Winter in Egypt - what to expect in the land of the pharaohs

Those looking for a cheap package holiday destination, but abhors the mass tourism that should spend the winter in Egypt, because, although there is persistent rumors indicate contrary, this year no bikini ban, not only have the Red Sea resorts have sufficient capacity available. No matter what attractions you want to visit in Egypt, they have been virtually alone for themselves.

Nile Cruise

There are places for a cruise on the Nile, for example, have enough. To sail on the longest river in the world around is considered a particularly romantic way to discover Egypt. Travel of this kind can, as the Egypt holiday deals from Thomas Cook book on short notice at a travel agency in Internet or even on site. The namesake of the second largest German tour operator, among others organized the first ever cruise on the Nile, is regarded as the inventor of the package.

Cairo

What he would think of a trip to Egypt in 2012? Not only in the center of Cairo Egyptian Museum missing visitors, which yes, the proximity to Tahrir Square would be more understandable. Finally, the name was linked from the outset with the uprisings against former dictator Hosni Mubarak. At the moment there is virtually unobstructed view of the pyramids. There, where a previously crowds blocked the way, now there is nothing but emptiness.

Even the White Desert and Alexandria seems to want to visit any more.

Alexandria

Here, the Mediterranean city was just on the point to follow up on their old feats. On the island of Pharos in the Bay of Alexandria once stood the lighthouse, it was expected to be the Seven Wonders. But almost more famous was the Library of Alexandria. In this haven of learning were formed Archimedes, Euclid and Eratosthenes. With 700,000 papyrus scrolls in ancient times it was the largest library in the world.

Since 2002 it again, the famous Library of Alexandria. Not far from the old location it was rebuilt. However, not only the facade is modern: it was created space for eight million books (in about 1.5 million have been around) and a backup copy of the Internet Archive, which includes about three petabytes.

The library, which is currently used primarily by students should also be a tourist attraction, but the largest with 2000 seats open reading room lures - like all other classic attractions - at barely more visitors.

What Thomas Cook would say probably it? He probably would advise Europeans in need of recuperation, not to be deterred by the uncertain political situation and to take an educational trip to Egypt. After all, he has done 1860.

@ http://www.noz.de/themenseite/reise-reporter/67433362/ein-winter-in-aegypten-was-sie-im-land-der-pharaonen-erwartet

Egypt sees 20 percent rise in tourists this year despite insecurity

(Reuters) - Egypt projects a rise of about 20 percent in tourist numbers this year, the tourism minister said on Wednesday, despite outbreaks of violence after last year's Arab Spring.

The uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak last February and political instability since then have stopped millions of potential visitors to Egypt's beach resorts and ancient sites.

Tourism accounted for more than a tenth of Egypt's gross domestic product before the 18-day revolt that was driven by widespread anger at poverty and high-levels of corruption. The country's large cities are still prey to unrest.

But Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou cited strong recent occupancy rates at hotels. About 8.8 million tourists visited Egypt in the first nine months of this year, he said at an industry event, and revenue was 6.9 billion.

"What I'm targeting is 11.5 million to 12 million tourists by the end of December. For sure over 11 million," Zaazou said. He said numbers should return to 2010 levels by the end of 2013 depending on the security situation.

Some 14.5 million tourists visited Egypt in 2010, generating around 12.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($2.05 billion) in revenue, whereas last year 9.8 million tourists brought in 8.8 billion pounds, according to government figures.

The government has a long-term plan to draw 30 million tourists by 2020, generating industry revenue of $25 billion.

Clashes in Cairo between liberal opponents of newly elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and his supporters following a demonstration injured more than 100 people last week. Another protest is planned on Friday.

In addition to security concerns, anxiety over the growing influence of Islamists following Mursi's election has fed tourism sector investors' fears over possible restrictions on alcohol sales and swimwear at popular resorts.

Zaazou said that while the government may introduce options for tourists wanting to adhere to Islamic sharia law, that would not change what Egypt offers tourists elsewhere.

"Our desire to introduce additional products that would suit certain Arab and Islamic market segments ... will not happen at the cost of our mainstream business," he said.

Zaazou said he would look into a possible tax break for investors in the tourism sector and present a study to the government. The study may propose tax breaks of up to 10 years for developers who build hotels within a specific period.

He said he was also looking into restoring air routes that closed when governments issued warnings on travel to Egypt.

($1 = 6.1050 Egyptian pounds)

(Reporting by Asma Alsharif; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Abu Simbel featured in the doodle of the day

 

The Google doodle today shows the moment that the sun shines on the faces of the statues, drawing the attention of the world to this intriguing phenomena and highlighting the treasures that Egypt has to offer to its visitors.

 

Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, the face of the statue of King Rameses II inside the temple in Abu Simbel is lit up by the sun and dates coincide with his date of birth and his coronation respectively.

 

The temple, located deep in Upper Egypt, was carved into rocks on the banks of the river Nile. After the completion of the Aswan dam the temple and its unique feature of solar alignment would have flooded as the waters were rising so an archeological rescue mission in the form of moving the complete temple to higher ground was performed.

 

Seeing the magical moment when the sun lights up the statues of Rameses II, Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty draws large groups of tourists to the temple twice per year. The fourth statue in the inner chamber depicts the god of the underworld, Ptah, and his face remains in darkness as the others light up.

 

The Google doodle today shows the moment that the sun shines on the faces of the statues, drawing the attention of the world to this intriguing phenomena and highlighting the treasures that Egypt has to offer to its visitors.

http://dailynewsegypt.com/2012/10/23/abu-simbel-featured-in-the-doodle-of-the-day/

Egypt: Thumbs Up Africa Blog Four - Supershops and Mini Temples

For many years, Luxor has been a must-see for every tourist in Egypt. If not for the temples of Luxor, Karnak or Deir el-Bahri, then you would definitely touch ground here for the breathtaking Valley of Kings. Twenty-four-year old Mido Noubi runs six souvenir shops in the old city market, also known as the Luxor souk. He points to the empty street outside.

"As you can see, business is not going well. I hope, inshallah, this will change."

