| Author | Message | ||
     elizabeth (213.122.172.246) |
I returned from a nile cruise two weeks ago. I went with my sister, and neither of us will ever visit egypt again. We were hassled relentlessy and continually at every site we visited. This was such a shame, because both of us have had a lifelong interest in egypt. At Kitcheners Island, we were literally surrounded by a mob of shouting vendors, and I was grabbed several times. I had to be rescued by our tour guide. These people even tried to follow us into the felucca which was to take us back to our ship, and the tour guide told them to leave. They stood on the bank behind the feluccas, shouting and still trying to get people to buy. The cacophony of noise was deafening. We sailed out into the river feeling shaken and shell shocked, and it is an experience we will never forget. They would make many more sales if people were not hassled. The Egyptian staff on our ship, however, were attentive and helpful, always polite and a total contrast to the vendors. But the shine was taken off our trip, and although I will continue my studies of ancient egypt, I will never again go there. | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (63.252.172.70) |
Elizbeth, I have made five trips to Egypt all to northern (Lower) Egypt. I have never been mobbed, but I have found the locals at Giza particularly annoying. They can be perisitent and sometimes difficult to get rid off. They really spoil the site and on occassion I have gotten pretty mad at them. On the other hand, they are poor, and this is how they make a living. In times when tourism is down, they are probably more annoying as they try to bring home a buck....er....pound. Overall, I have found the Egyptian people to be very nice and considerate. They make a high art out of lying and getting you to part with your money - you just have to understand that. On the other hand I have never been concerned about being robbed. I have been asked for absolutely everything I was carrying on the chance I might give something away, but I never worried about them grabbing my camera and running away. Give them another chance - they are really very nice people. Charlie | ||
| Djehuty (205.188.198.24) |
To criticize a people and country that you are visiting seems irrational: you are there by your own decision and can leave just as easily. The people of Egypt generally have no such option. If they annoy you, just remember that you are on their land, and have the same rights to it as you do to your land. Remember that you are a guest of these people, not their superior. Cut them a little slack, won't you? | ||
| Ronlyons (24.199.141.69) |
Djehuty; I didn't see her criticizing or judging them, they were the ones grabbing her and shouting and harrassing her. And she did leave, and she did say she wouldn't be back. She didn't try to take their land from them, or be their superior. | ||
| Djehuty (64.12.107.162) |
I know, I'm not addressing her in particular, but those who think in the way I described. I've met some tourists who act in this way, so I thought I'd just say it as a general statement. I didn't mean to criticize her in particular. | ||
| Djehuty (198.81.16.34) |
P. S.- It was late and I was tired. | ||
| Ronlyons (66.57.139.237) |
Ha, no problem. I've heard both sides... I can imagine (and don't hate me for this) that for a woman travelling alone (or with her sister) it might be kind of nerve-racking. It probably wouldn't bother me as much as her, but she kinda has the right to be upset about them basically mobbing her. | ||
| Djehuty (198.81.17.161) |
Yeah, I understand too. Thanks for your feedback. | ||
| Brent Benjamin (12.4.169.51) |
There is no excuse for rudeness, whether from a merchant who is pushy or grabby, or from a tourist. I think we've all been at the point of being angry on many occasions, particularly on the Plateau. I have found Bonnie's suggestions to be the best way to go. Indeed, I must concede that I have gotten some postcards and books cheaper in the VOK than in the bookshops in Luxor. I have not seen the mob activity mentioned by Elizabeth above. Again, not as an excuse (because that is upsetting), but simply as an observation, I wonder how difficult it must be to try to provide for your family with a pound that is worth half what it was a few years ago and fewer tourists. Anybody want a camel ride - cheap - just for you - because I like you. His name is Britney. I give you good price. Brent | ||
| Elizabeth (213.122.183.160) |
To Ron - Firstly, I would like to thank you for your supportive messages above - yes, it is very difficult for women travelling alone, anywhere in the world. I am a widow of 55, and I lost my husband to cancer almost four years ago. He loved to travel, and this trip to Egypt was my first real holiday since Graham died. I know that he would have handled the situation with humour and a good grace, and I tried to do the same, but only felt intimidated. Wherever we went in the world, we always remembered that we were guests of the host country, and treated the people of that country with respect. I don't know if I'll ever go on holiday again, but if I do, it will certainly be European - probably Italy! Once again, thankyou. Very best wishes, Elizabeth. | ||
