Monday, 31 March 2014
EGYPTIAN CITIES
When most people think about towns and cities
in Egypt they only tend to think of the major cities or the ones associated
with tourist attractions, but there are actually more than 200 towns and cities
which have populations of over 15,000.
Because 90% of Egypt is desert, these towns and
cities have grown up either hugging the River Nile, along the shores of the
Mediterranean or Red Seas, beside the Suez Canal, or among one of the desert
oases. Due to Egypt’s enormous growth of population this has caused many areas to
actually be built on sandy areas, rather than the more sustainable soil. Giza
is a prime example of this as it slowly moves towards the plateau where the
famous pyramids were built.
For administrative purposes Egypt is divided
into 27 governorates, which are the top tier of the country's five-tier
jurisdiction hierarchy. Each governorate is administered by a governor, who is
appointed by the President of Egypt, serving at the president's discretion.
These governorates have a population density of more than one-thousand per Km²,
though the 3 largest (Cairo, Alexandria and Giza) have a population density of
less than two per Km². They are either fully "urban" or else a
mixture of "urban" and "rural". The official distinction between
"urban" and "rural" is reflected in the lower tiers: urban
governorates have no regions, or “markaz”, as these are just an assortment of
villages. Governorates may, however, comprise of just one city, as in the case
of Cairo or Alexandria. These one-city governorates are divided into districts
(basically urban neighbourhoods); Cairo having 23 districts whilst Alexandria
has only 6.
Egypt Main Cities:
The origins of the present-day Cairo can be
traced back to the Egyptian capital of Memphis, which is believed to have been
founded in the early 4th millennium BC near the head of the Nile delta, south
of the present city. The city spread to the north along the east bank of the
Nile, and its location has commanded political power ever since. It was there
that the Romans constructed their city called Babylon. Muslim Arabs who
immigrated there from the Arabian Peninsula in AD 641 later called the site Al
Fustat. When a dissident branch of Muslims known as the Fatimid conquered Egypt
in 969, they established their headquarters in the city and called it Al-Qahira
(Cairo). In the 12th century Christian Crusaders attacked Cairo, but they were
defeated by a Muslim army from Syria, led by Saladin, who founded the Ayyubid
Dynasty in the city.
The Mamluke established their capital in Cairo
in the 13th century, and the city became renowned throughout Africa, Asia, and
Europe. Cairo declined after the mid-14th century, however, when the epidemic
of bubonic plague known as the Black Death struck the city, decimating its
population.
The Ottomans conquered Cairo in 1517, and ruled
there until 1798, when the area was captured during an expedition led by
Napoleon I of France. Ottoman rule was restored in 1801, but by the middle of
the 19th century Egypt's foreign debt and the weakness of the Ottoman Empire
invited greater European influence in Cairo. The Viceroy Ismail Pasha, who
ruled from 1863 to 1879, built many European-style structures in the city and
used the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal northeast of Cairo in 1869
to showcase the city for the European powers. However, much of the development
that took place during this period was funded by foreign loans, which led to an
increase in the national debt and left Cairo vulnerable to control by Great
Britain. The British effectively ruled Egypt from Cairo from the late 19th
century through the period after World War I (1914-1918), when the foreign
presence in Cairo began to diminish.
Cairo's population grew rapidly in the in the
war years, reaching 2 million by the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Since
that time the city has continued to boom in terms of both population and
development. Some of this population growth has resulted from the influx of
refugees from cities along the Suez Canal that were damaged in the Arab-Israeli
wars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many new residential, commercial, and
governmental structures have changed the city's landscape. Tourist facilities
have proven an important source of foreign revenue for Egypt, and have thus
drawn heavy investment from the government.
Cairo has also benefited from Egypt's growing
international prominence. The founding of the Arab League in 1945 made Cairo a
political capital, as has Egypt's ongoing participation in the Middle East
peace process. However, in 1981 the city witnessed a tragic event when Egyptian
President Anwar Al-Sadat was assassinated at a military parade by Islamic
fundamentalists within the Egyptian army.
Also, Cairo is an important centre for
publishing and other forms of media. Its newspapers, which include Al-Ahram
(founded in 1875) and Al-Akhbar (1952), exert wide influence within the Islamic
world, as does Radio Cairo. The rich cultural life is further enhanced by local
theatre, cinema, dance, and music, in addition to the city's vibrant community
of journalists and fiction writers; Cairo residents take great pride in the
work of Nobel Prize-winning author and Cairo native Naguib Mahfouz, whose fiction
has provided a chronicle of the city.