Egypt's tourism sector has not benefited from the Arab Spring. "Before the revolution, I had 150 customers on a bad day, but now I have three customers on a good day," says Mido calmly. "People are afraid, because the media depict the wrong image of Egypt. There is no problem here and the Egyptian people are very friendly."

Mido sells shishas, scarves of different fabrics and miniature pyramids and pharaohs. The shop, where Mido invites me in for tea, opened in June 2010. That's an unfortunate date if you recall that the Egyptian revolution started only five months earlier

Tea talk

However, the souk shop owners find comfort in solidarity.

"Muslims and Copts sit together and drink tea to work something out," Mido explains. "But then again, what can you do when the big tourist agencies from Sharm el-Sheikh build their own souvenir supershops? In contrary to these agencies, we keep the prices low. The supershops work on commission."

As I'm being served another cup of tea, a young European couple walks in. They take a short look around and leave without saying a word. Most shop owners in the souk try to lure foreigners with small talk in every world language. Experience has taught Mido that it is better to leave the customers for who they are.

"People do not like to be hassled. I learned this not long after my cousins and I opened our first shop back in 2001," he says.

A part of Mido's income once came from domestic tourism. "Egyptians are afraid, as they read in the media that there is many problems on the railway because of the revolution," he says. "This, too, is not the case."

Fewer tourists, lots of girlfriends

According to Mido, the government should come up with a solution for the tourism sector. He is not happy with the instalment of Morsi as prime minister.

"Hosni Mubarak was a bad man, but at least he made sure that the people were safe," he says. "The police did their job, but now nobody respects them anymore. Freedom is good, but too much freedom cannot be good. Now I see that people sell a lot of drugs and even guns."

Despite these acts of crime, Mido feels sure that tourists are safe in Egypt. He turns to me: "Tell your friends that Egypt is safe. The media sell one big lie. Tell them they should not believe what is written and let your friends please come back here."

A man of around 40 enters the shop. It is Mido's uncle. Yesterday a relative got married and they tell me how good the party was. Mido himself does not think about marriage yet. "No business, no marriage. But I do have a lot of girlfriends," he laughs.

I ask if he wants me to share this blog with him on Facebook. He laughs again. "No, I don't like Facebook, because that started all of this."

http://allafrica.com/stories/201210220692.html?page=2

Egypt reopens Pyramid of Chefren to tourists

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/55372/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/After-a-yearbreak,-Khafres-pyramid-and--royal-tomb.aspx

Dozens of journalists, photographers, TV anchors as well as top government officials at the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) gathered Thursday at a large tent erected at the void area in front of the Khafre pyramid in Giza to celebrate the official re-inauguration of Egypt's second largest pyramid and six Old Kingdom royal and noblemen tombs.

“I am very happy today to reopen these tombs which were closed for more than ten years due to restoration,” an ecstatic MSA chief Mohamed Ibrahim told reporters.

The restored historic site includes the tomb of King Khufu’s granddaughter, along with those of five Old Kingdom noblemen.
The tombs, which were discovered in 1927 by American Egyptologist George Reinser, have been closed for restoration on more than one occasion in the past. In one of those endeavours, a site management plan was implemented at the Giza plateau the early 1990s to preserve these historic treasures.
The newly inaugurated tombs are located at the eastern and western side of Giza necropolis. They bear impressive facades, more like temples, and large chambers with rock-hewn pillars.

“Although these tombs may be sparse in decoration, they are rich in architectural features,” Ali El-Asfar, the director general of Giza antiquities department told Ahram online.

The first tomb, located at the eastern cemetery, which includes the Old Kingdom’s royal tombs, belongs to Princess Mersankh, the granddaughter of the builder of the Great Pyramid King Khufu. This tomb was originally intended for Mersankh's mother, Queen Hetepheres II, but was assigned to the daughter upon her sudden death.

At the time Mersankh's tomb was discovered in 1927, a black granite sarcophagus was found along with a set of Canopic jars, and a limestone statue depicting Queen Hetepheres II embracing the daughter. The sarcophagus stands now at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo while the statue is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The second tomb, located at the western cemetery, belongs to Seshem-Nefer, the overseer of the two seats of the House of Life and keeper of the king's secrets, and is one of the largest tombs on the Giza Plateau.

This tomb is decorated with very fine reliefs and painting depicting funerary, hunting and offering scenes, as well as a depiction of the Seshem-Nefer's daily life along with his family and before his deities.

The third tomb belongs to Senefru-Kha-Ef, the king's treasurer and priest of the god Apis. The tomb’s inner walls also reveal typical scenes of the dead official and his children.

The fourth one was constructed for Nefer, the overseer of the soul priests. Its walls are decorated with scenes showing the Nefer's daily life with his family and dog.
The fifth tomb belongs to Yassen, the overseer of the king’s farms.

The sixth tomb was constructed for Ka-Em-Ankh, overseer of the royal treasury. This tomb has very distinguished false doors marked by different titles of the deceased as well as a portrait of him.

Engineer Waad Ibrahim, the head of the engineering department at the MSA, told Ahram online that restoration work aimed at returning these tombs to their original appearance at the day of their discovery.

The MSA discovered through scientific and technical studies that the large volume of visitors over the years had raised levels of humidity inside the structures to dangerous heights up to 80 per cent. These studies showed that each visitor to the pyramids and tombs releases an average of 20 grams of water vapour through perspiration, thus slowly causing damage to the plasters that cover part of the grand gallery. The walls of the Grand Gallery of the pyramid were also found to be covered with up to 2cm of salt minerals which damage the plaster.

Ibrahim said that the walls of the tombs have been cleaned and reinforced, graffiti left by previous visitors removed and inscriptions and paintings conserved. The ground floors are now protected by wood to preserve the original rock of the tombs as well as to facilitate visiting tours. New lighting and ventilation systems have been installed. A path linking the tombs to the Great Pyramid of Khufu was carved in order to facilitate movement across the plateau.

He told Ahram online that the project cost LE24 million (around $4 million) and complained that the MSA is short on funds to carry out more restoration work on the plateau, to render it more tourist-friendly, and to devise ways to stop horses and camels, popular vehicles among tourists for sightseeing, from disfiguring the plateau’s panorama view.

The MSA aims to open a new gate to the plateau at the Fayoum desert road soon, and to run a fleet of Taftafs (electric wagons) to supplant horses and camels.