| Peter Vanderzwet (24.150.203.16) |
Some places in Italy aren't that much better for woman travellers.  | ||
| Louise (213.237.27.241) |
You're right Peter. Elizabeth, I know exactly what you are talking about, however I have nerver personally experienced this kind of mob-behaviour in Egypt. Pushy and annoying salespeople, yes, but I have never in any of my many trips to Egypt experienced an Egyptian trying to grab me or get physical in any other way. I have travelled alone as a woman, I lived alone in Cairo for half a year....I am very sorry you had this bad experience, but as many has stated above, this is not normal behaviour. Still, there is no excuse for what you experienced, of course. I have been working as a tourguide in Egypt for years, and neither on these occasions did I see things like you descibe. I sincerely hope you are feeling better now and will keep your interest in Ancient Egypt intact. best regards Louise | ||
| george (63.149.20.79) |
Elizabeth, I have been traveling to Egypt for twenty-five years and have had belongings I left behind at sites and in taxis returned to me and have received many kindnesses from the Egyptian people. I have also been cheated, accosted, lied to and robbed. Many people, especially women, have had the same experience you have. You did the right thing by going with a tour group, and that your tour guide took you into that situation is negligence on the part of the tour company. As with travel in any country bad things can, and do, happen to travelers in Egypt and I extend my apologies that you have received so many Pollyanna responses from posters on this string that appear to be blaming you for your bad experience. | ||
| elizabeth (213.122.8.232) |
George - Thankyou for your kind message - it was so nice to find that my experience on Kitcheners Island was so well understood by someone whose comments and opinions are clearly well informed. After twenty five years of travelling to Egypt you must know the country, and it's people, very well indeed. I found Egypt to be stunningly beautiful, and it's heritage spectacular. Karnak temple filled me with awe, but both my sister and myself loved the temple at Kom Ombo the best. It had a warm and comfortable atmosphere, as though it had only recently fallen into disuse. I will continue my studies as before, because I don't think anything could stop my interest in it. Once again, my sincere thanks to you. Very best wishes from Elizabeth. | ||
| Francesco Raffaele (Francesco) (62.98.182.216) |
Peter I think most of the places in the world where there is poverty are dangerous or at least 'better to keep off of' for women or single persons. Not only Italy or Egypt. In Egypt the problem of girls/women being grabbed when alone or when showing not to be able to have to do with Egyptians often depends on their look; even when they dress in an unsexy way, foreign women are generally more sexy than Egyptians' standards (in the streets as on TV). Boys can always understand when a person is frightened or aT least unsure. When accompainded by men, foreign girls are respected but stared at the same way; as they were naked. But that's a cultural matter; the same would happen to an Egyptian girl without veil on her face and wearing tight bluejeans... About getting overpestered it clearly depends on how much one looks rich, and how much decise. If equipped with expensive dresses and cameras one will be certainly more aimed at than another one less well dressed. But if one can't avoid certain things it must be rigid, say No once and for all, not repeating No,No,No,No or the like, or be hesitating. And, as already told by Brent, remember that they re noy lucky as we are; they ll probably never be able to get out of their city and see other countries. I must say that sometimes, when in Egypt, I ve bought stg only as a kind of charity; but on the other hand, when assailed by artful guys of asked for increased prices than estabilished (Taxi drivers) I almost treated them as I would do in my country (Italy) with extracomunitaries or thieves. Mors tua vita mea. But I ve often felt sad when thinking about the fact of how hard is to gain few pounds in Egypt and how poor most of them are compared to us Westerners. Francesco EARLY DYNASTIC EGYPT P.S. Since when I ve gone to Egypt for the first time I think that nothing would stop me from returning there, neither if there was plague. | ||
| george (63.149.20.137) |
Elizabeth, As you know we are all Egyptophiles on this board and believe visiting Egypt is worth a bit of hassle. I hope you will too. Most trips go well. |
