There goes my desire to visit Egypt
Sep 12th, 2012, 06:22 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There goes my desire to visit Egypt
Egyptians scaling the US Embassy over a film hardly any Americans have ever heard of in a protest planned by relatives of Al Qaeda leaders?
On 9/11!?
Unforgivable!
That country is never getting my tourist dollars!
On 9/11!?
Unforgivable!
That country is never getting my tourist dollars!
Sep 12th, 2012, 11:55 AM
#4
Sep 12th, 2012, 11:59 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd probably still go back quite happily if I hadn't already planned a trip for this year.
For the group of nutcases there's also a much larger group of people who are friendly, welcoming and kind. Just as I recognize that the terrorists of 9/11 do NOT represent all Muslims or all Arabs, they recognize that not all Americans are represented by those that made that video.
For the group of nutcases there's also a much larger group of people who are friendly, welcoming and kind. Just as I recognize that the terrorists of 9/11 do NOT represent all Muslims or all Arabs, they recognize that not all Americans are represented by those that made that video.
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:21 PM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just reminds me how long this madness has been going on for.
We went to a deserted Luxor, the locals shook our hands for going. We had two weeks all inclusive at the Winter Palace for next to nothing. it was 6 months after 62 tourists were shot by Islamic extremists.
That was 1998.
The world hasn't moved on much, doubt it ever will.
We went because we had just graduated, beggars can't be choosers.
We went to a deserted Luxor, the locals shook our hands for going. We had two weeks all inclusive at the Winter Palace for next to nothing. it was 6 months after 62 tourists were shot by Islamic extremists.
That was 1998.
The world hasn't moved on much, doubt it ever will.
We went because we had just graduated, beggars can't be choosers.
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:41 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think I'll ever go back and am glad I went when I did. I felt that way before this event.
The culture and country has changed a lot, gotten a lot more conservative and women are seriously harrassed in Cairo, there has been a lot about that recently in the news. They are groped and molested and harrased by young boys (teens) -- these are Cairo Muslim residents (both the boys and the girls). It is disgusting, I would never want to go back to that country until they change their behavior and do something about they way people are treated. It was bad enough when I went (about 20 years ago), but then I thin they mainly harrassed foreign women, and it wasn't as bad as now. Funny coming from people who claim they are so religious and that Islam means they should all be so modest.
see
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...ally-assaulted
http://www.arabnews.com/egyptian-wom...ahrir%E2%80%99
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/fea...100955560.html
And those aren't biased reports. When I went, you didn't see that many Egyptian women in the streets in hijabs (certainly not young ones) My tour guide was a young university graduate and she was even wearing Bermuda shorts at that time (1980s).
The culture and country has changed a lot, gotten a lot more conservative and women are seriously harrassed in Cairo, there has been a lot about that recently in the news. They are groped and molested and harrased by young boys (teens) -- these are Cairo Muslim residents (both the boys and the girls). It is disgusting, I would never want to go back to that country until they change their behavior and do something about they way people are treated. It was bad enough when I went (about 20 years ago), but then I thin they mainly harrassed foreign women, and it wasn't as bad as now. Funny coming from people who claim they are so religious and that Islam means they should all be so modest.
see
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...ally-assaulted
http://www.arabnews.com/egyptian-wom...ahrir%E2%80%99
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/fea...100955560.html
And those aren't biased reports. When I went, you didn't see that many Egyptian women in the streets in hijabs (certainly not young ones) My tour guide was a young university graduate and she was even wearing Bermuda shorts at that time (1980s).
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:49 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went in 1991 and were able to see a lot of Cairo but we didn't travel to Luxor,etc. Really, our trip was partly business and we knew an Egyptian family through business who escorted us around. Most of the women at that time wore dresses or skirts like we would have worn in the US. I don't recall seeing women wearing pants or shorts - other than tourist.
Also, I am glad we got to see the Cairo museum before it was looted.
Also, I am glad we got to see the Cairo museum before it was looted.
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:54 PM
#13
Christina - i read those reports about harassment of women too. the attitudes of the young men involved seemed to be very confused - they were not only criticising women who dressed "improperly" [of which they of course are the arbiters] but also attacking women in hijabs because of what they supposedly wore underneath!
of course it is all an excuse for bullying women which the authorities seem to care little about.
a while ago I saw a film made by a saudi women who had escaped the country about the harassment she and other women suffer if there is the slightest "immodesty" [real or imagined] there whilst men feel free to dress and behave exactly as they like.
Still I would love to go but it's not going to be top of my list any time soon.
of course it is all an excuse for bullying women which the authorities seem to care little about.
a while ago I saw a film made by a saudi women who had escaped the country about the harassment she and other women suffer if there is the slightest "immodesty" [real or imagined] there whilst men feel free to dress and behave exactly as they like.
Still I would love to go but it's not going to be top of my list any time soon.
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:54 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:58 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Marginal,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12442863
I wasn't implying that it happened this week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12442863
I wasn't implying that it happened this week.
Sep 12th, 2012, 12:59 PM
#17
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<<Also, I am glad we got to see the Cairo museum before it was looted.>>>
If I remember correctly, the museum was "looted" in early 2011 at the start of the uprising and they damaged 2 mummies and a handful of small items. Nothing big, nothing well known.
If I remember correctly, the museum was "looted" in early 2011 at the start of the uprising and they damaged 2 mummies and a handful of small items. Nothing big, nothing well known.
Sep 12th, 2012, 01:06 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have to do what you think is right with your travel dollars. I have a friend who to this day refuses to buy anything German-made; I kind of get his point, but history is long and there a lot of grudges one could hold. I would love to go to Egypt.