As Khafre reopens, the MSA hopes to close Khufu for restoration in order to bring back the old man in a better shape.

Egypt's President reassures tourists on Luxor trip

"Here, you should feel safe. Move as you please, enjoy Egypt's atmosphere and its ancient civilization," 

"Egypt is safer than before, and is open for all."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/03/2930344/egypts-president-reassures-tourists.html#storylink=cpy

Egypt appoints well-known tourism veteran as new Minister of Tourism

Mohamed Hisham Abbas Zaazou

new Minister of Tourism

Hisham Zaazou, formerly the Senior Assistant to Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, has been named the new Minister of Tourism for this global destination.

Zaazou comes to this position after 30+ years in the public and private sectors. Beginning in 1980 in North America with R&H Tourism Co., he expanded operations to Egypt. He then moved on to Sakkara Travel as General Manager. His interest in the role of the public sector and tourism started when he was elected as the Director General of the Egyptian Tourism Federation followed by his appointment as Assistant to the Minister of Tourism (2008).

In 1982, Egypt had 1.4 million visitors, expanding to 12.5 million in 2009 with revenue increasing from US$300 million (1982) to US$10.6 billion (2009). Egypt became the 19th most important worldwide tourism destinations and took first place in the Middle East, North Africa, and Africa in share of market. However, in 2011, tourism to the destination dropped over 33 percent.

Tourism sustainability 

Looking to future growth, Zaazou is aware of the many issues that make sustainable tourism controversial. Some industry experts suggest that too many tourists destroy a destination and Zaazou concurs: “If we don’t do anything, one day we may lose even the great pyramids, because the congestion is humongous. It will be a crime if we sabotage them.”

Public-private partnerships go green

Zaazou believes that visitor numbers can be regulated, projecting that Egypt can support 20-25 million tourists. The National Sustainable Tourism Plan (NSTP) has been designed to provide regulatory means to reach the sustainability objective. The Ministry is investing US$276 million in green projects with 52 percent coming from the government and international donations, and the remainder from private initiatives.

Source markets

Tourism growth is likely to come from Argentina, Brazil, China, and India. Zaasou intends to review the country’s high airport tax and take steps to reduce it. There is also an interest in increasing air lift by Sun Express and Air Berlin.

Background

Hisham Zaazou studied accounting at the Ain Sham University in Cairo, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting. He received his post graduate certificate in Public Private Partnerships from the Harvard/Kennedy School of Business and the UNWTO certificate for courses in Tourism Sustainability, the New Consumer, and New Technologies for Promotion.

In Egypt, after a 15-year hiatus to resume cruises on the Nile

CAIRO, April 2  

Egyptian government decided to resume, after a 15-year hiatus, cruise trip along the Nile from the capital - Cairo to Aswan in Upper Egypt in mid-May of this year, said on Monday, the Egyptian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Faiza Abu Nougat.

This decision was made to restore the flow of tourists into the country to the level preceding the revolutionary events of spring 2011, and confirm the safety of foreign visitors to Egypt - said Faiz Abu Nougat.

At the same time, she reported that at a special cabinet meeting on the development of tourism has been given special attention to the security situation, particularly in the provinces of El-Minya, Beni Sueyf, Sohag and Assiut, in which its cruise itineraries.

"Renewing the water travels up the Nile, Egypt, in fact, says the restoration of security in the country, thus enhancing their own reputation at the international level" - said Abu Nougat.

The Minister also spoke about the Government's intention to declare the city of Luxor in southern Egypt, "a historical monument in the open air." All necessary procedures are completed, added Abu Nougat, and this issue is on the last stage of consideration in the Cabinet of Egypt.

Besides the actual unique river cruises in Egypt, during which the tourists can visit dozens of temples and shrines pharaonic times, particularly in urban areas Edfu, Kom Ombo, Luxor, Abu Simbel, traveling up the Nile to bring significant revenues to the state budget. After the revolution of 2011 the flow of tourists into the country fell by almost a third, mainly because of concerns related to safety ratings. Egypt's revenues from tourism fell to 10 billion dollars per year, decreasing by about four billion.

We are all from Egypt

Can you safely drink a cold beer on the beach and watch tourists in a bikini - that Egyptian Tourism Minister reassured journalists that his country is not and will not be any restrictions customary for tourists.

Egyptian Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abd El Nour arrived in Warsaw to provide Polish tourists that have nothing to worry about choosing the holiday destination in Egypt. - The same as before the revolution, the sun shines from us, just as the sky is blue and so warm the sand on the beach - he argued. - A demonstration to watch on TV happening in an area not larger than one square kilometer of Cairo. And there are more dangerous than similar demonstrations in the capitals of European countries.

"I assure you that in all of Egypt there is a law and order, and is safe " declared the minister.

As a result of the revolution, says the minister, the number of tourists coming to Egypt declined by 33 percent - from 14.7 million in 2010 to 9.8 million in 2011, when the number of overnight stays fell by 22 percent and revenue by 29 percent - from 12.5 billion to 8.8 billion dollars. From the Polish went to Egypt, 400 000 tourists, while in 2010 there were 600 000.

We expect that tourism will return this year to the level of 2010. And in five years it will double to 30 million tourists and $ 25 billion of revenue - gave the forecast. - Finally, Egypt is the first country, in a straight line, from Europe, where you can stay warm all year round.

When asked about the two cases of kidnapping by the Bedouins once three American tourists, and once two of South Korea, played down that it was like a safari, because people were treated to dinner, and dismissed without prejudice. A Bedouin just about drawing attention to their problems. - Since the commencement of the revolution,  from 25 January to today, no visitor was under attack. And they came almost 10 million "  he said.President of the Egyptian Tourist Organization Amr El Ezabi, asked if the Egyptian hoteliers would not leave the price to encourage tourist arrivals, especially from the Polish, said that now it is cheaper and there is no point in even lower prices, because "our goal is not for sale Egypt at any price. "- Egypt is a good tourist product and does not need until such treatments - he argued. - the more so because experience tells us that if we leave over money, then it is difficult to return them to their previous state. And besides, usually when the one-year sales drop, followed the next big tourist boom - he explained.

