Jackie R

I just returned from a trip to Egypt. We were on a Trafalgar tour. <BR> <BR>I wanted to post this message to let potential travels know that the Egyptian people were warm and friendly and that we felt completely safe the whole time we were there. <BR> <BR>We had a fabulous time. Egypt was magical. Because tourism was so down, we had personalized, outstanding service. Often times our tour group (13 of us) were the only ones at the sites. (Which is, of course, terrible for the Egyptian people...) <BR> <BR>The Egyptians had taken measures to ensure security well in advance of Sept 11. Their security measures are beyond anything the US has in place. We had our bags Xrayed twice before boarding planes and then hand searched. We had to go through metal detectors to enter our hotel. <BR> <BR>If you are considering Egypt, go! It is the trip of a lifetime.

anonymous

Author: Jackie R ([email protected])<BR>Date: 11/07/2001, 12:54 pm<BR>Message: I just returned from a trip to Egypt. We were on a Trafalgar tour. <BR><BR>I wanted to post this message to let potential travels know that the Egyptian people were warm and friendly and that we felt completely safe the whole time we were there. <BR><BR>We had a fabulous time. Egypt was magical. Because tourism was so down, we had personalized, outstanding service. Often times our tour group (13 of us) were the only ones at the sites. (Which is, of course, terrible for the Egyptian people...) <BR><BR>The Egyptians had taken measures to ensure security well in advance of Sept 11. Their security measures are beyond anything the US has in place. We had our bags Xrayed twice before boarding planes and then hand searched. We had to go through metal detectors to enter our hotel. <BR><BR>If you are considering Egypt, go! It is the trip of a lifetime. <BR>=================<BR><BR>Jackie - you posted this same line on another thread on fodors.<BR><BR>Why are you spamming the board supporting tourism to a nation that is soft on terrorism?<BR><BR>Remember that 50 or 60 western tourists were murdered in luxor a few years back.<BR><BR>Remember that egyptians partied in the streets on September 11, cheering the murder of thousands of civilians.<BR><BR>Are you serious? Or are you luring more targets to egypt?<BR><BR>

tarek

Anyone calling Egypt "a nation that is soft on terrorism" is either totally clueless or plainily dishonnest. Egypt's condemnation of terrorism has always been unequivocal and its crack down on terrorist groups in the nineties was often viewed as being excessively forceful. But the result is that it has enjoyed years of safety. The US State Department, the UK Foreign office and other Western government bodies all agree that Egypt is safe. Just check their respective websites.<BR><BR>As for the alleged "Street celebrations", that's an outright lie. Such celebrations simply did not take place as most people were in a state of shock. You might as well write to the US embassy in cairo and ask them: http://usembassy.egnet.net/<BR><BR>

mmcclure

Here's a clip from an article in the UK guardian. Search the net and you will find many similar articles. Also, many television networks showed extensive street celebrations in Egypt, Iran, and palestinian areas on Sept. 11th. <BR><BR>You can either believe the news and your own eyes, or an anonymous message board poster. Please everyone, do your own research.<BR>======<BR><BR>Special report: Terrorism in the US <BR>Thursday September 13, 2001<BR>The Guardian<BR><BR><BR>"Bullseye," said one man in Cairo. In the streets of Nablus on the West Bank, groups of Palestinians handed out sweets. In Gaza, some fired guns in celebration. Others chanted: "Bin Laden, bomb Tel Aviv next!" Women ululated and children cheered. In Cairo and Tehran there were smiles as well as shock. <BR><BR>It is a sorry reflection on the state of international relations that, while Americans shed tears at the terror that shook New York on Tuesday, across the world others wept tears of joy. Satellite television saw to it that the world was united before their television screens, where the horror of the attacks and their aftermath was endlessly replayed. Politics ensured that they remained divided in their reaction to what they saw and how they interpreted it. <BR><BR>Americans were witnessing a ruthless attack, not only on their physical air space; others - particularly, but by no means exclusively, in the Arab world - saw a spectacular and dramatic display of revenge. <BR><BR>"It's payback time," said one Egyptian driver in Cairo. "Terrorism begets terrorism," said an Arab reporter. "The United States finally reaps what it sows." <BR><BR>

mmcclure

From the arabicnews.com:<BR><BR>On Egyptian- American relations<BR>Egypt-USA, Politics, 10/15/2001 <BR><BR>The French news bulletin weekly NNA said that Egyptian- American relations are not better than the American - Saudi relations, noting that the US administration is not pleased with statements the Egyptian President upon the arrival of the US defense secretary Ramsfeld to Cairo in which he ( Mubarak) announced Egypt's non-participation in any military operation against Afghanistan.<BR><BR>In its recent issue, the paper quoted a western diplomatic source as saying that Mubarak refused Ramsfeld request to keep 20,000 American soldiers who are taking party in the " bright star" maneuvers on the Egyptian territories after the end of the maneuvers by the end of the current month, October.<BR><BR>The news bulletin added that Damascus views with discontent that Mubarak held a European tour in which he made consultations on fighting terrorism and he abstained from visiting the US capital and for that reason the US did not inform Egypt the date of its strikes against Taliban.<BR>

