Capital - Cairo
Area - 1,001,450 km2 (29th in the world).
Official language - Egyptian.
Currency - Egyptian Pound (EGP).
Public holiday - 23 July (Revolution Day).
Vacation, beach, sand, sea, coral -
it's all great, but pretty boring, especially in Egypt, a country of
contrasts, where there is always something to do. The variety of
entertainment in the Egyptian resort will satisfy even the most
discerning traveler. Exclusively in Egypt is possible to combine
swimming in the Red Sea (all year) close to the colorful variety of fish
and historic journey to the pyramids, with a visit to the holy Mount
Sinai. The Red Sea is very rich on the coral reefs. One has only to
plunge into the water with a mask and snorkel and you will discover a
beautiful underwater world, full of variety and multicolority fish and
coral, and this can be seen in many places, very close to the coast. The
most daring visitors can take a tour boat to the coral reefs in the open
sea. Akvaskop - a great alternative for people who are afraid to plunge
into the water snorkeling or scuba diving. This is a special boat with a
glass bottom, large windows and an underwater capsule. So, you can see
the coral reefs from a distance.
Climate in Egypt
The climate is a narrow
coastal strip along the Mediterranean Sea - subtropical, in the rest of
- deserted tropical. The air is extremely dry, year round rain, rains
are very rare. For Egypt is characterized by sharp fluctuations in
temperature. For example, in January and February in Cairo at midday
temperatures can reach 29 ° C, and at night drop to 0 ° C and below. In
Aswan in November afternoon air can warm to 41 ° C, and at night to cool
to 3 ° C. The average temperature in January varies from north to south
of 14 ° C to 17 ° C, in July - from 26 to 33 ° C.
Not a very nice feature of the spring period is khamsin - hot and dry
south-easterly wind, blowing from the desert. Temperature during khamsin
rises to 40 ° C, humidity drops to 10%. Dust, brought khamsin, gets
everywhere - in homes, cars, scores eyes, mouth and nose. Even with the
doors locked and windows closed room to feel the presence of dust,
brought by this wind. Khamsin duration from one to several days, and it
may end up falling out during the "mud" Rain. Khamsin in Arabic means
"fifty" - exactly as many days of the year are blowing mercilessly
scorching wind.
The swimming season lasts the whole year in the country.
Traditions of Egypt
The Muslim faith
determines the rhythm of life of the Egyptians. This you can see on a
purely external features: for example, five times a day through a
loudspeaker muezzin call the faithful to prayer. And in the month of
Ramadan, the night becomes day. Muslims fast all day and break the fast
only after sunset. At this time, public life fades, government agencies
work only from 10.00 to 14.00, or kidding themselves as Egyptians,
implied effectiveness of such work - from 10.00 to 09.45.
Customs EgiptaIslamizatsiya almost completely wiped out the customs of
the Pharaonic era. Traveler, of course, pay attention to the features of
the national costume of Egyptians, primarily manifested in the rural
areas, but no stranger to the city. Egyptians wear loose-fitting shirts,
and ordinary people prefer white, women dress in black, brightly colored
outfit enlivening elements, sometimes with embellishments and lace.
Referring to Muslim values, more women - often at the urging of her
husband or family - again start wearing higab, variety veil that hides
not a person, but only the hair, and a long wide dress - GALABA. Often
the women return to the old clothes and practical reasons - because of
the worsening financial situation, many of them can not afford to do her
hair or buy a new dress.
Customs EgiptaOtdelnogo noteworthy mysterious people Bedouins have long
settled on the local desert. It is not known how many Bedouins in Egypt,
as the census and they can not be used to living without a passport.
Egyptian officials can say only about 50 - 150 thousand people. Red Sea
has long lived two large Bedouin clan. Al-Abbadi - Bedouins, who have
always settled near the coast and equally loved two elements-the sea and
the desert. This tribe refutes idea of Bedouins, like the land of the
people, because the people from the Al-Abbadi found among the captains
of fishing boats and even among instructors divers. Another tribe - Al
Maasi - this desert Bedouins who came to the coast from the interior of
the sea about 150 years ago. Until now, Bedouin tales of epic stores
violent clashes two clans over water sources, which ended in a grand
assembly of elders of both clans, which was pronounced the word Peace.
And now, many years ago, the Bedouins are extremely reluctant to resort
to resolve disputes through the mediation of the authorities, relying
more on their elders. Except Bedouin traders, most of the Bedouins of
Egypt did not want to maintain contact with modern society and the
population of items. They are usually self-sufficient. Old men teach
children to read the Koran. Women obihazhivayut livestock and do the
housework. Men hunted at night and during the day sitting in the shade
under tents without any movement, and only God knows what's going on at
this point in their Bedouin heads.
