe? No. Are there dangerous areas? Of course, like anywhere else.
Were we smart about all of our travel plans and decisions? Hell-to-the-ya.
We hired a guide for the entire time we were there. The best decision we ever made.

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My husband and I decided to finally experience Cairo, Egypt in May, 2018. It was an experience of a lifetime and for me a most humbling one. We prepared ourselves the best we could and my hopes are that I can help you do the same by sharing the information that we gathered and things we learned while we were there.

PREPARING WITH THE BASICS
Traveling abroad is exciting and thrilling! You should always do your homework on the basics of getting there, the destination’s currency & conversion, the language, dress code and specific holidays. There is nothing more disappointing than arriving to find out that it is a holiday that you were unaware of and most stores, restaurants or even transportation are closed or not in service. (General Tip: always keep an ear open before traveling for any specific union strikes where you are headed. That can cause a major headache for your travel plans.) Before I get into the basics, I also advise to constantly check the United States Department of State website for any travel advisories as well as the Official list of embassies for the address of the embassy or consulate at the location you are traveling to.

The most important question:
Is your passport up to date? Make sure that you have more than six months valid on your passport following your travel date or you may run into problems. Don’t wait until last minute or you will be paying a hefty price.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:
We rarely decide to purchase travel insurance but with this trip we did. Travel advisories can change at the drop of a hat these days. We didn’t want to lose any of the money we spent planning this trip so we purchased AIG Travel Guard Insurance that would literally cover anything for around $400 for both of us. Oh, your sick? Covered. Oh, there is a political revolution going down? Covered. All your flights are delayed so you missed your connections? Covered. We didn’t have to worry about any major hiccups during our travels giving us peace of mind.

VACCINES:
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip.
In addition to your usual routine vaccinations, there are two vaccines that are recommended for traveling to Egypt by the CDC: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. You can contract both of these through contaminated food or water. It cost about $200 for both of these vaccines.

• And that is still a yes if you are thinking ‘but I’m staying in a 5 star hotel’. It doesn’t matter and I wouldn’t take the risk. Also, if you are an adventurous eater like my husband and I, you should get the vaccines.
• No one is forcing you to get these vaccines but hey, if you want to possibly have a fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and jaundice that lasts 1-6 months, be my guest.
• Yellow Fever is not in Egypt so don’t let the doctor’s office convince you otherwise unless you want to pay an unnecessary $300. The government of Egypt requiresproof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever.

MONEY:
Speaking of money, the $300 you just saved could buy you 200 camels in Egypt. Just kidding….but seriously, it is one of the most inexpensive places to go right now.
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (LE). The Egyptian Pound has fallen significantly in the past couple years. Towards the end of 2016, the LE crashed at 48% against the U.S. dollar. At the present time (May 2018) the current conversion rate is 17.80 LE to $1.00 US dollar. So 500 LE is about $28 USD.

You can exchange money at the airport or in some hotels in Egypt and of course at ATMs. What I would recommend is exchanging your money at your bank before you travel. My bank needed just a four day notice to order Egyptian Pounds. There was only a $7.50 service charge no matter what the order amount.

VISAS:
You may need a visa for entry to Egypt. If traveling from the USA, you definitely need a visa and it is super easy and inexpensive to get one.

• Before you enter passport control in Cairo you need to go over to the currency exchange counter to obtain your visa. It is $25 USD per person and they actually wanted USD when we were obtaining one. It is a sticker that passport control will peel and stick into your passport and stamp. Al Salam Alaikum, Egypt!

THE LANGUAGE:
Egyptians speak Arabic. My husband and I try our best to learn some polite basics to get around wherever we travel to.

MUSLIM HOLIDAYS:
There are some Muslim holidays that can effect your visit.

• You may find some stores closed on Fridays since Fridays are Muslim holy days.
• We left Cairo right before Ramadan began which lasts for an entire month. Ramadan is seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and this includes fasting – which teaches people how to be more self-disciplined and have empathy for those less fortunate. Fasting takes place from Sunrise to Sunset. Ramadan is determined by the lunar Islamic calendar so just pay attention to specific dates for your travel. Ramadan will more than likely affect the hours of the stores and sites that are open due to the limited hours that Muslims are allowed to work during this time.

