"Pyramids, mosques and other adventures " a Egypt Travel Page by midnight_mike

What do Moses, Jesus, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Napoleon all have in common? They have all spent time in Egypt! There are a lot of things to see and do in Egypt. The problem is that unless you have two or three weeks to spend there, you will surely miss out on some great things.

With a population of about 20 million, Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world. It will take at least four days to see everything, including the pyramids in Giza. Day trips can also be made to Memphis and Sakara, although most people skip these.

Luxor is the other "must see" as it features the Temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Dead. At least two full days are necessary, although three would be better. Further down the Nile are Abu Simbel and Aswan. After the Pyramids and Luxor, you might not feel as though it is necessary to see these depending on the amount of time you have in Egypt.

Alexandria has a lot of history, but I read and heard that it does not have much to show for it.

In the western part of the country, in the Lybian desert, lies the Siwa Oasis. Alexander the Great frustrated his soldiers by leading them on this major detour so he could visit the famous oracle. Even with modern vehicles, this is still quite a trek.

For some rest and relaxation, head for the Sinai peninsula. The most developed of the towns is Sharm El-Sheikh. There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts, villas and budget hotels. There is also plenty of shopping opportunities in the souq. The town definitely has the "tourist" feel.

All along the eastern coast of the Sinai, Sharm included, there are some great diving opportunities. Dahab, which means gold in Arabic, is a clean city in the center of the eastern coast. Nuweiba, which is where ferries leave for Aqaba in Jordan, is dirty and unwelcoming. Near the Israeli border lies Taba and Taba Heights. There are some great all-inclusive resorts here, offering private beaches and other amenities.

In the middle of Sinai lies St. Katherine's Monastery and Mt. Sinai. This is where Moses climbed to the top of the mountain to receive the 10 Commandments from God.

Terrorist attacks happen on very rare occasions in Egypt. An overwhelming number of Egyptians and friendly and peaceful. There is, however, a small minority of people who want to disrupt Egypt's tourism industry. Over the past 15 years tourists have been killed by terrorist attacks in Cairo, Luxor, Sharm and Taba. You should know that you are more likely to drown in the ocean than die from a terrorist's bomb.

Tourism is a vital part of Egypt's economy and the government has done everything it can to keep tourists safe. Major hotels have a significant amount of security and there are police checkpoints throughout the Sinai. If the government thinks there is a chance of violence somewhere, there will surely be a strong police presence there.

I would advise anyone considering a trip to Egypt not to worry. As long as you don't drink the water, you should be safe!!!