Located in Upper Egypt Luxor has been described
as the world’s biggest open air museum. Nowadays it has been elevated to the
status of Governorate, though it is still classified as being in the province
of Qena. It has a population of round about 230,000, most of who are employed
in tourism somehow, though there are many who are employed in agriculture and
commerce. It is one of the most popular destinations in Egypt, being one of
those places that you must see. Because of this almost every tourist company has
an office somewhere in the town.
It has been estimated that Luxor contains about
a third of the most valuable monuments and antiquities in the whole world,
which makes it one of this planet’s most important tourism sites. Monuments
such as The Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of
the Queens, Deir El-Bahri (the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut), the workers
village at Deir El-Medina, the list goes on and on and on. Though most visitors
will stay for just a few days, it would take a substantial amount of time to
visit everything in this amazing town.
Once known as Thebes, Luxor’s importance in
ancient Egyptian history cannot be denied. It was the religious capital for
almost all of the Pharaonic period which is why the town is dominated by the
two temples; The Temple of Luxor, and the immense Temple of Karnak; the world’s
largest temple complex.
Dedicated to Amun Ra, the Temple of Karnak was
constantly expanded by successive pharaohs, each adding his, or her, tribute to
the god. The site dates back to the Middle Kingdom under the reign of
Mentuhotep (11th Dynasty), but most of what can be seen today is from the New
Kingdom. Other parts of the complex include sites dedicated to Mut, the wife of
Amun Ra, and their son Khonsu.
Most people know that Luxor was once Thebes,
but “Thebes” was not what the ancient Egyptians called it. Ancient texts show
that it was called t-apt, which means “the shrine”, with the ancient Greeks
calling it tea pie. The Arabs had problems with pronunciation and so it became
Thebes to them. The name vanished then as the area submitted to the desert and
then by the 10th century Arab travellers thought the ruins were of grand
buildings so started to call it Al-Oksour, or “site of the palaces” which
slowly became Luxor.
Though it was never the capital of a united
Egypt, Thebes was capital of Upper Egypt during the times when Egypt resorted
to being split into two. This was especially true during the period of the
Hyksos invasion when Avaris became capital in the North. Thebes was where the
various pharaohs of Upper Egypt were based, and it was from here that the final
campaign, under Ahmose I, to expel the Hyksos originate
Friday, 28 March 2014
Sharm Tours Club: Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Old Cairo
Sharm Tours Club: Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Old Cairo: Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Old Cairo Visit the Egyptian Museum, which features artifacts from the Pharaonic period. See the Citadel...
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Sharm Tours Club: Things to do in Egypt www.sharm-tours-club.com
Sharm Tours Club: Things to do in Egypt www.sharm-tours-club.com: Things to do in Egypt Sharm El Sheikh: Tours to Luxor Tours to Cairo Shores Tours Safari Tours Sightseeing tours ...
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Sharm Tours Club: book with us one tour and get one for free, www.sh...
Sharm Tours Club: book with us one tour and get one for free, www.sh...: www.sharm-tours-club.com offer for you the best way to visit Egypt and enjoy a memorable experience, the cheapest price and the excellent s...
The history of Cairo www.sharm-tours-club.com
The origins of the present-day
Cairo can be traced back to the Egyptian capital of Memphis, which is believed
to have been founded in the early 4th millennium BC near the head of the Nile
delta, south of the present city. The city spread to the north along the east
bank of the Nile, and its location has commanded political power ever since. It
was there that the Romans constructed their city called Babylon. Muslim Arabs
who immigrated there from the Arabian Peninsula in AD 641 later called the site
Al Fustat. When a dissident branch of Muslims known as the Fatimid conquered
Egypt in 969, they established their headquarters in the city and called it
Al-Qahira (Cairo). In the 12th century Christian Crusaders attacked Cairo, but
they were defeated by a Muslim army from Syria, led by Saladin, who founded the
Ayyubid Dynasty in the city.
The Mamluke established their
capital in Cairo in the 13th century, and the city became renowned throughout
Africa, Asia, and Europe. Cairo declined after the mid-14th century, however,
when the epidemic of bubonic plague known as the Black Death struck the city,
decimating its population.