CLOTHING:

Egypt is hot. You do not want to be wearing materials that can not breathe! Look for cotton and linen. Adopting the conservative dress code will not only help you cool down but also deflect unwanted attention. You will see shorts, cut-off shirts and crop tops at tourist sites.Bottom line:Don’t be a jerk by disrespecting another culture that you are visiting. They aren’t impressed by your belly button ring or biceps.

• Women should cover their knees, elbows and not wear low-cut necklines or backless dresses/shirts. Men should not wear cut off shirts and if they don’t want to stand out then they shouldn’t wear shorts. My husband and I live in a hot climate most of the year already (not far from Miami, Florida) so I already knew what kind of material to wear but covering up was my issue. Living in Florida, we wear alot of sleeveless dresses and shirts. My trick around sleeveless dresses and shirts was wearing a kimono cover up. They are inexpensive and easy to find on Amazon or Target.
• Lightweight scarves are not only necessary for entering mosques to cover a woman’s head but they are great for covering up shoulders, neck and upper arms. This scarf was a perfect choice with a variety of different colors available as well as this one for men which my husband needed while we were in the desert.
• Simple loose fitting T-Shirts and this cotton shirt fit into the conservative dress code and was super comfortable and cute! My husband wore these linen shirts which were extra comfortable (and handsome on him!)
• If you always have an issue with deodorants (I have my entire life and have tried everything until now!) you must get Schmidt’s Naturals Charcoal + Magnesium all natural deodorant. It is free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrance. And it actually does the job it is supposed to without pumping your pits full of chemicals! This will keep you dry and not let you smell like a camel.
• Maxi dresses and skirts are ideal, loose fitting of course and not see through. They are cute, comfortable and versatile.
• Womens wide leg linen pants and Mens linen pants are so incredibly comfortable and versatile.
• A foldable travel sun hat is a smart item to bring. Don’t let the heat and glare from the sun interrupt your time at any historic site in the desert!
• Closed toed shoes. Cairo is dusty. Not just a little dust here and there. Like cleaning dirt out of your nose and ears kind of dust. I wore a pair of Toms slip ons most of the time and these amazing ankle boots (the boots I wear on all of our trips now!) Walking around the pyramids and riding a camel in sandals is a scary thought. I did wear a pair of comfortable sandals on a day I knew it wouldn’t be too bad. I purchased a pair of Tom’s sandals that did not need to be broken in and were incredibly comfortable. (If you get creeped out by feet and germs like me then you definitely want to make sure you are wearing socks or have a pair on you since you have to remove your shoes to enter a mosque. Some mosques supply shoe covers to slip on over your shoes and others don’t.)

SAFETY & NECESSITIES:
Egypt is no more dangerous than any other European city. If we listened to all the crap people had to say about Egypt that had never been there, we would have never gone. Don’t believe everything you hear; do your own research. We never felt unsafe. The only time that we felt uncomfortable was when we were being begged and followed for baksheesh and when we were in the insane traffic on our first day. Other than that, Egyptians are very friendly, welcoming and complimenting. One told me I looked like Queen Nefertiti… mind you he was trying to sell my husband some artwork but I’ll take the compliment nonetheless. Young boys hung out car windows and yelled Moza! meaning babe or nice looking…I wasn’t going to argue with that.

• The White Desert which is West and the Northern Sinai Peninsula are red alert locations on the Department of State website. Don’t even think of crossing the land border into or from Israel. It is recommended to stay away from any border with high military presence.
• Wear a crossbody bag and make sure it is closed.
• For women, making eye contact with a man can be seen as a type of flirtation. I made sure to have my big black sunglasses on most of the time
• We also did not want to bring our wedding rings. We purchased inexpensive silicone bands that are awesome for more than just travel. I also lost mine the first day on our trip- good thing I didn’t wear the real ones!

Some Necessities:

• Travel toilet paper. Most restrooms don’t have toilet paper. There are restroom attendants who have the toilet paper or wipes and accept a tip for it. Some restrooms don’t have either. The Cairo airport did not have toilet paper in the stalls and some restrooms I entered were the most frightening restrooms I’ve ever seen so bring your travel clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. These items were lifesaving to say the least.
• Phone wipes (do I really need to explain this one)

GETTING AROUND CAIRO:
The Cairo International Airport (C.I.A.) is where you will be flying into which is about 30 minutes from Cairo/Giza.

