Planning a trip to Egypt (April)

---

Hi Friends!

I know I never addressed the abrupt stop to my blogs when I was backpacking through Europe back in 2008, so I want to quickly explain now. The day my blog stopped was the day I had received news that my grandfather had died suddenly of a heart attack back home. I just couldn't find the strength at the time to write about that tear-filled day. I loved my grandfather very much and wanted to be with my family, yet I knew that my grandfather would rather me stay in his home country of Ireland. Similarly, I didn't feel it would be decent to skip over that day either, so consumed by emotion, I stopped blogging and just phoned home every few days as I continued my travels. I hope you all understand. I do admit now, as I read over the blogs from the beginning of my Europe trip, that it would have been really nice to be able to look back and read about each of my days in France, Spain, Italy, Vatican City, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

That being said, I'm planning my next trip and fully plan on using my blog while I travel. Especially since the destination is Egypt :-) It'll be an incredibly memorable 10 days filled with all sorts of history and culture. Contrary to my previous travels, I'm not travelling alone (to my mother's relief). I will be going on this adventure with my boyfriend, Michael. I'm so lucky to have met someone like Michael, who genuinely shares my passion for travel. He's seen quite a few unique places himself including Brazil and South Africa (I'm jealous!).

As I'm working long hours I really appreciate having this trip to look forward to. Michael and I really can't wait. I bought a text book "The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt" and every date we've had since we've booked our trip has turned into some sort of history lesson on Ancient Egypt. Maps and guidebooks cover the kitchen table. It's exciting.

Before I left for Europe for 3 months, I planned and researched and pulled together a fairly detailed itinerary. It took me as long as the flight from Philadelphia to London to realize that that wasn't how I wanted to travel. I wanted to go where the wind took me and my itinerary ended up in one of the trash bins in Heathrow airport. I realize that style of travel doesn't work as well in Egypt as it did throughout the train abundant European Union. Trains run much less frequently and air travel within the country is monopolized by Egypt Air. Not to mention, Michael likes to have a plan.

That being said, we've pulled together the following itinerary of cities we plan to see. We made sure we made plenty of time for us to see each of these places thoroughly (3 days in Cairo, 2 1/2 in Luxor). If anyone has lived or travelled to Egypt, we'd love advice on places to see and eat, experiences to savor, means of travel, cultural precautions, etc. Let us know your thoughts!

Day 1 - Depart from Philadelphia
Day 2 - Arrive in Paris (8 hr layover) / Arrive in Cairo
Day 3 - Cairo (Giza)
Day 4 - Aswan
Day 5 - Abu Simbel / Luxor
Day 6 - Luxor (Valley of the Kings)
Day 7 - Luxor (Karnack and Luxor Temples)
Day 8 - Cairo
Day 9 - Cairo
Day 10 - Fly home to Philadelphia

---

Photos

Going to Eygpt in April 2011!
Pyramids

Comments

[Christine thomas]

Hi Brittany!
Wow - I was so surprised to see your name pop up on my e-mail today. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your Grandfather while you were travelling. Reminded me of how much I appreciated your support for Rob when my Dad passed away (which was 5 years ago already). I'm glad you met someone you care about and who loves to travel - sounds like a keeper :-) How is your job - your family - your life in the city??? We are all doing well in the Thomas house. We spend all of our time and money spoiling Nicole's little girl Marley who just turned two and is the love of our life! We are taking her to Disney on Feb 9th - very excited! If you want, Friend me on Facebook and you can see some pictures. My name is Christine Davey Thomas. I hope you have safe travels to Egypt and enjoy every minute of it. I'm hoping to go to Amsterdam in April - fingers crossed. Best wishes to you!! Christine Thomas

[Ryan Lahurd]

Trip ideas
Hey Maeve, So gladyou get to go to Egypt. I've been there many times and love it. Don't forget there is a lot to Egypt besides the ancient history. Be sure to visit the famous mosques and be sure to see the Coptic section. Spend time in the bazaar -- Khan al Khalili -- to get local color. You have to bargain prices to get respect. Just don't be insulting (you can start at half what is asked) and if the seller agrees to your price you have to buy or you have insulted him. Don't act like you're too interested or the price will not come down. Walking away almost always lowers the price. Have coffee and a shisha (water pipe) at the Naguib Mahfouz Cafe in the Khan. Good service and a great chance to try local experience. It's easy to take the subway tothe pyramids so don't pay for a taxi. Learn a few phrases of basic Arabic. It will open doors. And don't be freaked out by people trying to sell you stuff on the street. Just insistently say "La, shukran" (no thanks).

[Maeve Hanley]

Thank you, Dr. LaHurd!
Hi Ryan! I hope you're doing well. I definitely need to give you a call to pick apart your brain. I didn't know you've been to Egypt so many times, but I can't say that I'm too surprised. I've been repeating "La, shukran" since I read your post. I'll be a pro at it before I leave :-) The pictures of the mosques look exquisite! I'm looking forward to going. I've read on a few blogs the importance of the way women should dress. I also heard I'm going to have to enter many though the "women's entrance". It'll be quite the experience. I look forward to talking to you! I'll send you an email within the next few days to set aside a good time :-)

[Home and Away]

I was wondering why your stopped blogging your Europe trip...
but there is no reason why you can't resume now! Your pictures should remind you of the major events, and you don't have to go into quite the detail...like what you had for breakfast. I blogged many of my trips years later, including the first when I wasn't born yet. So please continue...just use the date of the events as your Entry Date to keep them all in chronological order!