...
EgyptSearch Forums Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» EgyptSearch Forums » Living in Egypt » Visiting Cairo As A Tourist

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: Visiting Cairo As A Tourist
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 5 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
hello everyone...! [Smile]

i never thought of visiting cairo in the past, but now i've somehow become curious... but i have some questions about the city... could you help me? that would be so nice!

here they are:

1. the city is so big. and to be honest i don't have a clue about anything there.
in which part of the city should my hotel be? i'd like the part to be quite safe... but i don't want it to be too full of westeners (then it would "feel like home", but i want to feel like being in egypt)!

2. do you know any SERIOUS language schools there?

3. do you think it's good to go to a language school for 2 weeks? cos that's how long my holidays are. i just want to see if i like arabic or not.
or do you think that 2 weeks is too few time to learn anything in arabic? it's a difficult language...


i'd be so happy if you answered. thanks in advance!!

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
borat
Member
Member # 9599

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for borat     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Why waste your 2 weeks learning arabic? Spend it looking around all the sights, and book some tours to Luxor, Aswan. Most people speak english anyway, so no need to learn arabic? If you want learn to read the alphabet and numbers before you go. Then you can read signs and catch buses and get prices.
Dont worry no matter where you stay you will definetly feel you are in EGYPT. The local population far outweight the tourists!! [Wink]

Posts: 57 | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
newcomer
Member
Member # 1056

Icon 1 posted      Profile for newcomer     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hi germanjulia!

I don't think any serious language school would take you for just 2 weeks, not even with private tuition, as they all seem to follow programmes that take 4-6 weeks to complete a level. If you really want something it might be worth getting a prvate tutor who can tailor make something for you to give you a taste of the language, and maybe teach you some basic dialogues.

Posts: 4576 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
_
Member
Member # 3567

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for _     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I think it's a good idea to visit Cairo, learn Arabic and you will still find enough time to get to know the city and people since the lessons will be only for couple of hours per day. There are various websites offering Arabic lessons inside Cairo, some of them even include lodging possibilities either in a hotel or in an Egyptian guest family. However, it is very easy to meet people, you will not feel lost. Purchase a city guide on amazon.de, you will also get lucky to find a street map of cairo.

Check out Google for "Arabisch Kairo".

Good luck and let us know if you book a trip. However, if you will take lessons or not, enjoy your time there - I am sure you will. [Smile]

If you like to further proceed with Arabic lessons take a course at the VHS or another language center in your town.

Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
zam05
Member
Member # 9771

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for zam05     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Or when you learn in advance some Arabic, buy the book "Kauderwelsch Ägyptisch-Arabisch", there is also a CD with so you can listen to the pronunciation. It's just Touristic-Arabic, but I started learning the language with that book and it was very helpful for the beginning. Later I learned more by listening and speaking when I was in Egypt.
Posts: 39 | From: Germany | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by allisonelsokary:
Why waste your 2 weeks learning arabic?

because my final exams are getting nearer and nearer (next year!), and slowly i begin to think about what i want to study at university...i'll probably take law AND some languages, i wanted to take russian and french. but if i now found out that i like arabic, maybe i would re-think that choice...

quote:
Originally posted by allisonelsokary:
If you want learn to read the alphabet and numbers before you go. [/QB]

you make it sound so easy! [Smile] i've already tried it, but it's hard to do it alone! i was shocked when i found out there were 3 different possibilities to write a letter! [Smile] need help with that!

quote:
Originally posted by allisonelsokary:
Dont worry no matter where you stay you will definetly feel you are in EGYPT. The local population far outweight the tourists!! [Wink] [/QB]

okay! thank you allison! [Smile]
Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by newcomer:

I don't think any serious language school would take you for just 2 weeks, not even with private tuition, as they all seem to follow programmes that take 4-6 weeks to complete a level.

hmmm. in england it worked. maybe because english is easier.

quote:
Originally posted by newcomer:

If you really want something it might be worth getting a prvate tutor who can tailor make something for you to give you a taste of the language, and maybe teach you some basic dialogues.

yes, that would be good. do you have an idea how to find one?
thank you!