• Cairo has taxis and Uber drivers available. Rental cars are available but you would be out of your mind crazy to drive in Cairo! There are no rules to the road except how many times the horn is honked at other drivers to let them know what your next move is. It is like being in a video game. There are cars, buses, horses, donkeys, motorcycles, bicycles and rickshaws all on the road at the same time. Headlights are also not used at night. Please, do not rent a car; I also can’t imagine what the insurance would be either!
• Uber is so inexpensive! It cost us $8 USD to take an Uber XL from our hotel in Cairo to the airport which was about 15 miles away. (If you want to live dangerously, UberBike is available- jump onto a motorcycle with a stranger in a foreign country with no road rules. I’m sure that’s a rush!)
• Taxi drivers may try to charge tourists more than what the normal ride would be. You need to negotiate the price before getting in. Negotiation is part of the Egyptian culture so start practicing.

(We hired a guide for the entire time we were in Cairo. Ayman Ahmed was not only our guide but also our transportation, bodyguard from beggars, comedian and now our hibibi/friend. We took an Uber to CAI the last day in Cairo because Ayman had to be in Luxor. We told him what we wanted to do in Cairo during our stay and he put an itinerary together and price. He was worth every cent we spent and more! I will share his information a little below.)

WHERE TO STAY:
My husband and I usually will stay at AirBnBs during our travels. I do not recommend this in Cairo. The location may not be great and trying to get there may be another issue. Since Cairo is so inexpensive, we decided to go all out for our accommodations. That being said, there is really only one place that in all of our research was THE place to stay: The Cairo Marriott.

This five-star hotel sits on Gezira Island surrounded by gardens in the middle of the Nile between Giza and Cairo. It was originally constructed as a royal palace by Khedive Ismail in 1869 to serve as a guest palace during the Suez Canal inauguration celebrations. One of the main historical events that took place here was Khedive Ismail’s son’s wedding, which lasted 40 days- now that’s a party! In 1879, it was confiscated due to outstanding debts and acquired by the Egyptian Hotels Company. Marriott took over the property for management in the 1970s and restored the original palace in 1983.

This hotel has 15 restaurants, a gorgeous outdoor pool, perfectly kept garden walkways, a new gym and even a casino. The only drawback is that many people smoke. It doesn’t matter what signs you may read say, people will still be lighting it up in an area they probably shouldn’t. We went to check out the casino but the cigarette smoke was so intense that we left after just walking in. (Everyone seems to smoke in Cairo so if you are sensitive to secondhand smoke like I am, be prepared!)

The event rooms and restaurants are decked out with the most lavish decor, artwork, elaborate chandeliers and carpets. The Marriott did a magnificent job in keeping the feel and representation of the royal palace this historic building used to be. We never felt like we were staying in the usual hotel. The staff was so nice and accommodating.
Don’t forget to hang on to some LE to tip the bellboys and housekeeping staff who are constantly checking to make sure everything is perfect during your stay.

The cuisine offered in their 15 restaurants range from pub food, French cuisine, Italian and everything else you could think of. There is a breakfast spread every morning at Omar’s Café if you are looking for traditional Egyptian food or a made-to-order omelette station. Like I mentioned earlier, be aware of holidays- half of these restaurants are closed during Ramadan-that’s a month long!

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK:
Where do I began? I love food and will pretty much try anything. My mother didn’t cook Egyptian food while I growing up but she certainly cooked with the spices that Egyptians use so I was ready to indulge in the local cuisine. Not everyone is an adventurous eater which brings me to the reality of digestive and intestinal issues. Hey, I’m just trying to be real here. Between altitude, jet lag and new foods, your body may react in ways that, shall I say, are less than ideal. I always travel prepared for those kind of circumstances.

I brought three items: Aloe pills, Pepto Bismol and charcoal pills. Aloe pills are an all natural and gentle way of taking care of constipation and Pepto Bismol for upset stomach and diarrhea. Charcoal pills were introduced to me by my cousin and I am so thankful! Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores. This bottle is in my luggage god forbid either of us ever get food poisoning. The one thing that you have to do when charcoal is ingested it to drink a TON of water. Luckily, my husband and I did not need any of these during our trip- hallelujah!

Before I list the must-haves, note that all Egyptian food is organic. Did you know they don’t believe in using chemicals on or in food? Doing so would be so expensive anyway. What a concept! (insert sarcasm) Your taste buds are going to thank you and never forget.