Fakhry Minister also made reference to the statements of Islamic politicians on the need for moral constraints, such as a ban on going to the beach in a bikini 

Tourism is the second source of inflow rates to Egypt. It provides 11 percent of our GDP. It gives employment to four million people. No responsibility Egyptian politician, or party, do not make a move detrimental to tourism - asserted. - What other politicians say they are not in power, and quite another when that power is concerned. He recalled that Egypt introduced slowly but steadily democratic change - elections were held in the lower house of parliament, will soon end in the upper house elections, and the June presidential elections are announced. At the same time formed the constitution. - In June, everything is ready - emphasized. - Poles themselves know best how difficult the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy.

This year Egypt spent on promotion of $ 40 million, as much as the previous. - It's still a lot for our economic capacity - says the head of the Egyptian Tourist Organization. Promotion will be particularly focused on the international tourism fair ITB in Berlin, during which Egypt will be the partner country (last year it was Poland).

This time, Egypt wants to show that it also has to offer night life and the possibility of active tourism. It will also promote less visited by tourists places like Luxor, Aswan and seaside resorts situated on the northern coast of the Red Sea - Taba and Dahab.

The campaign slogan is "We're Egypt," which can be translated as "We are all Egyptians" or simply "Egypt is us."

Valley of the Kings was the tomb of an Egyptian singer's 1100 annual

Archaeologists who are excavating in the Valley of Kings, dynasties and their families do not qualify for the first time by chance a woman uncovered the grave of the singer's 1100-year. 

CAIRO-Archaeologists who excavated Valley of the Kings tomb by accident year 1100 revealed that a female singer. Officials with the Valley of the Kings and their families, dynasties, the first time ever a woman without any family ties, the tomb is announced. 

Archaeologists, Valley of the Kings tomb of operations carried out during the year 1100 the earth is an Egyptian singer, was released. Nehmes singer named Bastet, the cat because of the name of god "Bastet" believed protected by. Remain in the tomb, without any harm ever came to the attention of archaeologists 

conducted excavations in the Valley of the Kings by the University of Basel in Switzerland into the hands of director of field Paulin-Grothe, by chance, there is the grave, saying that "was not looking for new graves.Discovered 100 years ago there was a grave near the place, "he said.Tomb, but the first are implemented specifically for the singer also been used again for 400 years after the singer added. Archaeologists, for whom the tomb was the first time do not know. 

archaeologists have found remains of excavations, which is one of the singer's Faranoik period's most important open-air singing was concluded that the Temple of Karnak. Valley of the Kings was discovered 64.mezar this excavation. In 1922, archaeologists in the same area more than 3.000 years remaining on the throne had found the tomb of King Tutankhamun'un gold funeral mask. 

Egypt Turkey Tourism Consul Nehad Gamal Eldin, "discovered in the Valley of the Kings 64 with tombs, Egypt was once again proven that civilization begins. Egypt, who want to see this unique work of art lovers around the world will make compelling history, "he said".

EGYPT MUSEUMS

The most enduring images of Egypt are its pharaonic treasures and its history, such as the relics and artefacts that live in Cairo's Egyptian Museum. But with a written history stretching back to 3,100 BC, at the time of Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic empires, every age and culture demands a museum of its own.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Sitting in the shadows of Cairo's modern town hall, the elegant coral-pink and copper-domed Egyptian Museum strikes a gentle pose. The restrained neo-classical French exterior is little preparation for the awesome array of treasures and ancient wonders that wait silently behind it's arched windows.

Stepping through the entrance into the grand central atrium, monumental statues tower overhead from the imposing Colossus of Amenhotep III to King Djoser's life-size sculpture. The ground floor galleries take you on a trip through time, each room filled with the splendours of a great kingdom. King Narmer's 5,000 year old palette is an item of major artistic and historical importance.

Ancient Egypt's cultural wealth is also shown in many other artefacts that reveal the skill of ancient artisans.
But it's the upper floor that holds the greatest allure. The Tutankhamun Galleries house over 1,700 items including Tutankhamun's famous tomb, discovered in the Valley of the Kings in West-Thebes, opposite modern Luxor.
The Egyptian Museum is just simply unrivalled with over 136,000 items on display, not mentioning the hundreds of thousands in the basement. These items date back to the very origins of a united Egypt in 3,100 BC. The museum is renowned for holding the finest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world.
Opening hours: 09:00- 19:00
Fri 09:00- 11:00; 1:30- 19:00
Ticket Price(s):
Regular: 60 EGP
Student: 30 EGP
Mummies Room:
Regular: 100 EGP
Student: 60 EGP

The Coptic Museum
See the distinctive blend of cultures at the Coptic Museum inCairo where are displayed hundreds of Christian Egyptian documents, statues and artefacts in which you'll distinct Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influence.
Take a breath of fresh air in a peaceful courtyard surrounded by green gardens when you need to relax.
The Coptic Museum is located within the Roman fortress town called Babylon in Old Cairo, step into the past and walk by the fusion of cultures inside and outside the museum in a place as old as history.

Opening hours: 09:00- 16:00
Ticket Price(s):
Regular: 50 EGP
Student: 25 EGP

Museum of Islamic Art
Displaying over 10,000 articles dating back to the Islamic era in Egypt, this is one place you don’t want to miss while in Cairo. Marvel at the giant carved wooden doors or the tiny, intricate copper sculptures.
With exhibitions from every Islamic period in Egypt, it covers the Fatimids, the Mamluks, the Abbassids, the Ummayads, the Ottomans, and the Ayyubbids dynasties.
Opening Hours: 09:00-16:00
Fri 9:00-11:30; 13:30-16:00

Ticket Price(s):
Regular: 40 EGP
Student: 20 EGP

 

Nubian Museum

The beautiful architecture of the Aswan Nubian Museum alone is worth seeing. But don't forget to take a walk inside this partly open-air museum where you'll find yourself wandering between a prehistoric cave with painted rock-art, ancient Egyptian statues, obelisks and columns and even a complete Nubian house.
Due to the quantities of material recovered from tombs,temples and settlements, UNESCO was encouraged in the 1980's to plan a new Nubian museum in Aswan where the objects could be stored and exhibited.
The total area of the museum and its surroundings is 50,000 square meters.
The Nubia museum contains artefacts masterpieces that were found on sites now submerged, during the UNESCO salvage campaign. The museum contains a variety of monumental objects from different parts in Egypt, collected in Nubia during the first half of the twentieth century. It displays in its permanent exhibition about 1500 artefacts showing, in chronological order, the material culture of Nubia, from Prehistory to present times.

