When I was in Egypt in early January of 2011, only a few weeks before the outbreak of the Egyptian Revolution, everything seemed perfectly normal. The government seemed as stable as it had been for the past 30 years and there was zero indication that a revolution was about to happen. But just about two […]
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“Dr.” Sherif and the Great Papyrus “Institute” Scam
The very first week after I moved to Egypt I met a guy named Sherif. I was walking around Tahrir Square in the center of Cairo with some friends, taking in the magical chaos of one of the largest cities in the world and getting accustomed to our new home for the next year. As […]
All About Camels… and the Pyramids Camel Scam
What’s the first you think of when you think of Egypt? Pyramids. Ok. Yes. But what comes after that? CAMELS! Camels are awesome creatures. Most of the time they’re cute and funny, but they can also be dirty and clumsy. But they’re some seriously incredible animals when you really get to know them. There are […]
Best Exchange Rates Ever!!!
Holy Mummies! If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Egypt and get an amazing bang for your buck, there’s no time like the present. In an attempt to meet the economic and financial conditions of the International Monetary Fund and secure major international loans to help fund the government, Egypt’s Central Bank just floated the […]
The Khan el Khalili
Experiencing the Khan el Khalili always tops the list of things to do when visiting Cairo. While in any other Arab country you might just refer to the old city’s souk or bazaar, Cairo’s souq has its own special name because it is the undisputed souq of souqs. It is unique not only in size […]
Travel and Turmoil
Video from October 2012 when American cable news channels were still showing “turmoil” on loop for ratings and clickbait. Many travelers may be deterred from traveling to Egypt during periods of political turmoil. But not all turmoil is the same, and some periods when the news media are be portraying chaos in Cairo may actually turn […]
How Not To Handle A Tourism Crisis: Lessons From Egypt
NOTE: THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE HUFFINGTON POST TRAVEL SECTION. A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE. Tourism ministries, boards and offices the world over are finally waking up to the reality that developing a substantive relationship with the American market can be an extremely lucrative investment. We are a nation of over […]
Cairo’s Chaotic Traffic
Visitors to Egypt have told me that they’ve seen equally chaotic traffic in places like India and China, but I’ve yet to witness an equivalent level of vehicular insanity anywhere else in the world myself. Most, however, are like me in swearing that Cairo’s traffic is the worst they’ve ever seen. But what’s so funny […]
The Deaf KFC
If you really want a heartwarming experience in Cairo with a side of fried chicken, go check out the deaf KFC over in the Dokki neighborhood of Cairo. This place has been there for at least a decade, and it’s right around the corner from my very first apartment in Cairo. It’s right off of […]
The Super Aggressive “Taxi Jumpers” at the Giza Pyramids
Unlike Europe and North America, many developing countries are better experienced with the helping hand of an experienced travel company or tour operator. This is especially the case for a country like Egypt, which continues to struggle with post-revolutionary challenges in the way of economics, infrastructure, and governance. Travel and tourism within Egypt has always […]