Attractions in Egypt
Pyramid of Khufu
On the outskirts of
Cairo, Giza, lies a whole architectural ensemble consisting of the three
highest in Egypt pyramids. The most important and famous of them - the
Pyramid of Cheops (completed around 2590 BC. Oe.). At the base of it is
a square with a side of 227.5 m, and at the height of its construction
was 146.6 m (now pyramid at 9 m below - hit the upper levels), it covers
an area of 5.3 hectares. The construction of the pyramid took about
2.3 million stone blocks weighing 2.5 tons each, and the total volume of
the pyramid is 2.34 million cubic meters. m individual blocks, according
to medieval historians, were so accurately adjusted to each other, that
between them could not even stick a knife.
Inside the pyramid of Cheops no inscriptions or decorations. There are
only three "burial chambers" - a room about 11 meters long, 5 meters
wide and a height of about 6 meters, decorated with granite walls. But
the red granite sarcophagus is empty - no mummy, no funeral utensils not
survived. It is believed that the pyramid was plundered in antiquity.
On the south side of the pyramid is the structure, resembling a ship.
This so-called solar boat - one of five in which Cheops had to go to the
other world. In 1954, 43.6 m long boat, dismantled for parts in 1224,
was found during excavations. It is built of cedar (without nails) and,
as seen in the preserved traces of mud on it, during the life of Cheops
served as his personal vehicle.
Pyramid of Khafre
The second largest pyramid - Khafre, built 40 years after the first. Outwardly, it seems that the pyramid of Khafre, even more than Cheops, but in fact it is a little smaller. Side of the base of the pyramid of Khafre - 215 m, height - 136 m (as well as the Pyramid of Cheops, it was 9 feet above). It is more obvious the whole complex of buildings, consisting of the church in the valley, the road, "temple dead" and the actual pyramid. Lower church, which once stood 25 statues of pharaohs, known for the fact that it has been made here of the mummification of Khafre.
Pyramid of Menkaure
Completes the ensemble of
the great pyramids of Giza Pyramid of Menkaure. Its construction is
expected to be finished in 2505 BC. e. This pyramid is much smaller than
their predecessors - 108 m at the base, the initial height - 66.5 m
(today - 62 m). The only burial chamber of the pyramid cut in its
bedrock.
Other pyramids
The Great Pyramids - only part of the vast necropolis of Giza. Next to
them is a complex of several small pyramids, where are buried the wife
of Pharaoh, and the tombs of priests and high officials. At the foot of
the vast plateau of Giza are numerous funerary temples, each of which by
itself is also quite interesting, and the famous Great Sphinx, carved,
like most colossal statues of Giza, from solid rock. Its length - 73 m,
height - 20 m is believed that the Sphinx was "built" during the
construction of the pyramid of Khafre, and his face (almost destroyed by
the Mamelukes and the nuclei of the Napoleonic artillerymen) has the
features of this particular pharaoh - the brother and successor of
Cheops. Every evening at the foot of the pyramids is a colorful light
and music performance "Sound and Light".
Sphinx
A giant statue of a lion's body and a human head looks out of Egypt to the east along the thirtieth parallel. She carved out of the limestone monolith forming bedrock of the Giza Plateau, and has dimensions of 72 meters in length and 20 meters in height. She weathered and worn, beaten, covered with cracks and crumbles. This is - the Great Sphinx. Once he was considered the eternal God. Then he fell into the trap of forgetting, and fell into an enchanted sleep. What is the secret of this majestic keeps guard? "Sphinx" in Arabic sounds as "Abu al-Hol," which means "Father of Terror." Sphinx - a symbol of wisdom, power, strength, dignity and royalty. Sphinx of Giza - the oldest and largest sphinx in the world, he guards the approaches to the Pyramids of Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafre) and Mekerina (Menkaure). According to one legend face of the Sphinx - a person of the pharaoh Khafre (Chephren), according to another legend, the Sphinx is the god Horus, watching as the sun rises over the horizon - his father God Ra. The myths of the ancient Greeks Sphinx - the monster Typhon and Ehidnoy generated, with the face and breast of a woman, body of a lion and the wings of a bird. Sphinx is located on a mountain near the city of Thebes and asked each pass of the riddle - "Which of the living creatures in the morning goes on four legs in the afternoon at two and three in the evening?". For failing to give the answer to the Sphinx killed. Oedipus solved the riddle - "Man in childhood, adulthood and old age." After that, the Sphinx threw herself off a cliff.
