what is modern day Egypt like?

Answer 1

Its is like most counties in the world.There are good people and people you need to steer clear of.
Cairo is like any big city,traffic,traffic traffic.I have yet to work out the road rules.It seems a case of just having a horn to beep and brakes that work,plus tons of bravado.Same with crossing steets etc.wait for a gap and RUN.I try to get across with at least one Cairean on the side of the on coming traffic.
There is certainly nothing spectacular with modern Cairo's buildings,unless you like concrete.
Not much of "the old " has survived in the city.Except if you go to the area that is called Old Cairo.
Its really only when you get up to the Citadel you realise just how huge the city really is.The suburbs now, go right up to the edge of the Giza plateau,where the pyramids are.
A lot of we Westerners are at first a bit stunned by the amount of rubbish in the streets etc.After you have been there a while you don't notice it.It remains there and piles up due to the lack of government infrastructure and lack of its priorties. Not because of the people having dubious hygiene concepts. Have you noticed how quickly our Western cities get filled with garbage when the collecters go on stike?
For all its hustle,concrete and strange odours it, like all of Egypt has a charm that easily takes hold of you and won't let you go.
Get on a felluca and go for a sail on the Nile at sunset, and the city somehow looks beautiful even serene.There are some beautiful well kept suburbs,quiet and refined and full of huge green trees,this is were a lot of Westerners and rich Caireans live.
The futher up the Nile you go the country and its people show amazing and beautiful contrasts. The scenery can take your breath away.The belt of lush green agricultural land serverly contrasts with the desert and starkness of the mountains just behind.But the form and colours of the imposing sheer cliffs and mountainous country have a beauty of thier own.
Life in rural areas is much as it has been since Pharonic times,with the exception of nearly every mudbrick house having a Satellite dish.Egyptians love T.V.The pace of life is slow and the people are more friendly. That is so long as you don't embarress them with your behavior or dress code.Then you will be totally ignored and quickly pick up on the strong feeling, you are intruding and we don't like you,go away, rather than direct aggression or abuse.
As the country relies mainly on tourism,remember tourists have been going there for over 1000 years, some Westerners take that side to be the "real face" of Egypt,the constant call and expectation for baksheesh,being hassled by those tring to tout their taxi,calabash,felucca etc.or asking do you need a guide.Personally, I prefer the West bank of Luxor to the city itself.Its so easy to catch the ferry over to Luxor, for 1 Egyptian pound (about 20cents)and 7 minutes on the Nile.The weather is hot up to 55c. in Luxor during June/July,but I am Australian and for some reason(maybe the hole in the ozone layer thats on top of us) the sun there doesn't fry you,here it actually stings the skin.
Education is a very high priority now,in most families many sacrifices to modern "luxuries"are made so they can afford it for thier children, girls and boys. You find many of the waiters etc are university graduates most working at least 2 jobs if possible.Everyone seems to work at something.Its the similar in Cairo.Those who stay home and just hang around are a very small minority.
The food is differant with lots of variety,including McDonalds.Westerners should not drink local water,I don't even brush my teeth in it.Stick to bottled, properly sealed, with low magnesium.The fruit and vedge are so cheap by our standards. In Australia, bananas have been up to $12 a kg. and very poor quality,in Luxor around 25 cents a kg.
Egypt is definatly a land of vast contrasts.It may not have the same glory as it once had,but I love it,and can't wait to get back,even though in my heart Australia will always be home.
But that is just my opinion and experience!

Answer 2

I'm Egyptian and but i live in the UK,i have been to Egypt several times. It is not like how other people think it is. It's an Arab country and in the summer no-one goes to sleep! I love the culture there and the people are OK! Egyptian music is sooo good as well and when you listen to it, you just have to dance! I love going to Egypt for a holiday, but living there is not a good idea!

Answer 3

i went there on holiday 3 years ago
the holiday resorts are like any other u see but in places like Cairo u will find all the history. We stayed for 1 night at The Meridian Pyramids and when we looked out our window there was this huge pyramid by the hotel
U have to visit just to see the history for yourself

Answer 4

I've only been to one part of Egypt (Dahab) for a diving holiday. I would like to return and see a bit more of it, but I'm not going back there again until I've got a nice bloke to accompany me. Egyptian men hassle (Western) women if they're on their own.

Answer 5

Warm apparently accoriding to my friend who went there on hols recently. So warm infact ppl only went out in the morning.......too warm in the afternoon and too dangerous to leave the complex late at night. I never realy though of it as dangerous but a few friends have been, (females) and were advised not to go out at night, infact most ppl stayed in or within the complex. Apparently its hard to get a drink there as well as they dont drink alcohol or something......doesnt seem v amenable to tourists.......Not somewhere id personally fancy for a holiday destination given all tht. I guess it does try and cater to culture tho if you go to certain parts e.g. the part where the pyramids are etc.....

Answer 6

Well when I went to Cairo (5 years ago) it was pretty weird cos you turn in one direction and see a modern city and then you turn the opposite way and see miles of desert with pyramids in it!!

Answer 7

Hot and dry. Oh, and the River Nile runs through it. I don't know anything else, other then you can expect to find a few terrorist cells out there. Some link to al'qieda or whatever its called. I've never been there myself.

Answer 8

Smelly! plus lots of annoying people in there markets, plus i slipped over on horses guts that were left laying on the floor outside a meat stall, well funny! It is very nice out there apart from that.

Answer 9

my daughter went to egypt. said the scenery is very nice but the people were'nt.

Answer 10

To a lot of people; like hell!