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily:

Good luck and let us know if you book a trip. [Smile]

i will! [Smile]

quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily:
If you like to further proceed with Arabic lessons take a course at the VHS or another language center in your town. [/QB]

i'd love to- aber ich bin auf 'ner ganztagsschule! [Frown] no time!
Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by zam05:
Or when you learn in advance some Arabic, buy the book "Kauderwelsch Ägyptisch-Arabisch", there is also a CD with so you can listen to the pronunciation. It's just Touristic-Arabic, but I started learning the language with that book and it was very helpful for the beginning. Later I learned more by listening and speaking when I was in Egypt.

i think that's really a great idea! thanks!especially that cd seems very helpful.
how much is it?

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
zam05
Member
Member # 9771

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for zam05     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I don't remember exactly but I think approx. 15 Euro for book and CD.
Posts: 39 | From: Germany | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
_
Member
Member # 3567

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for _     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Germanjulia, you will find on amazon.de und buch.de lot of learning material for Egyptian-Arabic but believe me to understand the basics and the alphabet you need a teacher in the beginning.

Btw, VHS offers also courses in the evening. But I do understand that it's probably too much of studying in one day.

So perhaps you will find a private tuitor, so the lessons would be more flexible.

Or you combine the learning with the fun and look for a boyfriend preferably Egyptian. [Wink] But I remember from your earlier posts you are already in good hands.

So, I hope you will enjoy your Arabic lessons, no matter in which way. Good luck.

Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
newcomer
Member
Member # 1056

Icon 1 posted      Profile for newcomer     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by germanjulia:
quote:
Originally posted by newcomer:

I don't think any serious language school would take you for just 2 weeks, not even with private tuition, as they all seem to follow programmes that take 4-6 weeks to complete a level.

hmmm. in england it worked. maybe because english is easier.

quote:
Originally posted by newcomer:

If you really want something it might be worth getting a prvate tutor who can tailor make something for you to give you a taste of the language, and maybe teach you some basic dialogues.

yes, that would be good. do you have an idea how to find one?
thank you!

In England my guess is that there would be more flexibility in the teaching styles, whereas in the Arab world they generally have a fairly traditional strict book-based, talk and chalk approach to language teaching.

There are a couple of private teachers who advertise on ES...I seem to remember that "Sami" was recommended by one member, but I haven't heard anyone from here give a recommendation for ah_farrag, other than ah_farrag! [Wink]

Posts: 4576 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
thistle
Junior Member
Member # 6024

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for thistle     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hi,
I you are looking for somewhere not too western to stay in Cairo then check out our bed and breakfast on the nile, www.nileview.com
My partner is Egyptian, he can drive you round the sights and teach you arabic at the same time!

Posts: 27 | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily:
Germanjulia, you will find on amazon.de und buch.de lot of learning material for Egyptian-Arabic but believe me to understand the basics and the alphabet you need a teacher in the beginning.

Btw, VHS offers also courses in the evening. But I do understand that it's probably too much of studying in one day.

So perhaps you will find a private tuitor, so the lessons would be more flexible.

Or you combine the learning with the fun and look for a boyfriend preferably Egyptian. [Wink] But I remember from your earlier posts you are already in good hands.

So, I hope you will enjoy your Arabic lessons, no matter in which way. Good luck.

i'd really like to do VHS. i think i've already found someone who could possibly teach me. now all i have to do is ask him tomorrow...!
well no...i'm not searching for an egyptian bf! [Smile] you're right, i'm already in good hands. but even if i wasn't, i think and egyptian man and i, that wouldn't work too well;)
again, thank you very much for your advice, tigerlily!