The Ottomans conquered Cairo in
1517, and ruled there until 1798, when the area was captured during an
expedition led by Napoleon I of France. Ottoman rule was restored in 1801, but
by the middle of the 19th century Egypt's foreign debt and the weakness of the
Ottoman Empire invited greater European influence in Cairo. The Viceroy Ismail
Pasha, who ruled from 1863 to 1879, built many European-style structures in the
city and used the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal northeast of Cairo
in 1869 to showcase the city for the European powers. However, much of the
development that took place during this period was funded by foreign loans, which
led to an increase in the national debt and left Cairo vulnerable to control by
Great Britain. The British effectively ruled Egypt from Cairo from the late
19th century through the period after World War I (1914-1918), when the foreign
presence in Cairo began to diminish.
Cairo's population grew rapidly in
the in the war years, reaching 2 million by the outbreak of World War II in
1939. Since that time the city has continued to boom in terms of both
population and development. Some of this population growth has resulted from
the influx of refugees from cities along the Suez Canal that were damaged in
the Arab-Israeli wars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many new residential,
commercial, and governmental structures have changed the city's landscape. Tourist
facilities have proven an important source of foreign revenue for Egypt, and
have thus drawn heavy investment from the government.
Cairo has also benefited from
Egypt's growing international prominence. The founding of the Arab League in
1945 made Cairo a political capital, as has Egypt's ongoing participation in
the Middle East peace process. However, in 1981 the city witnessed a tragic
event when Egyptian President Anwar Al-Sadat was assassinated at a military
parade by Islamic fundamentalists within the Egyptian army.
Also, Cairo is an important centre
for publishing and other forms of media. Its newspapers, which include Al-Ahram
(founded in 1875) and Al-Akhbar (1952), exert wide influence within the Islamic
world, as does Radio Cairo. The rich cultural life is further enhanced by local
theatre, cinema, dance, and music, in addition to the city's vibrant community
of journalists and fiction writers; Cairo residents take great pride in the
work of Nobel Prize-winning author and Cairo native Naguib Mahfouz, whose
fiction has provided a chronicle of the city.
Monday, 24 March 2014
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Sharm Tours Club: book with us one tour and get one for free, www.sh...
Sharm Tours Club: book with us one tour and get one for free, www.sh...: www.sharm-tours-club.com offer for you the best way to visit Egypt and enjoy a memorable experience, the cheapest price and the excellent s...
book with us one tour and get one for free, www.sharm-tours-cllub.com
www.sharm-tours-club.com offer for you the best way to visit Egypt and enjoy a memorable experience, the cheapest price and the excellent services,
cultural trips, fun trips, Safari, boat trips, diving, shores, adventure,
visit our site and just name your tour,
we have VIP tours, Family tours,
Excursions in Egypt means Sharm Tours Club
cultural trips, fun trips, Safari, boat trips, diving, shores, adventure,
visit our site and just name your tour,
we have VIP tours, Family tours,
Excursions in Egypt means Sharm Tours Club
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
travel to sharm el sheikh
Location: Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. This is a jeep tour from 06.40 to 18.00
including visiting St. Catherine monastery and the White Canyon. The monastery of St. Catherine lies at the foot
of Mount Moses in the heart of South Sinai.It is one of the most famous monuments of South
Sinai with alot of attractions like the Church of Transfiguration, The Skull
House, Moses Well and the Burning Bush.After visiting the monastery we drive to the
White Canyon where we will walk into it for about 1.5 hours. You will enjoy the
rocks, nature and the white colour everywhere.Then we arrive at a small oasis in the middle
of the desert called The Green Water Spring. The jeeps will be waiting for us
here and after a small rest in one of the Bedouin tents we drive back to Dahab
where we get our lunch in a nice local restaurant. (drinks not included)We then drive back to Sharm arriving at about
18.00 and you will be taken back to your hotel.PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED A VISA IN YOUR
PASSPORT, $15 FROM SHARM EL SHEIKH AIRPORT UPON ARRIVAL. YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SHOULDERS AND KNEES ARE COVERED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE
MONESTARY.Duration: approximately 15 hours (from/to your
hotel). Means of Transportation Jeep Safari 4x4
Suggestion: Hat, Sun glass and flat shoes
tours in sharm el sheikh
Location: Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt.