Ticket Price(s):
Regular: 50 EGP
Student: 25 EGP

Opening Time: 9am - 1pm, 5 - 9pm

Pharaoh exchange

By Jeremy Gates

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/travel/pharaoh_exchange_1_4048222
Published on Monday 12 December 2011 00:00

Luxor temple

 

Tour operators and travel agents selling holidays in Egypt are stressing that renewed protests in Tahrir Square, Cairo, should not deter travellers from visiting other areas.

While the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is advising travellers to avoid the square and nearby parts of Cairo, it has no travel warning for the rest of the country.

Yet the number of visitors to Egypt in the second quarter of 2011 showed a massive plunge: some 2.2 million against 3.5 million in the same period of 2010. And large discounts are beginning to appear on holidays there on either side of the festive season.

Olympic Holidays offers a seven-night all-inclusive Christmas package based on the four-star Pyramisa Isis Hotel, set in extensive gardens beside the Nile in Luxor, with flights from Manchester on December 21 and transfers. The package, originally priced at £1,000, has been slashed to £625.

First Choice has slashed the price of seven nights’ all-inclusive from December 18 at a four-star holiday village in Sharm el-Sheikh from £979 to £559, saving a massive £420.

Peter Kearns, managing director of Red Sea Holidays, which is adding El Gouna to its 2012 programme, says: “We have suspended Cairo excursions temporarily until the situation calms down, but in Red Sea resorts and Luxor, everything is business as usual.

“Our customers seem to understand how far away Cairo is from the Red Sea resorts; it is more than 300 miles from Luxor or Hurghada to Cairo, for example.

“The disturbances themselves are confined mainly to Cairo’s downtown area and Tahrir Square which, of course, should be avoided. But Cairo is a huge city and most tourist areas remain completely unaffected.”

“Far from deterring travel to Egypt, sales continue to come in.”

Red Sea Holidays has some great value mid-December packages: seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Grand Hotel, Sharm el-Sheikh, starts at £459, including return flights ex-Manchester.

At rival operator Discover Egypt, Philip Breckner says: “We have not been using hotels in central Cairo for some time, and we house our clients in the outer areas of Giza and Heliopolis. Our tours are operating normally, though we take security advice on a daily basis.”

Longwood Holidays’ Alan Meadows says: “Confidence for Luxor has been returning in the last month, but with Cairo in the news like it is, bookings can be affected for other areas. But Egypt does bounce back quickly.”

Tourists feedback about Egypt after the Revolution - Egypt after revolution

Vin Diesel Love Egypt

I have long dreamed of going to a place as sacred as Egypt, I was always, like everyone, fascinated by its rich history… one that both predates and has shaped Our collective history
A year ago I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Egypt… the experience changed me
I saw the magic and the wonder of this very, very important country first hand. The preservation of its wonders is all of Our responsibility
To Our brothers and sisters of Egypt
We are with you
ONE

In talk with Ahram Online, tourism minister allays fears of Islamist govt

Minister of tourism, Mounir Fakhry Abd El-Nour

In exclusive interview with Ahram Online, Mounir Fakhry Abd El-Nour, the liberal minister of tourism, downplays rising concerns that an Islamist electoral landslide will negatively impact flow of foreigners

Salma Shukrallah, Tuesday 6 Dec 2011

Amid concerns over the rise of an Islamist-led parliament, the fate of Egypt’s once-thriving tourism sector is being hotly debated.

Islamist figures have often had to answer tough questions as to their ultimate intentions regarding tourism, especially in terms of their willingness to accept social norms that they have historically rejected.

Some critics, meanwhile, express fear that an Islamist-dominated parliament would jeopardise some LE200 billion ($33.3 billion) worth of tourism investments in Egypt. 

In an interview with Ahram Online, Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abd El-Nour downplayed such worries, however, noting that, "a party’s political discourse changes when it comes to power.”

Abd El-Nour, who has served as tourism minister in three different post-revolution governments, appears confident that an Islamist majority in parliament will not adversely impact Egypt’s tourism industry.

"Any party that takes power will be met with demands to supply more than 80 million Egyptians with food and clothing; provide some 800,000 employment opportunities to fresh university graduates every year; and formulate the state budget while taking responsibility for cutting the budget deficit,” said Abd El-Nour.

“I doubt that anyone facing such responsibilities would want to give up the 12.5 per cent of Egypt's GDP that tourism accounts for, not to mention the job opportunities it creates.”

Along with remittances and Suez Canal receipts, tourism has traditionally represented one of the country’s top foreign currency earners.

Abd El-Nour, a Coptic-Christian member of Egypt’s liberal Wafd Party, insists that an Islamist-led government will not constitute a threat.

The media, he says, tends to depict political Islam as a single, monolithic bloc, even though Islamist parties and groups, he stressed, differ considerably in practical terms.

"The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is not the same as the Salafists,” he pointed out.

“There are also different currents within the MB and differences between the different generations within the MB. The younger generation, for example, tends to be more open."

Statements by the MB’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) regarding the new government, meanwhile, have also raised alarm bells that the MB would not be satisfied with anything less than a parliamentary majority.

FJP head Mohamed Morsi, for his part, has stated that the parliamentary majority should appoint the new government. In response to statements by Egypt’s ruling military council that parliament lacks authority to do so, Morsi has asserted that no government can function practically without the approval of the national assembly.

Abd El-Nour agreed with Morsi’s assertion, saying that the MB’s wheeling and dealing with other parties represented in parliament would lead them to form a coalition government or leave the incumbent Cabinet in office.

Indeed, the MB was one of the few political groups that did not express disapproval of the newly appointed government headed up by former prime minister Kamal El-Ganzouri.