tarek

What is desccribed in that Guardian article hrdly qualifies as "extensive street celebrations". That article or slightly different versions of it has indeed been published on a couple of website. But why is it that it was always the same occurence that was reported? If there really had been "extensive" celebrations, wouldn't there have been more stories to report? I am talking about Egypt here. I don't know about the situation in other countries.<BR><BR>

tarek

From the Egyptian English language weekly Al Ahram, in the issue following the strikes:<BR><BR>(http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2001/555/war81.htm)<BR><BR>Egypt declared that it fully backs US action against terrorism, but cautioned against the killing of innocent civilians. "We support all measures which the US is taking to combat terrorism," said President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday, "because Egypt has suffered in the past from the scourge of terrorism." <BR><BR><BR>

tarek

A few days ago, on 11/7, US Ambassador C. David Welch addressed the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. In his speech, he said: <BR><BR>"Like President Bush, I am gratified that we can count Egypt as one of our strongest supporters."<BR><BR>Read the whole speech on the US Embassy in Cairo's website:<BR>http://usembassy.egnet.net/usis/pr110702.htm<BR><BR>Could you please explain to me, then, Mr McClure, why you are determined to attack and undermine one of the US' "strongest supporters"? What are you expecting to gain from that? And why do you keep posting a fake e-mail address, anyway?

tarek

More from US Ambassador Welch's speech, explaining why "like President Bush, [he is] gratified that [the US] can count Egypt as one of [its] strongest supporters" (for the whole speech, go to http://usembassy.egnet.net/usis/pr110702.htm):<BR><BR>"As Secretary Powell and others have noted, different countries will have different things to offer in the fight against global terror, based on their political and historical circumstances. Some will provide diplomatic support; some will help politically; others will assist militarily and in other ways. And we appreciate the many ways in which Egypt is helping.<BR><BR>President Mubarak's words of support following the start of the military campaign were warmly welcomed. So too have been Egypt's approval of overflight clearances for US military aircraft, its grant of transit rights through the Suez Canal for our warships, and its determination to carry out the biennial Bright Star exercise as planned. Indeed, Bright Star is an enduring symbol of the US-Egyptian partnership for peace and stability, a symbol that holds special significance today.<BR><BR>Egypt has pledged its cooperation with global anti-terrorism efforts in other ways, too. It is providing excellent cooperation with elements of the United States Government as we seek to destroy terrorist networks and investigate the crimes of September 11. The government is actively seeking out terrorist financial assets wherever they may be found. It is working to strengthen Egypt's money laundering laws to make it harder for terrorists to move money. Egypt Air and the Egyptian Civil Aviation Supervisory Authority are fully implementing new civil aviation security requirements to make air travel safer.<BR><BR>Egypt, in other words, as a close friend and ally, is doing what close friends and allies do when their help is needed. And it is doing it effectively. Whatever you may have heard or read in the media, this is the official view of the United States Government.<BR><BR>The point I want to emphasize here is that what Egypt and the United States have done together since the start of this campaign is possible because the US and Egypt have worked for many years to build a deep, stable, mature, and multifaceted relationship. And although we are now focused on the threat of international terrorism, Egypt and the United States continue to pursue a broad-based political and economic agenda."<BR>

tarek

Mr McClure, notice that US Ambassador to Cairo clearly and explicitely stated that:<BR><BR>"Egypt, in other words, as a close friend and ally, is doing what close friends and allies do when their help is needed. And it is doing it effectively. Whatever you may have heard or read in the media, this is the official view of the United States Government."<BR><BR>For the whole speech, go to http://usembassy.egnet.net/usis/pr110702.htm<BR>

topper

topping

Alice

The contents in this posting might help answer some of the most recent inquiries about traveling in Egypt.

Guenter Mempel

Planning a independent trip to egypt july 15 to august 5.<BR><BR>Please sen me your notes. Thanks

Jennifer

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon to Egypt. We would LOVE your notes! I hope you are still doing this! Thank you for all of your work!!!<BR>Jennifer

Simone

Hi Alice, <BR><BR>I would love to see your notes. Are these viewable on a web site to save you having to send them?<BR><BR>Kind Regards<BR><BR>Simone S

Bob Miller

My wife and I are journeyig to Egypt in November/December. We are part of a rather small tour (16 people) and want to make the most of the experience. Anything you can forward about your experiences would be gratefully accepted.

frank_133

Alice,<BR>My daughter and I hope to go to Egypt in late April as long as there is not a war in Iraq. This certainly is looking very unsure at the moment. I would love to have your notes on your trip. I was not able to retrieve them on hotmail. Could you please send them to me. Thanks in advance, Frank

frank_133

Sorry Alice ,<BR> I forgot to include my e-mail address. It is <BR>[email protected]<BR><BR>Frank

reena

hi alice,<BR>can you please e-mail me your notes..<BR>([email protected])<BR>i will be leaving for Egypt in 2 weeks<BR>1st time traveller and going with TRAFALGAR TOURS<BR><BR>thanks<BR>reena

roadrunner

Hello Alice:<BR><BR>My parents are travelling to Egypt for the first time and are looking for tour groups and such. Your notes would be most helpful. Could you please email hem to me at [email protected].<BR><BR>Thank you.<BR><BR>Ayesha