This tour is a bus trip to the most famous
mountain on Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
The last pick up from the hotels in Sharm will
be at around 22.50 and then we will drive for about 3 hours to Moses Mountain.
We will start to climb the 2285m high mountain
guided by one of our guides from 02.00 - 05.00 in the morning. You can climb by
following a long path which leads to 700 steps. This takes you to the top of
the mountain on time for the sunrise where you can enjoy a beautiful view.
If you feel you can't climb the mountain you
can get a camel ride for 85le which takes you to the 700 steps.
After coming down from the mountain we will
visit the Monastery of St. Catherine. Down the ages the monastery has become
one of the most famous monuments of Sinai.
PLEASE NOTE: BREAKFAST IS NOT INCLUDED. YOU CAN
ASK FOR A BREAKFAST BOX FROM YOUR HOTEL. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO BRING WITH YOU
YOUR PASSPORT, MONEY, GOOD SPORT SHOES FOR CLIMBING AND WARM CLOTHES.
Duration: approximately 15 hours (from/to your
hotel). Means of Transportation air-conditioned van
Suggestion: Hat, Sun glass and flat shoes
Tour Price: Adult: 20GBP Child: 10GBP
We run this tour on a
Sunday, Wednesday and Friday
Snorkeling in Ras Mohamed by bus www.sharm-tours-club.com
Location: Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
|
Explore the stunning beauty of Egypt’s first National Park where
you will find wild beaches, spectacular rock
Overview
You will be collected from your hotel in the morning and driven to
one of the most beautiful sites in the world. Ras Mohamed is the first and only
national park in Egypt where there are more than 130 coral reefs and over 1000
varieties of fish.
We will start our visit by looking at the mangrove trees which grow
directly from the salty water of the Dead Sea. It is the only sea in the
northern part of the hemisphere where these trees grow.
We will then go to see the earth crack and “Magic Lake.”
Ras Mohamed is considered to be one
of the best sites all over the world for snorkeling and diving.
We will stop at one of the most
famous beaches such as the main beach, Yolanda beach, Old Quay beach khashaba
beach for snorkeling.
This is a half day trip so at around 2pm you will be taken back to
your hotel.
Experience Includes
- Hotel Pick-up and Drop-Off from
Sharm El Sheikh hotels
- Entrance to Ras Mohamed
National Park
- Free time to swim and
snorkel
- English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned coach
transportation
Experience Exclusions
- Refreshments
- Optional Gratuities
- Snorkeling Equipment (bring
your own if you wish to snorkel)
·
Details
·
Departs:
·
Daily,
year round.
·
Start
Times:
·
8.30am.
·
Duration:
·
Around
5.5 hours
·
Hotel
Pick up:
Yes, from all hotels located in Sharm El Sheikh.
Dress Code/What to Bring
·
Casual.
Dress according to the weather for that day. Please remember to bring your
swimming costume, towel, sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Guests can bring
their own picnic.
·
Passports
must be taken as visa must be obtained on your passport.
Desert Safari, Camel Riding, Star Gazer, Bedouin Dinner
Location: Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt.
THIS IS A RELAXING AND CHILLED OUT EVENING WITH
THE CHANCE TO ENJOY THE CLEAR SKY OF SINAI.
You will be picked up from your hotel at around
18.00 and taken into the desert. When arriving in the desert you will have a
short camel ride to make your way to the Bedouin tent. It is here that you will
watch the sunset.
You will enjoy a simple Bedouin dinner which
may include rice, meat, chicken, salad and fruit. You can also enjoy a soft
drink with this or enjoy some Egyptian tea.
After your meal the Bedouins will put on a show
for you. Enjoy the belly dancing, tanura show and folkloric singing, it will be
a real party atmosphere.
After the show you will be taken to the
telescopes and will be given some information on the stars, night sky and
planets from the knowledgeable astronomy guide. You will get the chance to view
the amazing night sky through the telescopes. Nights in the desert have there
own charm and mystery and this is something not to be missed.
Afterwards we will head back to Sharm el Sheikh
quite late and transport you back to your hotel.
Duration: approximately 6 hours (from/to your
hotel).
Suggestion: Hat and flat shoes.
Tour Price: Adult: 25GBP Child: 15GBP
We run this trip on a Tuesday and Friday
evening
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