Must Try Egyptian Foods & Beverages:

• Koshari: Considered Egypt’s national dish. Consisting of rice, lentils, chickpeas, pasta, macaroni then topped with spicy cumin tomato sauce and fried onions then dolloped with some garlic sauce. Nobody said this was carb or calorie free but a small amount of this will fill you up like no other and keep your energy going while visiting all the historic sites!
• Shawarma: Lord almighty- I died, went to heaven and came back after my first bite. Think street food gyro from Greece but better. I know, is that even possible? Yes because the seasoning is different. Think turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves and many other variations then garnishing it with hummus and tahini.
• Falafel: Also known as taameya. Don’t even think for one second that this is like the chickpea falafel you are familiar with. These are made with fava beans and magic. You must have a falafel sandwich while you are here consisting of two falafels in a fresh pita with tahini sauce.
• Hamam Mahshi: Stuffed Pigeon.Also known as flying rats in America. Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. How is this bird stuffed with rice any different than your Thanksgiving turkey stuffed with sausage stuffing? Nothing except for the fact nothing is wasted and the pigeon head is still attached- It was delicious! Pigeons are raised here in Cairo- they are not plucked from the streets. They are a delicacy and are known as an aphrodisiac for men. Ew, gross, you say? Well, we Westerners eat oyster stomach boogers and call that an aphrodisiac.

Fresh Juices: Everywhere we went were freshly squeezed fruit juices. Mango, strawberry and guava were what were in season while we were there. Living in Florida, it is mango season as well but nothing compared to how Cairo made their mango juice smoothies! Don’t forget to try Sahlab as well. A creamy coconut milk and vanilla beverage served hot. This is more like a dessert!

• Hibiscus Tea: Known as Egyptian whisky to the locals. Crisp, tart, sweet and refreshing! Whole hibiscus flowers are boiled, steeped, strained and chilled with some sugar added to it. Most of the stores we went to offered us this tea as we browsed and negotiated.
• Coffee: If you are a coffee connoisseur and like it strong with some pep in your step then definitely order coffee in Egypt. No, not at Starbucks. They drink Turkish coffee which is unfiltered coffee with cardamom, other spices and sugar. Doesn’t sound like you frappa-cappa-grande-what-ever-the-hell from your coffee shop? It’s even better, but just don’t drink the grounds at the bottom of the cup, silly.

Alcohol: Most Egyptians do not drink (gasp!) but they do drink a lot of hibiscus tea and puff on shisha (flavored tobacco- think hookah.) Alcohol is available at places that foreigners are staying at and visiting. We drank alcohol while cruising down the Nile on our dinner cruise in which we chose local beer called Stella and Sakara beer at the hotel. Both were delicious!

SITES NOT TO MISS & THE TOUR GUIDE FOR IT ALL:

We hired a guide for the entire time we were there. We found him on Tripadvisor with exceptional reviews. He ranks in the top 20 out of 300 tours with a Certificate of Excellence and is a TripAdvisor Hall of Famer. Ayman Ahmed has been a guide for over 20 years, is an Egyptologist, guide certified AND an archaeologist. He works with brushes uncovering ancient Egypt. He was our guide and transportation, picking us up at the airport and our hotel every morning. He was not able to drive us to the airport on the last day because of a newly discovered site in Luxur and had to be there. How cool is that?!
This is THE GUIDE you need to have over any other! He was funny, knowledgeable and customized our trip just for us. We were never rushed at any site or store like it can be on group tours. He was affordable and deserved a big baksheesh. We would not have enjoyed Cairo as much without his expertise.
Do not think twice of hiring him. I am in no way affiliated with TripAdvisor for this recommendation. When you contact him tell him Jessie and Ryan from Florida sent you!

• Memphis: Memphis became the capital of Ancient Egypt for over eight consecutive dynasties during the Old Kingdom. You will find the gigantic Statue of Rameses II that is 3,200 years old! Memphis also had a temple named Hut-Ka-Ptah which translated into Greek is Aί-γυ-πτoς (pronounced Ai-gy-ptos). It is believed to be the origin of the modern English name Egypt.’

