"Alluring Herbs...." Sharm El Sheikh Shopping Tip by SabrinaSummerville

Almost all of the large hotels have a little arcade of shops - almost as staple in this arcade you will have a jeweler, a souvenir shop, a papyrus shop, perfumery, and finally the "real herbs" shop.

I managed to ignore the hesbs and spices shops during my first trip to Egypt, and was doing great the second time around...until it came to our last day. It was unusually cold and cloudy, so to kill time we wandered the shops in the arcade of our hotel.

The last stop was the herbs shop. They are delightful to visit and the shop owner will proudly show you his natural Viagra along with natural sleeping pills, natural remedy for psoriasis, natural remedy for....indeed, they have a solution for everything. "You have tired eyes madam - yes, I have something for this. Come to this side of my shop - and would you like to buy one of my lovely hand made Egyptian carpets?" " The tired eyes are from too much alcohol, just give me something for a hangover and I might take a nap on that rug...or is it a flying carpet?" It would be if you wanted it to be (flying, that is) as they have something for everyone and a lot you don't want or need but end up buying.

I am inclined to doubt that any of these remedies really work and in fairness that's just because the dried sea rose that Mum brought home looks nothing at all like the one in the shop and stinks to high heaven.

It's great fun though, and nice to bring home something a little exotic and mystical.

What to buy: herbs, spices, natural remedies of all kinds, and incense.

What to pay: Bargain - the say they sell by weight but see what you can do with the prices.

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