Currently, hundreds of demonstrators are staging a sit-in – which the MB has refrained from endorsing – in front of the Cabinet building to reject the appointment of El-Ganzouri, who also served as prime minister under ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Tahrir demonstrators had at one point proposed a government of “national salvation” to be headed by would-be presidential contender Mohamed ElBaradei, former MB leader and presidential hopeful Abd El-Moneim Abu El-Fotouh, and Nasserist presidential candidate Hamdin El-Sabahy.

Abd El-Nour, for his part, believes the national salvation initiative lacked popular consensus.

Despite Abd El-Nour’s seeming confidence that Islamist politicians would merely seek to build bridges with their parliamentary counterparts, he went on to say that the Wafd Party’s failed electoral coalition with the MB had been a mistake from the outset.

According to the tourism minister, the Wafd – being Egypt’s oldest liberal political party – should have reached out to other liberal parties, such as those in the recently established Egyptian Bloc.

The Egyptian Bloc – which includes the liberal Free Egyptians, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the leftist Tagammu Party – represented the main non-Islamist challenger in the country’s first post-Mubarak parliamentary polls.

Egyptian tourism sector starts to recover?

Tourism in Egypt rose by 23.2 per cent in the third quarter, official statistics showed on Monday.
Some 2.7 million people visited Egypt in the third quarter of this year, half-a-million more than those who came during the second quarter, said the Tourism Development Authority.
In the second quarter, tourist arrivals plunged 35.4 per cent, down from 3.5 million visitors in the same period of 2010, according to official figures released in September.
“These numbers showcase the gradual recovery of the Egyptian tourism industry which still maintains its outstanding reputation on the world’s tourism map. They are also proof that Egyptian tourism is built on solid ground allowing it to sustain itself even in the harshest of times” said Amrou Ezzabi, the director of the Egyptian Board for Tourist Entertainment.
He added that the tourism industry has been successful at dealing with the uproar in the country in that it could achieve such positive numbers. “We reiterate our commitment to maintaining positive growth rates and attracting more visitors especially from the Arab Gulf”, he said.
Tourism in Egypt, home to Pharaonic sites and Red Sea resorts, is a key money earner and source of foreign currency.
Reports in May said Egypt lost LE13.5 billion ($2.27 billion) in tourism revenues in the three months since the January-February uprising that ousted Mubarak. Egypt has struggled to revive tourism since the revolt. The country attracted about 15 million tourists last year.
In May, the assistant of the Egyptian Tourism Minister told the “Middle East” newspaper, “the tourism industry has started to experience some activity after the 25th January revolution period during which occupancy rates sank to 8% compared to the expected 50% for that period. Occupancy rates before the revolution was edging up 90%.” He added, “We will focus on tourist exporting countries like Europe and the Gulf but we will also launch marketing campaigns in the Americas, South East Asia and China”. (Source: www.yallafinance.com)

Tutankhamun center stage at Frankfurt's 'Festival of Egyptian Culture'

By Maha ElNabawi/Special to Daily News Egypt                        November 14, 2011, 2:15 pm

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/art/tutankhamun-center-stage-at-frankfurts-festival-of-egyptian-culture.html

A sensational discovery 89 years ago by archaeologist Howard Carter turned the unknown pharaoh Tutankhamun into an international superstar. For years, Tutankhamun, his treasures and his tomb have been touring the globe with an ambassador-like presence in each city he visits.

Starting on Nov. 19 and running through April 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany, Tutankhamun takes center stage in an inaugural exhibition titled, “A Festival of Egyptian Culture,” organized by Germany’s leading concert promoter, Semmel Concerts.

A replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb chambers, true to scale and detail of the originals, will make the moment of discovery an attainable, three-dimensional experience for visitors. The replica tour began in 2008 and has successfully attracted nearly 2.5 million visitors from all over Europe including, Zurich, Brussels and Seoul.

Exhibited in a 4,000 square meter custom built gallery space, Tutankhamun will serve as the headline act of the festival — and for the first time, a rich, diverse program of contemporary Egyptian literature, music, visual arts and stand-up comedy in Frankfurt will accompany him.

“We see our exhibitions, always a little bit, as an ambassador for Egyptian culture. This exhibition is formed from a very serious scientific foundation and that’s why it is important to organize an interesting and rich program combining lectures with book readings, music and so on,” said Project Manager Christoph Scholz.

“While other Tutankhamun exhibitions may include lectures or book readings, typically they speak about Ancient Egypt, the Pharaonic culture and treasures. We will show this of course, but also for the first time we are showing contemporary Egyptian culture — music, art, book readings, movies, theater performances, comedy.”

Scholz told Daily News Egypt that Egyptian exhibitions are the most successful all over the world in museum rankings. He gave an example of National Geographic’s series, saying their best selling books, magazines and DVDs are about Egypt. Same goes with The History Channel and The Discovery Channel —Egyptian mania never goes out of fashion.

“A Festival of Egyptian Culture” aims to utilize Tutankhamun as an attraction to promote cultural dialogue and understanding between Egypt and Germany. Tutankhamun will act as a springboard for contemporary Egyptian cultural awareness in Germany.

“It’s important now to speak about Egypt, to support its art world, to invite known artists or young artists to Germany to start a cultural dialogue,” Scholz said.

“Tutankhamun [as a subject of the exhibition] is the motor, it is the stage, it is the platform and it is the marketing machine who creates for the Frankfurt audience a general positive atmosphere around the topic of Egypt. I want to use this momentum in order to present young bands, unknown artists and even completely unknown comedians to Germany.”

The festival kicks off on Nov. 15 with the photography exhibition “To Egypt with Love” in the foyer of the main exhibition hall on Mainzer Landstrasse (free of charge).

“To Egypt with Love” received notable accolade upon its highly successful opening this past March in Cairo’s Safar Khan Gallery. The group exhibition features the work of young photographers Alaa Taher, Bassem Samir and Hossam Hassan. The three artists ventured out into the heart of the January 25 uprising, capturing their different perspectives of the transformational uprising.

The exhibition will run through Jan. 22, 2012 and will also feature the 2009 video, “A774 Project: On Presidents & Superheroes,” by renowned visual artist Khaled Hafez. Both works are showing outside of Egypt for the first time.

Safar Khan Gallery will also present an exhibition titled, “Egyptian Art Today,” starting March 7, 2012, exposing contemporary paintings, photography and video art curated for the festival in Frankfurt.

