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Volume 6, Issue 2 

 

Visit Egypt Magic Jordan Magic Email us at VisitEgypt@EgyptMagic.com Go to Private Tours For Private Safaris in East Africa visit East Africa Experience

December 2011

The Situation in Egypt

We receive many questions from people wanting to visit Egypt in 2012 but, understandably questioning the current situation.  We have recently visited and travelled from the north to the south of Egypt and across The Sinai and even crossed the land border, through Israel and on into Jordan; we are in frequent contact with colleagues in Cairo and monitor media sources; so here is some information:

-2011 was an awful year for tourism to Egypt and as the country depends economically very heavily upon tourism, all parties are keen to protect and develop tourism come what may once again.  It seems that this is widely accepted

Cafe Riche Whilst in Cairo have a coffee at the historic Cafe Riche, 2 blocks from Tahir Square.  Long a haunt of royals, politicians, poets, journalists it continues to be the place where many current shapers of Egypts future meet.  (The December 17th 2011 edition of The Economist has a detailed article on Cafe Riches fascinating history)

- guests who have been recently, and from our own experience a few months ago,  report nothing but enthusiasm from local people.  Most of us who have been recently have found the history currently being made in Egypt is a bonus to the well known ancient history and sights.  Egyptians are keen to tell their story to the world and visitors are welcome.

- the antiquities are all open and our tours recently have operated with little change – Tahir Sq is near the Egyptian Museum, so when there were demonstrations in November in , to avoid traffic jams, visits were adjusted.

-our tours are all Private for guests and so it is easy to adjust Itineraries if needs be

- we had people in Egypt in late January 2011 and had people about  to go when the revolution started.  All received full refunds – without question. 

- finally we will advise, frankly, the situation and simply do not operate tours if we have any concerns.

Some recent Guest comments:

"Selfishly we had whole temples to ourselves, our Nile Cruise ship was just 26 people".  " We could not have felt safer throughout the whole tour. The Egytpians are a warm and very hospitable people" .  "If ever there was a time to go to Egypt it is now.   There are few crowds at each of the major sites.  On some sites we were the only group. The climate is ideal and everything priced to make a sale".

Jordan

Jordan has remained quiet during the Arab Spring but tourism in 2011 collapsed, as many people make it as a side trip to Egypt or sometimes Israel.  As a friend in Jordan told us whilst we were in Petra recently “Jordan is very tranquil but we do have noisy neighbors sometimes!’.

Jordan has been regarded as a short extension, but it has much to see and one can spend a busy week and more, exploring some of Jordan’s truly unique locations.  Personally speaking, after 'meeting' Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, Petra is perhaps the most surprising place I have ever visited!  I simply had not imagined the size, the detail , the depth of history and the sheer physical beauty of this vast location.

Wadi Rum is  where the British officer T.E. Lawrence worked with the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.  In 2012 it is the 50th anniversary of the making of the feature film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, and it is one of the big events that promise to make 2012 a uniquely special year to visit Jordan.  Other celebrations are:

-the 200th anniversary of the “rediscovery” of Petra (by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt)

- the shortlisting of the Dead Sea as one of the world’s Seven Wonders of Nature.

Less than 20 percent of Petra’s archaeological heritage is presumed to have been excavated. Archaeologists are not anxious to uncover any more structures because of the high cost of preserving what has already been exposed. Wind and rain are the main forces eroding the soft sandstone. But large numbers of tourists and the infrastructure that supports them (shops, toilets, restaurants) are also taking their toll.

The Year to Visit Egypt & Jordan?   Save and save!

Perhaps now is the time to visit.  Not only will the popular antiquities be quieter than normal but we expect to be able to offer exceptional value for money too!

Egypt is indeed, the eternal destination as, quite simply, there is nowhere like it!

  

 

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