See you all in 10 days, I'm going on vacation to Egypt

[OWC Jamie]

space-time wrote:
[quote=billb]
...In Cairo protests can erupt at any time - just walk away. Don't go check it out. Read about it in the news. Mobs are mobs - I would do the same in Athens. ...

I was under the impression that Athens is a safe place to visit.
It is. Except for when it isn't.
Like much of Europe a spontaneous and usually short lived protest can break out t any time. Usually in city centers where they get lots of attention. It's NOT a good idea to hang around and risk needing to explain who you are and why you are there even if you speak the language fluently.

DinerDave wrote:
[quote=3d]
[quote=billb]
Don't let the beggars trinket sellers at the Pyramids ruin the experience fpr you, just don't make eye contact, or any kind of contact really.

I luckily had dark wrap-around style Oakley sunglasses to avoid eye contact. They WERE relentless. Shopkeepers will come out of their stores and "guide" you off the street into their shops and offer you tea for free. Come in have some tea. It's free. Where are you from? Come, have some tea. Riiiiiight.... Fell for it once on my first day. Never again (td)

Similar to parts of Cabo San Lucas when we were there.

Dave

I've only been to Cabo twice and never saw or was hassled by anyone that could be construed as a beggar.
Especially a desperate beggar. Not even an overzealous souvenir seller.

[Speedy]

Enjoy. I hope mummy has a good time, too.

[DinerDave]

billb wrote:
[quote=space-time]
[quote=billb]
...In Cairo protests can erupt at any time - just walk away. Don't go check it out. Read about it in the news. Mobs are mobs - I would do the same in Athens. ...

I was under the impression that Athens is a safe place to visit.
It is. Except for when it isn't.
Like much of Europe a spontaneous and usually short lived protest can break out t any time. Usually in city centers where they get lots of attention. It's NOT a good idea to hang around and risk needing to explain who you are and why you are there even if you speak the language fluently.

DinerDave wrote:
[quote=3d]
[quote=billb]
Don't let the beggars trinket sellers at the Pyramids ruin the experience fpr you, just don't make eye contact, or any kind of contact really.

I luckily had dark wrap-around style Oakley sunglasses to avoid eye contact. They WERE relentless. Shopkeepers will come out of their stores and "guide" you off the street into their shops and offer you tea for free. Come in have some tea. It's free. Where are you from? Come, have some tea. Riiiiiight.... Fell for it once on my first day. Never again (td)

Similar to parts of Cabo San Lucas when we were there.

Dave

I've only been to Cabo twice and never saw or was hassled by anyone that could be construed as a beggar.
Especially a desperate beggar. Not even an overzealous souvenir seller.
It was isolated, Six of us decided to walk the surrounding area of our resort, cuz we could. We found one plaza that that had shops where the owners were more aggressive than other places, try to entice, make a better deal, one did follow us around a bit with "better deals". Either we learned how to act, or the other shops did not do that.

Dave

[sekker]

Safe travels! Sounds like an adventure.

[max]

3d wrote:
I luckily had dark wrap-around style Oakley sunglasses to avoid eye contact. They WERE relentless. Shopkeepers will come out of their stores and "guide" you off the street into their shops and offer you tea for free. Come in have some tea. It's free. Where are you from? Come, have some tea. Riiiiiight.... Fell for it once on my first day. Never again (td)

I enjoy that atmosphere of the middle eastern bazaar, interaction with the locals.
Maybe because I usually hit the areas off the tourist path, the tea/coffee routine is not so pushy.
Maybe because I do make the eye contact.
It is part of the culture...

Go with bilb's recommendation on riot avoidance.
Even just standing at the distance, clearly having nothing to do with it,
as an American you are easy pickings to lay the blame for whatever problem it is....

[SteveG]

This week's Torah portion is the crossing of the Red Sea. If someone offers you this tour, ask to see if he can turn his staff into a snake first.

[3d]

Before you go, load up on sunscreen, batteries, little tube of crazy glue, some of that powdered Gatorade electrolyte stuff might be helpful, advil, neosporin, etc... Typical everyday American drug store stuff will be hard to find in Egypt.

[NewtonMP2100]

....what about a carton of Camel.....lights.....???

[max]

NewtonMP2100 wrote:
....what about a carton of Camel.....lights.....???

a single, or a double?...

[Rick-o]

Sounds like a fun trip! I hope you have a great visit!