On the first anniversary of the dawn of the Egyptian January 25 revolution, an exhibition titled, “From Facebook to Nassbook,” will open to commemorate the occasion.

“Nass,” the Arabic word for “people,” showcases the work of nine artists and their interpretation of the internet outage on Jan. 28, when people shifted communication from online social media back to word-of-mouth tactics.

The exhibit first opened in the Mica Gallery in London, shown during the “Shubbak Festival of Contemporary Arab Culture” in London earlier this year. It aims to expose how social networks have played a pivotal role in organizing mass protests in Egypt and the Arab Spring.

The festival hosts a number of book readings by both established and young authors. Khaled Al-Khamissi will be reading episodes from his bestseller, “Taxi.” The book offers a keen insight into the mindset of Egyptian politics and society before the revolution.
Additional notable literary highlights include: Mansoura Ez-Eldin discussing her 2010 novel, “Behind Paradise,” on the opening night of the fest.

Ghada Abdel Aal will be reading excerpts from her blog, “Wanna Be a Bride,” which has been published into a hugely successful book and was recently adapted into a TV series.

Revered novelist Gamal Al-Ghitani will discuss his acclaimed book “Pyramid Texts,” an exploration of the relation between Sufi mysticism and medieval Islamic history with ancient Egypt.

Celebrating what would be Naguib Mahfouz’s 100th birthday on Dec. 11, renewed German theater actor Ulrich Pleitgen will be reading from Mahfouz’s “Cairo Modern,” a novel written in 1945 that, nonetheless, speaks directly to the current realities of Egyptian society. The book was recently published in German.

Concluding the literary program of the festival, the Cairo-based bookstore Al Kotob Khan will present emerging authors not yet published in Germany, including, writers such as Yasser Abdul Latif, Mohamed Rabie, Al Taher Shargawy and Mohamed Abdel Nablin.

On Dec. 14, the “Egyptian Film in Frankfurt’s Cinema” will kick off a film series with Marwan Hamed’s adaptation of Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling novel, “The Yacoubian Building.”

Running through late February 2012, a gamut of films will be screened, including classics such as Youssef Chahine’s “Alexandria… Why?,” the restored version of Shadi Abdel Salam’s “Al-Momia” (The Mummy), combined with Ahmad Abdalla’s indie smash “Microphone.”

Topping off the festival will be a series of live performances, including theater, stand-up comedy and live music. On Jan. 28, a play by Thomas Rau titled “A Night with Nefertiti” will relay the story of the world-famous bust of the ancient Egyptian queen, currently on display at the Neues Museum in Berlin and what happens when she comes to life afterhours.

On March 8 and 9, also in the exhibition foyer, “Comedy from Kairo” will introduce Frankfurt to Egypt’s contemporary comedic culture in a two-day stand-up comedy performance featuring Rami Boraie, Mo’ Love, High on Body Fat and other comedians.

Coming to Frankfurt’s Gallus Theater on April 4 is Dalia Basiouny’s highly insightful monodrama, “Solitaire.” The one-woman play follows a decade in the life of a character in her thirties named Mona, starting with the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City and ending with Egypt’s Jan. 25 uprising.

Starting March 30 in Frankfurt’s famous music club “Das Bett,” Egyptian top electronic music band “Bikya” will hit the stage with the musical expressions of Mahmoud Waly, Mahmoud Refat and Maurice Louca, combining a unique sound of classic techno, funk, trip-hop and folktronica.

The music program also features “Nass Makan,” bringing together some of the finest traditional musicians in Egypt and Sudan, introducing Frankfurt to the more folkloric, traditional sounds of Egypt.

Rounding up the music series is Alexandria-based rock band “Massar Egbari” with their entertaining mixture of rock, jazz, blues and a few oriental elements. The group was recently named an “artist for intercultural dialogue between Arab and Western worlds” by UNESCO.

Arguably one of the largest and richest programs of its kind, “A Festival of Egyptian Culture” is a welcomed platform for cross-cultural dialogue between Egypt and Germany.

The program not only aims to expand cultural awareness but it also helps to mobilize the exposure of contemporary Egyptian art and literature, furthering the needed development of culture during a time of major socio-political upheaval in Egypt.

“Although Egypt currently has economic problems and political sorrows, when I’ve come to Egypt [post Jan. 25] I feel an open atmosphere almost like Berlin after the fall of the [Berlin] Wall,” Scholz said. “Suddenly galleries came out of the earth like mushrooms everywhere; you had graffiti and new art, comics, books and bands.

“Through this festival, we want to promote Egypt and tourism while expressing that Egypt is still a wonderful country. I hope we can transport this message in our German publicity of the festival.”

www.egypt.travel

Green Prophet’s Whirlwind Trip to the Siwa Oasis in Egypt

Tafline Laylin 

http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/11/greenprophet-siwa-oasis-egypt/

This was the plan: leave at 8pm Friday night from Turgoman station in Cairo. Arrive in Siwa at 5.30am and meet my friend Gwen from France at the Siwa Inn Hotel. Bestow copious hugs and kisses before finding Vivek, a Couchsurfing buddy who traveled from Alexandria. And then, after introducing my friends, relax in this beautiful oasis just 30 miles east of Libya before taking the Sunday overnight bus back to Cairo.

Here’s what really happened: the bus showed up with a broken belt, but I and a handful of other passengers, including a couple from Sicily, climbed on anyway. We were driven to a greasy junkyard, where we were given a bus that I was sure had not seen the light of day in months but that pacified a group of now grumpy Egyptian passengers. Finally, three hours behind schedule, bus #2 with the wheezy engine finally hit the road… and then broke down the following morning one hour shy of our destination!

Tafline’s whirlwind tour became even more of a whirlwind when the bus broke down not once, but twice, en route to the Siwa oasis near Libya!

Siwa is a colorful, sleepy town that lies in a depression roughly 30 feet below sea level. In the summer, fair-skinned people need not come by. But in November, the sun eases off during the day and the evenings are cool enough fo-r a camp fire.

