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Lower Egypt Travel Blogs

Background: The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.



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Areas in Lower Egypt: Cairo | Giza | Suez | Tanta

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By The Mieran s
October 10th 2008

Pyramids

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
26/09/08 - 29/09/08 We arrived at our hotel near by the Great Pyramids of Giza. We first saw them while still on the main road through Ciaro. It would be very hard to get lost with a land mark like the Pyramids to guide you. It seemed very strange to see their shape jutting up into the sky as you walk out into the street outside the hotel. It is surprising how close they are to suburbia. We imagined them to be out in the middle of the desert. They are boardered on one side by the desert, and houses on [View Full Entry]

The Mieran s - The Mieran's | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
726 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 7 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 10th 2008 | 24 Views | [diary=332793]

Pyramids and Sphinx at night
The girls and the Pyramids
Sophie and the Great Pyramid

By The Mieran s
October 10th 2008

Train trip to Nowhere

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
30/09/08 We woke on the train, nice and fresh, ready for breakfast at 7.00am. Breakfast still hadn't come by 8.00am so the girls rang the bell for the steward to find out where breakfast was, he arrived in his pj's and slippers and said breakfast will be here soon, as we were supposed to be arriving in Aswan at about 8.10 am, 9am came and still no breakfast. By this time the girls were starving and we were hungry too, once again the stewards bell was rung. This time he told us brekfast was on its way and that we [View Full Entry]

The Mieran s - The Mieran's | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
293 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 7 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 10th 2008 | 21 Views | [diary=332806]

Sophie having dinner on the train
The girls in bed
Horse and carriage ride

Sunrise over Luxor
Sunrise over Luxor
I never got this shot into my last blog - but I wanted you to see it. Amazing way to start the day...
We travel by road convoy from Luxor to Hurghada - 2 of these leave every day. Given that we are covering long stretches of uncontrolled territory this is the only way safe travel (and I use this term loosely) is possible. Between 20 and 30 minivans and coaches travel with 3 police vehicles, one up in front, one in the middle and one behind. There is a scheduled stop somewhere in the middle. More on convoys later... We arrive in Hurghada early evening but as it is dark any visual delights or disappointments will elude us until morning. The kids make [View Full Entry]

Missyoublue - Jo Luke | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
566 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 6 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 10th 2008 | 13 Views | [diary=333005]

Everchanging unlivable landscape on the road to Hurghada
Crystal clear....
No title required...

By LucyA41
October 10th 2008

Transition to Egypt

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
Yom Kipur- all roads in Jewish areas are closed as is the airport. We stayed as long as possible in our hotel room then walked around again. Had lunch at a local place in the market. Mike and Michael went back into the old city to shop. We returned to the Garden Tomb and took a tour this time. There were two different groups having worship services. We sat around the lobby a while then walked a few blocks to get gelato. I don't think they get many tourists. I won't bore you with the details of our experiences in the [View Full Entry]

LucyA41 - Lucy Yelton | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
349 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 10th 2008 | 8 Views | [diary=333017]


Balloon ride over the West Bank of Luxor
Balloon ride over the West Bank of Luxor
I have many more amazing photos of this ride, I cannot wait to share them with you all.
Holly and I have finished our tour and survived our first day in Cairo on our own, but I still haven't filled you in since we departed Aswan on our Nile cruise.... I broke a strap on my favourite pair of sandals in Aswan before our Nile cruise boat checked out. "No worries" remarks our tour leader and local Egyptologist Michael. Everyone has some business or other to take care of in Aswan before we leave anyway...It's the first day after Ramadam and there is plenty of celebrating but not a lot of retail action even though it's 7.00pm and prime [View Full Entry]

Missyoublue - Jo Luke | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
539 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 9th 2008 | 22 Views | [diary=332666]

Temple at Kom Ombo
Temple of Horus @ Edfu
Temple of the only female Pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut

By The Mieran s
October 7th 2008

Cairo

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
24/09/08-29/09/08 We arrived safely early in the morning and transferred to our 7 star ritzy hotel. It was a flash one. Luckily we got a good deal by booking early, which included breakfast and dinner, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford the food. We felt a little out of place with our backpacks and shorts and T shirts. But we were made very welcome and the girls were a hit with everyone. We used these couple of days to rest and relax after a fast paced wildlife safari. The hotel served the best variety of food, which is [View Full Entry]

The Mieran s - The Mieran's | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
233 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 6 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 7th 2008 | 46 Views | [diary=331890]

Normal Pool
Khan Al- Khalili Markets
Hhan Al Khalili Markets

By Rob Fox
October 6th 2008

Saqqara and Dashur

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
Today, I travelled about 30 km south of the city to the ancient burial ground of Saqqara. It is home to Zoser's pyramid, which is the oldest in the world. I also visited many of the Old Kingdom tombs. Next, I went another 10 km south to Dashur and saw the Bent Pryamid as well as the Red Pyramid. I even got to go inside and explore the various chambers. [View Full Entry]

Rob Fox - Robert Fox | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
69 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 16 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 6th 2008 | 32 Views | [diary=331477]

Red Pyramid
Egyptian Military and Me
Tunnel to the chamber

I went to The Northern Cemetery in Islamic Cairo. It is one of poorest spots and is not only a place of burial but a home to many. Clothing lines are hung between head stones and the government recognizes it to be a residential area. It is almost heartbreaking to see how life here is carried out on a daily basis. Many people came to live here after there homes were destroyed in the earthquakes in 1992. In this area there are the tombs of Muhammed Ali's family as well. [View Full Entry]

Rob Fox - Robert Fox | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
90 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 6 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 6th 2008 | 25 Views | [diary=331595]

Home
Tombs
My friend

By Rob Fox
October 3rd 2008

Birqash Camel Market

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
Today, I wanted to escape the madness of the city and I headed about an hour and a half north of the city towards Birqash Camel Market. It was on the edge of the western desert and was a contrast compared to the city. As I was riding there, it was relieve to see the city get smaller and eventually disappear. As we got further down the road, the area became green and fertile, with the Nile river flowing beside me. We entered a small rural town where goods were being pulled along the road beside us by donkeys, trash was [View Full Entry]

Rob Fox - Robert Fox | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
284 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 11 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 3rd 2008 | 38 Views | [diary=330369]

Trader and me
Enjoying the sheesha
Nile

By Rob Fox
October 2nd 2008

Domestic Politics

 Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
After being here over a month, I wanted to dive into the politics of this nation briefly and connect them with my experiences. Hosni Mubarek is the ruler of this nation. He has been in power since 1981, after the assasination of the former ruler Sadat by Islamic militants. Egypt's foreign debt is now currently over about 33 billion dollars and there is no doubt that the government would collapse without the United States 2 billion in aid annually. There is a large economic gap between the rich and the poor and we see the need for housing, jobs, and land [View Full Entry]

Rob Fox - Robert Fox | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
270 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 2nd 2008 | 39 Views | [diary=330240]

Poster
Poverty


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