You are Welcome (Egypt ~ Egypt)

December 2019

Thought I'd add a postscript to our travels through Egypt as it has been the most stressful and frustrating country we have ever travelled through.

The phrase "You are welcome to Eqypt" is one that you hear time and time again, and about 50% of the time is genuinely meant - such as the gentleman who acted as a translator when buying train tickets or someone who just wants to take a selfie with you. The other 50% it is from a taxi driver, tuk tuk driver, felucca captain, horse carriage driver, shopkeeper or general tout whom is rushing off to meet their wife/friend but will take five minutes to assist you and point out a reputable shop with reasonable prices. Of course this happens in other countries  but we have never experienced it to the same extent or with the same persistance as in Eqypt.

This along with annoyances where when visiting a tourist sight there is a constant hassle from guards to point out carvings and wanting to let you past barrier all for an expected bakeesh (where quite often these barricades were constructed by the guards in the first place purely so that you, the tourist,  could be let past them). Some barriers are put up for a good reason such as preventing you from getting into a tiny room with fragile 4,500 year old wall paintings.

On top of this is the frequent serious overcharging and/or short changing.

Not to say that this occurs all the time but enough that you become very suspicious of any encounter - which is not a nice way to travel.

The other factor that lent to the overall stress was the sheer amount of rubbish and pollution everywhere. The concept of putting rubbish into a bin is a totally alien concept.

Do we regret coming here? No because the history here is amazing but would advise anybody thinking of visiting is to get in, see the sights you want to see and get out.