The area is known for its dates, olives, olive oil, and a few other cottage industries. It is also renowned for its green building techniques (more on all of this to come). Because of its remote and tranquil location 350 miles away from the hustle and bustle of an increasingly-tense Cairo, it has become a popular destination. But this isn’t necessarily great for the locals, who are beginning to face serious water shortages. Although there are signs of destructive tourism operations, we received a rare look at the same soporific inner workings that have sustained this community for hundreds of years.

The population currently stands at roughly 23,000, comprised mostly of Berbers. While theyshare the same gentle, hospitable attitude of the Berbers that Karin and I met during our respective stays in Morocco, the Siwi language here is distinctly different.

Gwen and Yehia, a prominent local man whose 19 brothers and sisters (from two mothers, I should add) own a lot of agricultural property in and around Siwa, came to my rescue at the side of the highway at 9am on Saturday morning. Bus #3 showed up two minutes later, but we didn’t care. We left that bus in our dust!

It’s easy to lose track of time wondering among the dusty streets alongside donkeys and tuk tuks, watching young boys and men completing their daily chores, or else sipping sugary chai in the shade.

A short climb up the melted Shali fortress made of mud-brick and salt provides a wonderful sense of perspective. From the top, there are views of two small salt lakes, a valley full of leafy green palms used for pretty much everything, and the necropolis or mountain of the dead rises in a lumpy mound on the outskirts of town.

The planned group of three turned to six: the couple from Sicily joined our party, I called them Juicy and Crunchy, Vivek met Pierre from Quebec on his bus, Gwen spent the day meandering through town with us before leaving on Saturday night, and then there was me.. happy as can be away from the city again.

Stay tuned over the next few days for a peek at a group of woman in Siwa who make carpets under the army’s watchful management, the man who lost an eye to salt crafts, Siwa’s veteran green builder,and the man who makes olive oil that is good enough to drink…

Blinded by a balloon ride

APARNA KARTHIKEYAN
http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/article2618294.ece

How Aparna Karthikeyan hurt her eye in Luxor — but not before it had captured some breathtaking sights presented by the ancient land against the rising sun

“Please, can you show me your hip,” said the doctor, primly averting his eyes.

“But doctor,” I said, “it’s my left eye that’s injured.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that,” he said, in a clear, unaccented English, “but I need to give you this injection.” He brandished, from the depths of his bag, a large needle. First a prick in the eye and now this, I thought resignedly, and rolled over.

We were in Luxor, Egypt, staying in a sumptuously relaxing resort, the Nile hugging its backyard, slender palm-trees and white-sailed feluccas lending the rugged landscape an air of elegance, a touch of softness. After the heat and dust of Cairo, Luxor was a blessed relief, the deliciously cool air drifting across the Nile soothing the days, and chilling the nights. Having had our fill of the wonders of ancient Egypt and overwhelmed by its exhaustive history, we recklessly walked up to the travel desk and signed up for a hot-air balloon ride the next morning. And then spent the entire evening worrying if we had done the right thing…

Long before dawn cracked and cocks crowed, we piled into a bus to reach the pier to take a boat to the ballooning site. We hugged ourselves and rubbed hands to keep warm, until we saw the field with the balloons. It warmed us, mind, soul, everything.

Dotted all over the great, rolling sand-drifts, there sat tens of balloons, their multi-coloured canopies brilliantly lit by the roaring fire in their bellies, the people awaiting to alight bathed in a neon-orange after-glow. We were quickly ushered to our wicker basket (about the size of a small car) surrounded by some busy and several idle ground-staff, the whole set-up so reminiscent of India, that we couldn’t help smiling…

It was the last smile in a while though, until the balloon reached cruising altitude in any case, for it was quite frightening initially, the tongue of flame (the burner ably controlled by the pilot) flaring with sudden boom-booms to sweep more hot air into the nearly taut balloon. And when the ropes were finally released, we took off, dangling from the enormous red balloon, into a sky that was fast fading from a velvety purple to a blushing rose. The pilot, we quickly realised, was clearly experienced (though he teased us that this was his first flight too and asked us all to pray, hard) and extremely knowledgeable (then again, half the people we had met in the trip sounded like veteran Egyptologists!). He briskly pointed out monuments dotting the sands below and his witty quips, especially ‘that massive complex, over there, is the Hot-Chicken-Soup Temple’ loosened us up considerably. (‘Hot-Chicken-Soup’, we later learnt, was a corruption of the name ‘Hatshepsut’, one of Egypt’s celebrated woman Pharaohs).

The rising sun, in the meantime, decided to put up a spectacular show — for our sole pleasure, it almost felt — the fiery orange ball staining the horizon in bands of red, orange and pale butter-yellow. In a matter of minutes, the whole landscape visibly lightened up, the dull brown craggy hillocks suddenly glowing orange-gold, throwing long, silky shadows between their folds. By then we were ballooning-veterans, relaxed as we took pictures of the shifting images beneath us — one minute, a snapshot of the Nile, a thick blue ribbon snaking through the narrow verdant strip, many hot-air balloons leisurely floating over the jewel-green fields, looking very much like enormous, showy flowers. And the very next minute, we were drifting above the vast expanse of the desert, dotted alternatively by majestic ancient monuments and far more recent clusters of peasant houses.

All too soon (45 minutes, to be precise), it was over. We began our descent, skimming over other people’s terraces, peeping into their backyards, the humble peasant homes with their dark brown thatched roofs and white idli-domes, as frayed as anything from ancient Egypt. Cows breakfasted on dull-green scrubs, the washing hung limply from sagging lines, and in the distance, we watched fascinated as a small boy went about his business, on the back of a stout, galloping donkey.

The ground crew had already assembled and taken their positions, and when the basket neatly touched the golden desert sand, they took-over, helping the giddily happy passengers out. Collecting our ever-so-cheesy certificates, we took our places in the boat, and all it took was one terribly excited child wildly waving about the awfully sharp edged square of cardboard to ruin a perfectly glorious morning. The sharp edge pricked my left eye deep. I glared balefully with my one good eye, but it was no use — it needed all the ministrations of the kindly Egyptian physician the hotel recommended, and the massive doses of painkillers and steroids (which he insisted on injecting into my hip) to make the journey back home tolerable. A journey that has since remained memorable for loads of right reasons and one blindingly wrong one.