What no to do when you travel to Egypt. Part ONE.

The year 2008.

It was an excellent year for traveling.  My wife Angie and I took a tour of two countries, Egypt and Jordan.  It was a bucket list item for both of us.  Angie planned the whole thing while I was just expecting the result.  She chose a tour company that everything was included, air, transfers, hotels, tours and a cruise on the Nile.

 

As travelers we are good in using common sense to some situations, more Angie than myself.  I am a 6'2" fellow with long legs and torso.  My wife on the other hand is petite and great.

 

We departed from New York City on board of Royal Jordanian.  The flight was long, and bearable, the crew was really professional and the landing was good. 

 

Arrived in Jordan Capital for couple of hours for our next flight to Cairo.  Smaller plane, great crew again and of course full of tourist eager to get out of the carrier to enjoy our time in the African country.

 

A representative picked us up at the Airport.  Again, very professional, direct us to our tour bus, then there is where everything started to fall apart (Please read it as a predicament for my wife, not as bad as for me).  He told us what to expect, the temperatures, the traditions, and the most important thing, "NO ONE FOLLOWS the road rules.  So if we were going to adventure into the city that night, just remember that."

 

The bus arrived as presented in the guide to the great Giza, we entered the place that already was full of other tourist from all over the world, and the grand majority were people from the United States.  (Back then I was just a resident , so I have to follow different rules for entering the country).

 

Once there, they let us be for couple of hours before heading to our hotel situated just in the main square and next to the Nile.  Our room had a great view of the city. 

 

The following day we met our tour guide, very professional, very intelligent, the man knew his stuff.

 

We left the hotel after our breakfast in direction to the most famous market in Cairo.  While on the bus he told us "Please, don't call attention to yourselves, be diligent, wear plain clothes, and no shorts..."

 

My wife just looked like a.....  I can even write about her face and reaction.  I was dressed the same way as the opposite.

 

 

To be continued...