Egypt -The Land of Pharaohs

Know Your Country!

Divyansh Khandelwal
AIESEC Newsletter

Newsletter

5 min readNov 3, 2019

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Egypt is a country that welcomes numerous tourists every year. You might be surprised to know that Egypt isn’t just a summer place but the country has its share of winter experiences too.

So when is winter in Egypt? The winter months in Egypt are from October to February. The winter is chilly from December till January. In the southern part of the country, the atmosphere during winter in Egypt is amazing and one can feel the cool Mediterranean air. The winter temperature in Egypt at daytime is about 68 F and during the night the temperature drops a bit more.

“EGYPT IS A LAND OF DREAMS FOR TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR A BUSTLING DESTINATION WITH A VIBRANT CULTURE.”

Few Facts About Egypt

1. THE EGYPTIANS INVENTED THE 365-DAYS A YEAR CALENDAR
Yes, the ancient Egyptians invented the 365-days a year calendar, to predict the yearly floodings of the Nile river.

2. WORLD’S OLDEST DRESS WAS FOUND HERE. 5000 YEARS OLD
How cool is that? Egypt may be home to the world’s first fashion house. I wonder if they had their brand as well?

3. THE GREAT PYRAMIDS WAS NOT BUILT BY SLAVES
Many people believe the pyramids were being built by slaves, but that’s is not the case. They were paid labourers, and most of them built with great honour towards the Pharao and those who died were buried in the tombs near the sacred pyramids.

4. GREATER CAIRO IS THE LARGEST CITY IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
With an estimated population of 22 million and approximately 500 square km, Cairo is the largest city in Africa and the Middle East.

5. EVERY CITY HAD THEIR FAVORITE GOD DURING ANCIENT TIMES
The Ancient Egyptians had so many gods that every city had its favourite deity.

IS EGYPT SAFE TO VISIT?

Well, absolutely. But, of course, you should listen and stay updated with local news. Even though the political situation has calmed down, you should always be wary of the current situation, as in any other country for that matter. Egypt is safe in general, especially in tourism areas. Most political protests happened in Alexandria or Cairo, and the resort areas hardly noticed anything.

Few Places To Visit in Egypt

Dreaming about pyramids, paradise beaches, interesting culture and bustling marine life, then you should travel to Egypt!
Winter is an ideal time to explore Egypt
. One can visit various spots during winter in Egypt easily as the weather is pleasant. Read on to find out the places one can visit during the winter:

1. Cairo

Cairo: First and foremost on your list should be Cairo. Settled near the confluence of Nile river delta, Cairo is a modern bustling capital of Egypt with a tumultuous and long history. It’s undoubtedly a common starting point for beginning one’s adventure in Egypt irrespective of any weather. The city is famous for exploring the Pyramids at Giza and Sphinx simply outside of the city’s boundaries.

2. Abydos

Abydos: Located in northern upper Egypt, Abydos is among the oldest cities established in Egypt and by far the most essential in terms of archaeology. The point of attraction of the site is the great Temple of Seti, which consists the larger part of Egypt’s Pharaohs from Menes to Ramesses I. With every turn you take in this strange complex, you will uncover something incredible for your journey, ranging from the gigantic courtyards to the fascinating wall workmanship.

3. Alexandria

Alexandria has been the cliché standard winter weekend getaway for many Egyptians for ages. One can even witness rain here during the winter. You can reminisce about old Alexandria in all its grandeur, either from your hotel porch or from one of Alexandria’s hot spot like the Greek Club. During a trip to Alexandria visit fort Qaitbey which houses a maritime museum as well as explore its labyrinthine towers and rooms before cherishing dramatic scenes of the harbour from its fortifications.

4. Siwa Oasis

Siwa Oasis: An ancient city mainly populated by ethnic Berbers nowadays. Siwa is famous for the oracle that is located in the temple dedicated to the God Amon. The area has been populated at least since 9000 years BC, which make Siwa a really old settlement and an important historic site.

5. TREASURES IN THE KHAN AL-KHALILI

Khan Al-Khalili: One of the Middle East’s largest bazaars and a paradise for those who love bargains. If you’re good at negotiating I’m sure you can find plenty of lovely crafts here. Khan al-Khalili is located in Cairo.

WHAT TO EAT?

mattersofthebelly.com

Well, Egyptian cuisine is characterized by dishes such as ful medames, mashed fava beans; kushari, a mixture of lentils, rice, pasta, and other ingredients; molokhiya, chopped and cooked bush okra with garlic and coriander sauce; and feteer meshaltet. Below is one of the good food blogs you can follow for a rich tour for your tongue!

Authentic Egyptian Cuisine

Weather in Egypt

Winter weather (between October and May) is colder than most people anticipate, and cold winds blow over the desert at sunrise and sunset. Even when it is warm outside, it can be surprisingly cold inside the massive stone temples. In winter, showers can fall everywhere, so bring a few items of light but warm clothing, so that you can cope with the cold early mornings and the occasional, and unseasonable, cold snap.

Things you should carry

Here are a few important things you should consider carrying.

Warm Clothes

As the temperature during winter in Egypt drops you will definitely need a few pair of warm clothes like hoodies or jackets.

Vegetarian Food

Finding vegetarian food in Egypt might get difficult for you as non-veg food rules the street of Egypt. If you are a vegetarian then do pack yourself some vegetarian food.

I hope you like this article! Do leave a comment below as feedback and bestow some claps if you liked this article.

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