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Archive for February, 2008
Medical Must Haves
1. Pepto-Bismal
2. Liquid Hand Sanitizer
3. Band Aids (with different sized adhesives)
4. Polysporin
5. Ibuprofen (Advil)
6. Benadryl
7. Sleeping Pills
8. Gravol
9. Sudafed
Playgrounds
source: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/kidsguideegypt1.htm
Above is a picture of Pyramids Park Intercontinental Resort which is on the way from Cairo to Alexandria alongside the dessert rode.
Wow. A website dedicated to detailing amusement parks around the world: http://sv4kids.com/FunParks/Egypt_Index.htm
There are three amusement parks in Alex. Supposedly. Because it seems Sinbad Fun Park is also in Cairo. Or there isn’t one in Alex. Guess I will find out. Yes, I found out, its near Cairo Airport.
Sinbad Fun Park
CairoLand Fun Park
Greek – Roman Museum
Other information about children visiting egypt and what to do or what to avoid is at a TourEgypt website. In particular note the warning for dehydration:
“Kids are reluctant to drink as much liquids as they should in the hot Egyptian climate. Adding a bit of KoolAid to the mineral water can make it taste much better. Most kids who get ill in Egypt do so because they have not had enough water. Also, it is a good idea, especially in southern Egypt, to get an early start on visiting the monuments if possible, finishing up by late morning and thus spending the remainder of the day back at the hotel. Also, beware of the street animals in Egypt. Cats, and even a few dogs roam the streets of some Egyptian cities, particularly Cairo, and it is not a good idea for kids or adults to touch these often feral animals.”
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/kidsguideegypt1.htm
Some more amusement parks or play areas, but in Cairo are at this website:http://guides.capecod-discounthotels.com/index.jsp?cid=1&action=viewLocation&formId=65723
No Street Maps…???!!!
source: http://www.iictd.org/medvoices/alexandria/images/alexandria_map_large.jpg
I will be so disorientated unless I have a map. Wait a minute, there are no streets in Alex so my husband reminds me — but wait, I distinctly remember driving around in a car. Are we serious? There really are NO street maps of Alex?
Not really. I guess the Egyptians want to further engage the economy by having the tourist depend on the knowledge of travel guides and taxi drivers. Well, I have the advantage of my inlaws and sister in law to guide me, but I do want to wonder out on my own as well…
Here is the website: http://www.askmaps.com/001/ml210.php It actually includes a hand-drawn map of the tramways for the city.
Another website is http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Egypt&t=h&z=12&ll=31.22249,29.95903 which has a so-called street map (with no street names) and a facinating satellite picture.
Starbucks!
source of picture: http://www.starbucks.ca/en-ca/
Believe it or not Starbucks has arrived in Egypt. I’m not sure yet if that is a good thing.
Not one but TWO starbucks! One in San Stefano mall, city center and the other one in Carrefour, downtown.
I’ll probably avoid high-priced bad coffee. According to Zahraa Awed, there are many coffee shops: “Cilantro, Dino, Beano’s, and Costa cafe…Harris cafe in Green Plaza and San Stefano Mall, Fever in Ramal Station, Grand Cafe, Coffee Roastery, Delight , Jungle , Athenaos, Trianon, and Delice.”
Recommended Websites
I remember seeing this statue when I visited Alexandria back in 2003.
Slideshow and History of Alexandria, along with remarkable pictures of various tourist attractions:
Excellent TourEgypt website detailing specific sites, blogs, restaurants, internet cafes, cultural centers, bookshops, in Alex:
Alexandria News: Newsletter type format (although self-described as a blog) for tourists.
Newsarticle about Alexandria http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-alexandria_pmoct28,0,3105615.story?page=1
Understandings
Last time I visited Egypt, I somewhat started this adventure somewhat educated about what to expect, since I have known and befriended Egyptian friends, and even married one, and have delved into various books that detailed the culture in an intimate, and quite frank manner. So I knew, for example, that if one should receive guests, and if the guest should provide the host with a gift, then the gift would not, under any circumstances, be opened in the presense of guests. It would be enjoyed privately, later. I think understanding the indoniscrincies of such a culture, or any culture, is useful, particulary since their are a multitude of misunderstandings and miscommunications that could likely result — and I would rather save myself and others the stress or hard feelings.
Recommended Markets
Review by S. Franklin, of the Chicago Tribune:
“From the synagogue, I stay on Sharia Nabi Daniel (the Street of the Prophet Daniel), and in a few minutes and after a few turns, I am at the Souk Attarine. Once it sold spices and perfumes from distant markets and countries. Nowadays, it is an antique market, and after a few minutes, I consider it one of my favorites in all the Middle East.
I like the adventure of wandering up and down small streets, not knowing what is next. There’s no sense of the suffocation that you get from the giant, old marketplaces. Attarine is not enclosed and it rambles for blocks. The streets are so narrow cars can’t get through many of them. Some stores are crowded beyond imagination. They have been cut in half to create a small second story.
A changed city
“It’s too hard to find good old things,” complains an elderly shopkeeper in the doorway of one of these tiny stores, who doesn’t blink as we chit-chat in Arabic, a language I learned a quarter of a century ago. I find his words hard to believe because his store has an unbelievable selection of fine old ceramics, mirrors and furniture. But I agree with him, and try to keep a stoic uninterested glance so I won’t ruin my bargaining mojo.
Books on Alexandria
Rewiew by S. Franklin of Chicago Tribune
“Miramar” by Naguib Mahfouz.
“City of Saffron” by Edwar al Kharrat.
“The Alexandria Quartet” by Lawrence Durrell. The four novels are “Justine” (1957), “Balthazar” (1958), “Mountolive” (1958) and “Clea” (1960).
“Poems” by C.P. Cavafy, Essential Cavafy, the Essential Poets Series.
“Alexandria: A History and a Guide” (1922) by E.M. Forster.
Place to Escape if Mother-in-Law Becomes Too Demanding
Reviews by S. Franlin of Chicago Tribune:
Helnan Palestine Hotel, Montazah Palace (3-547-3500);http://www.helnan.com/hotels/pal/pal_home.htm , an upscale facility on the grounds of the royal family’s old summer resort. The private beach is a gem. $200 single/$250 double.
Cecil Hotel, a Sofitel hotel, 16 Saad Zaghloul Square (3-487-7173;http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/1726/fiche_hotel.shtml ), a classy reminder of the city’s history. Ask for a view of the sea if possible — though that will cost more. The Asian restaurant on the rooftop is good, and the view is neat. $200 single/$260 double.
Paradise Metropole Inn, 52 Sharia Saad Zaghloul (3-482-1467;http://www.paradiseinnegypt.com ), another historic monument that reeks of old Alexandria. Built in 1902 and designed by Italian and Greek architects, it is a testament to vanished elegance. It feels like a funky museum. $135 single/$155 double.
Paradise Inn Windsor Palace, 17 el Shohada Street (3-480-8123). In the same area as Cecil Hotel, this well-kept, elaborately decorated hotel was built in 1906. It is a toss-up whether this or the Metropole feels more like a time capsule. $135 single/$155 double.