Cities in Egypt
Cairo
Cairo,
the largest city in Africa, which has absorbed a number of cities of
different eras - ancient Heliopolis and Babylon, Egypt, medieval Fustat.
This - the largest city of the African continent, the city "a thousand
minarets", "East Gate". He came very close now to the great pyramids of
Giza. It focused cultural achievements of the six thousand years of
Egyptian civilization.
It is no accident Gumilev in 1919, said: "This country is not for
nothing that had created a saying, the past world:
- Who tried the water from the Nile will forever strive to Cairo. "
In a divided and surrounded sands Nile Cairo- the old and the modern
history of Egypt. Cairo - it's high-rise buildings and villas, minarets
and steeples and palm trees and neon lights, bustling bazaars and many
shops with souvenirs for tourists. A huge city, where life abounds - and
simultaneously flows slowly, where the majestic Nile rolls its eternal
water.
From Cairo merges the third largest population (960 thousand
inhabitants) after as Cairo and Alexandria, the city of Giza, which
survived the famous Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. In their splendid
appearance embodies the idea of immortality, the strangeness around
fragile and fickle, the power and authority of the pharaohs.
The vast panorama of the city opens from Citadel Salladina, one of the
oldest castles in the world, reflecting the centuries of invasions of
conquerors. Here in front of your eyes appear delicate minarets of the
mosque of Mohammed Ali Mosque and Sultan Kalauna.
In the Egyptian Museum will meet you in the world's richest collection
of Egyptian art. Unforgettable tour you can take on papyrus and jewelry
factories, and in the Perfume Museum with its fascinating scents.
You'll see a giant aqueduct from the Nile to the Citadel tower Beit Al
Sennar and the oldest building of Arab Al-Azhar University. And, of
course, you will visit the craft bazaar of Khan el-Khalili - the largest
market in the Middle East, little changed from the XIV century, where
you are plunged into the eastern exoticism with its incredible mess and
diversity.
In Cairo, you can buy everything what is available on the East: spices,
perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, copper and bronze, leather, glass,
ceramics, etc. The range of fabrics, including the famous Egyptian
cotton, the largest open-air markets like Vekelat el-Balah, musical
instruments - in the street, Mohammed Ali. While you certainly do not
need a camel, the camel market in the campaign you will long remember
and tell your friends.
When tired of the urban bustle, try to relax at the Golf Club Hotel "Mena
House" overlooking the famous pyramids or watch the races at the Gezira
Club, visit the zoo or botanical garden. Want exotic - go to felucca on
the Nile or on horseback from the Pyramids of Giza to Saqqara pyramids.
Well, to completely forget - visit a revolving restaurant on top of the
187-meter high Cairo Tower, from which the whole city can be seen at a
glance.
As darkness fell, the pace of life of the city is enhanced many times.
This is the best time for shopping or exploring the east kitchen. Dine
in a roadside cafe, and in the "floating" restaurant. The hotels in the
evenings traditionally by local dancers and dancers who will not leave
anyone indifferent. In a magnificent complex of the Opera House, there
are several art galleries, a museum of modern art, restaurants and
concert halls. Arabic music under the sun - it will surely be remembered
for a long time.
Alexandria
Alexandria - the second
largest city of Egypt, which has a rather Mediterranean than oriental
features. The spirit and culture of the city are different from the rest
of the country, although it is only 225 km from Cairo.
The city was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC on the site of a
small fishing village Rakotis. In the days of the Greek and Roman
empires, Alexandria was the largest international trade, scientific and
cultural center. It is famous for its ancient library with more than
500,000 volumes, and the lighthouse of Pharos, who was considered one of
the seven wonders of the world.
Strabo, Euclid, other scientists and philosophers here drew inspiration
for his works. Cleopatra, the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty, is
bewitched by its beauty Caesar and then his successor, Mark Antony.
The city stretches for 20 km along the Mediterranean Sea. Meandering
promenade starts at East Bay and passes through the center of the city.
In winter, the sun is shining on the white sand and yachts ply the sea,
summer vacationers sunbathe on the numerous beaches. The most famous of
them - and Montazah Maamura in the eastern part of the city. Not far
from them is the town of Abu Kir. It is famous for the fact that two
hundred years ago it was a battle between the Bay of squadrons of
Napoleon and Nelson. Dyer is also famous for its fish restaurants.
Alexandria - one of the jewels of the Mediterranean. The mild climate
throughout the year, beautiful sandy beaches stretching for 40 km along
the coast, attract thousands of tourists.
