Product Description

INTRODUCTION
Egypt is the oldest tourist destination on earth. Ancient Greeks and Romans started the trend, coming to goggle at the cyclopean scale of the Pyramids and the Colossi of Thebes. At the onset of colonial times, Napoleon and the British in turn looted Egypt's treasures to fill their national museums, sparking off a trickle of Grand Tourists that eventually became a flood of travellers, packaged for their Nile cruises and Egyptological lectures by the enterprising Thomas Cook.

Today, the attractions of the country are not only the monuments of the Nile Valley and the souks, mosques and madrassas of Islamic Cairo, but the natural wonders of the Red Sea, Sinai, and the Eastern and Western deserts: fantastic coral reefs and tropical fish, dunes and rockscapes - plus ancient fortresses, monasteries and rock art.

The land itself is a freak of nature, whose lifeblood is the River Nile. From the Sudanese border to the shores of the Mediterranean, the Nile Valley and its Delta are flanked by arid wastes, the latter as empty as the former are teeming with people. This stark duality between fertility and desolation is fundamental to Egypt's character and has shaped its development since prehistoric times, imparting continuity to diverse cultures and peoples over seven millennia. It is a sense of permanence and timelessness that is buttressed by religion, which pervades every aspect of life. Although the pagan cults of ancient Egypt are as moribund as its legacy of mummies and temples, their ancient fertility rites and processions of boats still hold their place in the celebrations of Islam and Christianity.

The result is a multi-layered culture, which seems to accord equal respect to ancient and modern. The peasants (fellaheen) of the Nile and Bedouin tribes of the desert live much as their ancestors did a thousand years ago. Other communities include the Nubians of the far south, and the Coptic Christians, who trace their ancestry back to pharaonic times. What unites them is a love of their homeland, extended family ties, dignity, warmth and hospitality towards strangers. Though most visitors are drawn to Egypt by its monuments, the enduring memory is likely to be of its people and their way of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95149 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-27
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 864 pages

Synopsis
Egypt remains the most popular and varied destination in the Middle East. This guide has a 200-page section devoted to Cairo and the Pyramids alone, as well as full coverage of the great landscapes, from the Nile Valley to the Sinai coast and the oases of the Western Desert. For pre-departure inspiration, the author's "things not to miss" section aims to immerse the reader in the sights and sounds of this enthralling destination. The book also includes the latest on Red Sea diving, including new areas being opened up away from the established resorts.

Customer Reviews

egypt ~ the right of passage
being an egyptophile now for some years + amassing nearly all the travel guides on egypt, i can with my hand on my heart say that dan richmond, et alia, have by far the best, informative + succint guide.

if i had to only choose one for a trip to egypt, then the rough guide wins hands down. the information is thorough, measured and as accurate as it possibly can be. the style of writing makes me chorkle as the innate humour could only have come from one who knows egypt, its people + its quirks. so really as u read it u are transported to egypt by the book's very fragrant anecdotes.

this new edition (5th) has improved on its detailing of places to stay ~ my main bug bear with the 4th edition + the reference sections pertaining to music + further reading at the end of the book are superb for the initial toe dip into, what is, one of the most interesting + intriquing countries on the planet.

PLEASE rough guide take out a Cairo city guide ~ this is one hole in the market that is waiting to be filled.

Comprehensive
Detailed, highly informative, with an air of authority and erudition, this is an outstanding example of this fine set of travel books. Honest about bureaucracy and the travails facing the independent traveller, this book nevertheless communicates a real love of its subject, lacking the alienating hauteur of the Guide to Greece (so jaded with its subject it makes Greek island hopping sound about as much fun as the M40). With potted guides to the religious and cultural heritage which underpins the famous sites, this book is a must for first-time visitors.