Having registered a couple of mumfs ago, I'm up (or is that down ???) to page 70.. Found a couple of items I had to reply to, most items very helpful. As a Scot (takes us 2 weeks in the sun to turn from blue to white as Billy Connoly would say)living in Egypt for the past 9 years, and a frequent traveller into the local deserts, I find a lot of the posts very helpful, in particular those posted by WOFT, MINIME, PARAMEDICPETE, I've missed a couple, forgive me !?!. If any members are thinking of visiting this part of the world, contact me if you need any advice on where to go or stay. It really is a wonderful country... pity there are so many Egyptians (hope you realise by now that I have a pretty irreverent sense on humour.. notice also CORRECT English spellings !!??!!.... Seriously, a great site, and as soon as I can Doug, my donation will be winging it's way!! <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Well, I don't have any pyramid excursions planned in the near future, but thanks for the offer.

And welcome aboard! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ahlan wa sahlan becom

Bonjour et Bienvenue à bord.

Welcome to the forum. <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Shokran ya Basha..!!

Welcome! And I just Want you to Know, that Cairo and it's Pyramids is One of the Main Places that I Want to Touch Down on!, -on my Dream Round the World Trip someday! And Spend Some Time there! (As Well as Elsewhere in Egypt!)

I Want to Touch Down at Cairo's International Airport, on some Blazingly Brite, Hot, Sunny, Blue Cloudless Sky, Midsummer, Sahara Day Afternoon! And Step Out of that Plane Right into the UN-Air Conditioned Egyptian Sun and Heat!

But with New Terrorism Concerns, -I'm More Leery about Flying to such Places, than I've been Before!

We Can't Let them Get to U.S.! But we've Got to be Realistic in these New and Dangerous Enuff, -Circumstances and Times!

I of course would Still Love to Take my Trip Round the World someday!, -One Way or Another, -Nevertheless!

Your Pyramids / Cairo / and Egypt!, -Are Again a Top One among Them!

We Welcome What you can Relay to us from the Desert! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Whisky69[/email]

Hi Scott,
It's a destination everyone should head for at least once in their lives, although it is a bit of a 'culture shock' for quite a few. It's a place you love or hate, with no middle ground. I've known folks to come here to work on 6 month contracts and fled within a fortnight, others arriving on the same terms are still here after 20 years !?!
It really is an amazable(??) country with some of the friendliest people I've ever met who are willing to put themselves out at the drop of a hat for you.
As far as terrorism goes, the Govt. here crack down hard on any hint or suspicion of it since the incident in Luxor a couple of Christmasses ago and I would stick my neck out and say the chances are negligible.
My wife and I often venture out into the deserts along with our two German Shepherds in my motorised roller skate (Daewoo Matiz), and we have never had any really anxious moments. On one trip I managed to bog down the front wheels about 300mtrs from the sea, about 1km and out of sight of the main road in Sinai. After about an hour I gave up trying to dig us out, and we set up camp for the night. Around 8 next morning, a pick-up came along the shoreline with two Bedouin on board and made a beeline for us. At the time, my Arabic was almost non-existent, and these two had no English but we managed to communicate and the conversation went something like this... "We have a problem with the car" "I can see that! How long have you been here??" "Since about 5 yesterday afternoon" "OK, I was here at 3, and nobody else here" walks back to pick-up laughing and pulls two sand mats from the back. We were back on firm ground within a couple of minutes, and when I tried to thank them in the traditional manner with a 10 pound note, this was refused. Instead, he asked if we had any water!! Off they went, waving into the distance with two bottles of chilled mineral water from our coolbox, happy as Larry!!
I'm rambling a bit now, but could go on for hours. I have to say there are quite a few unpleasant sides to Egypt, but believe me, the good sides outweigh the bad by far.
Best wishes.

Hello!, and Thanx for your Further Thots and Observations on Egypt! Guys like al Zawahiri Notwithstanding, -Much of Egypt is a Matter of *Not* having to Worry so Much about Terrorism and Such! Not Entirely, now, as I'm Sure you also Feel. But Egypt is Generally a Quieter Country, in many of those Regards. Some Other Arab / Mideastern / Islamic Countries are Plenty Dicier and Worse!

There's also an Excellent Book on Saharan Overland Travel!, by Chris Scott! I'm Sorry that the Title Escapes me at the Moment, but I Think it's "Sahara Overland" or something Similar. And I Think it's Put Out by Trailblazer, Oddysey, or Somebody. It's a Large Sized Paperback, and Mostly Tannish Brown. It is Current. And Chock Full of Sahara and Saharan Desert Travel Information! Both Vehicular and On Foot! It Speaks Much and Well!, about Things like Driving in Sand! And Avoiding Sand and Getting Out of Sand Jams! Among So Much Else! There's Beautiful Full Color Photo Spreads of Areas in the Sahara, as Well!

You Shud be Able to Find it thru "Borders", and Maybe "Barnes and Noble" Places like Amazon may Bear Fruit here for you, as Well!

I Made some Good Look Thrus of it at one of my Local Borders. Presently it's Not There. I've Seen it Come and Go Several Times already. Someone Else has Bought this Superb Book! I'll either See it Around Again!, -or Go the Ordering Route with them!

I can Only Very, Very Highly Recommend it!!!
[color:"black"] [/color] [email]Whisky69[/email]

Hello again Scott,
If you want a book to read, I can thoroughly recommend "The Other Egypt"- (Travels in No-Mans Land) by Wael Abed. Written by and Egyptian, the text lacks somwhat in the translation, and the printing lacks in quality (produced here), but thebook in itself is excellent. As far as reading material goes, I would rate it ***** - 5star!!!.
I hope to be doing something with this man and his team in the near future as regards providing tours for foreigners, so watch this space......