Saqqara: Located Northwest of Memphis, Saqqara served as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. It consists of the earliest known Egyptian pyramids, among them is the Pyramid of Djoser which is a step pyramid built during the third dynasty. You can go inside this pyramid! Just make sure that you don’t have shoes that slip easily and aren’t claustrophobic. The hieroglyphics are intact as if they were created yesterday. If the light is turned off, the guard will take a flashlight to shine parallel to the wall to show you a 3D effect the ancient Egyptians created with their art. They can not explain how they did it to this day. If you slip the guard abaksheesh, he will let you take some quick photos.

Giza Pyramids & Sphinx: The last standing Seven Wonders of the World. Approximately 2.3 million blocks of stone (averaging about 2.5 tons each) had to be cut, transported and assembled to build The Great Pyramid. The pyramid’s smooth, angled sides symbolized the rays of the sun and were designed to help the king’s soul ascend to heaven and join the gods. There are no words or enough photos that can convey the magnificence and glory of these massive and mighty structures. Nearby is the Great Sphinx, standing at 66 feet high, 240 feet long and 4,500 years old. It is carved out of a single mass of limestone!

• If you have time left while hanging out in Giza, check out Topaz Bizarre and The Papyrus Shop. Topaz makes legit cartouches (kar-toosh) of silver and gold and are just gorgeous.The Papyrus Shop demonstrates how ancient Egyptians made papyrus by hand. Beautiful pieces of painted papyrus are available for purchase. Both of these shops are not cheap; that’s where the negotiating and bargaining comes in. Don’t accept the first, third or fifth price. Walk away and come back. They are also higher priced than other markets because they use high quality materials and everything is handmade so the value is definitely there unlike the fake stuff at Khan El-Khalili. If you want some one-of-a-kind beautiful pieces of art and jewelry, these two places are where to go.
• Coptic Cairo: This area is fascinating! It features the five original churches, the first mosque built and the oldest synagogue all in one place, representing three of the major world religions. The holy family stayed in the area during the flight into Egypt when Mary, Joseph and Jesus were seeking refuse from Herod. To be in the same room that Jesus had been was pretty overwhelming.

Before you leave, don’t forget to stop off at the antique and souvenir shop! All sorts of neat things to buy from very inexpensive to more pricey handmade intricate art pieces made with mother of pearl. This store is huge so take your time to look at everything.

Museum of Cairo: To say this museum has an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities is an understatement! This space boasts 120,000 items, most on display. There are two mummy rooms and the items from the famous King Tutankhamun are on display including his extravagant gold death mask. This museum is located in the area that the Egyptian revolution of 2011 occurred. The museum was broken into having artifacts stolen, damaged and two mummies destroyed. Around 25 of the 50 objects lost have been recovered.

Cairo Citadel: Built between 1176 and 1183 AD to protect it from the Crusaders. Only a few years after defeating the Fatimid Caliphate, Saladin set out to build a wall that would surround both Cairo and Fustat (the first capital of Egypt under Muslim rule). It sits up on a hill with gorgeous views of the city. There are three main mosques as well as a museum at the Citadel.

Khan El-Khalili: This market is loud and colorful. Shops typically sell souvenirs, antiques and jewelry. But if you are looking for a little more of a unique experience, you have to go to a perfume and a spice shop! Ayman took us to Amber Perfumes where they sat us down, served us cold beverages and went through sniffing all their amazing oils and perfumes. He also brought us to the spice shop he goes to called Khedr Spices. I love to cook and was determined when I got back to the states to cook traditional Egyptian foods we experienced. Ayman told the shop owner what I needed and he went around filling bags with fresh spices and herbs for me. That’s where I got some hibiscus tea to make at home! (Buyer beware! We learned that most souvenirs and other items at this market are now unfortunately made in China! And what they say is ‘gold’ or ‘silver’ actually is not)

Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan: One of the largest mosques in the world and its construction began in 1356 AD and ended only three years later “without even a single day of idleness.” It was also designed to include schools for all four of the Sunni Islam schools.

Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque: Built in 641–642 AD as the first mosque ever built on the continent of Africa. It is absolutely breathtaking!

If you weren’t already planning a trip to Cairo, I hope that you are now.
Definitely hire a tour guide! You will gain more knowledge than you could imagine and understand modern day Egypt.
Cairo is an assault on your senses, every single one! It is so full of history, magic and mystery.

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Did you like this post and want to learn more about the magic and spiritual factor of manifesting a trip like this?
Traveling to a destination that is full of endless history and mystery can be life-altering.
Stay tuned for the next Egypt post! Don’t miss out- follow me on Pinterest & subscribe below!