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Nile_pharaoh
Member
Member # 9938

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Nile_pharaoh     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
hi German gulia , when are you coming first? i can assist you with the hotel stuff and i can get you very cheap and good hotel within safe areas and good service too ,momen
Posts: 73 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Nile_pharaoh:
hi German gulia , when are you coming first? i can assist you with the hotel stuff and i can get you very cheap and good hotel within safe areas and good service too ,momen

hey nile_pharaoh! when am i coming?? if i only knew that! until now, it is only my WISH to come to cairo. it's very nice of you to help me with the hotel stuff. but unfortunately my family is not happy with my plans. they think it's too dangerous (terror etc.) and that i should better invest the money in a trip to st. petersburg [Frown] !
so i don't know when i'm coming- yet! [Smile]
but thank you very much, nile_pharaoh! [Smile]

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
zam05
Member
Member # 9771

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for zam05     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Lol, so your family think Russia would be a safe place? St.Petersburg is a beautiful town, especially in the "White nights", but I have friends in Russia and they really don't consider the country as peaceful.
I'm been in Cairo several times, alone or with colleagues, and I always felt safe there. Everywhere can happen bad things.

Posts: 39 | From: Germany | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
_
Member
Member # 3567

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for _     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Germanjulia, seriously, think carefully which language you might use later on in your work environment, do you want to specialise and deal with Arabic, Russian or French clients?

I had Russian for 6 years, it's very difficult too, it also takes time until you have the letters down and so on.

I didn't take any French lessons but I believe it's the easiest from all of them.

If you decide to go and take a language course in St. Petersburg you should be fine as long as you stay in a group and watch your purse!

Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by zam05:
Lol, so your family think Russia would be a safe place? St.Petersburg is a beautiful town, especially in the "White nights", but I have friends in Russia and they really don't consider the country as peaceful.
I'm been in Cairo several times, alone or with colleagues, and I always felt safe there. Everywhere can happen bad things.

yeah i know that also in russia (st.petersburg) bad things can happen. and i think my family knows that, too. but it's just...you see, they, and especially my dad, are not only afraid of the terror, but they fear that because of my european looks i'll get groped by men and so on. and i guess they think in russia, people are "more used to that kind of looks". whether that's true or not- i don't know.
Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily:
Germanjulia, seriously, think carefully which language you might use later on in your work environment, do you want to specialise and deal with Arabic, Russian or French clients?

I had Russian for 6 years, it's very difficult too, it also takes time until you have the letters down and so on.

I didn't take any French lessons but I believe it's the easiest from all of them.

If you decide to go and take a language course in St. Petersburg you should be fine as long as you stay in a group and watch your purse!

is st. petersburg that "bad"? i didn't think there were that many pickpockets there.
yes tigerlily, you're right. i need to think carefully about what i want to learn at university. i already know that i want to take french, cos it's an important language that is common, but not too common with people (like english).
but what else??? [Smile]
arabic, russian, arabic, russian... maybe i should toss a coin!? [Wink]
what's the better language if i want to work either as an interpreter, foreign correspondent, at the embassy or in tourism?
anyone have a clue??

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Dalia
Member
Member # 1230

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Dalia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by germanjulia:
but it's just...you see, they, and especially my dad, are not only afraid of the terror, but they fear that because of my european looks i'll get groped by men and so on. and i guess they think in russia, people are "more used to that kind of looks". whether that's true or not- i don't know.

Hi Julia,

you will be verbally harrassed in Cairo for sure, but groping is very rare, so are other physical assaults. I think in regards to terror attacks you'll be just as likely – if not even more – to become the victim of a terror attack in a major American or European city.

I'm a German living in Cairo and I feel incredibly safe there in terms of crime, more than in any other big city I've lived in.
[Smile]

Posts: 2334 | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
_
Member
Member # 3567

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for _     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
GermanJulia, this following link should give you a quite good impression about street crimes in Russia.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Russia/Gorod_Sankt_Peterburg/Saint_Petersburg-564323/Warnings_or_Dangers-Saint_Petersburg-Street_Crime-BR-1.html

You know, you don't have drunks, druggies on the street in Cairo. Yeah, especially guys going to swarm around you, as they can see you have fair skin so you are a foreigner, they try to smalltalk with you, as Dalia pointed out you get verbally harrassed but that's about it. Btw, haven't you been to Hurghada or Sharm before? So you know what you can expect from Cairo's muchachos. [Wink]

I lived in Cairo for couple of years and felt always more than safe. I was out late many nights even by myself - no problems. I think that's one of the best things of living in Egypt.

The saying "Lack of money is the root of all evil" definitely doesn't fit Egypt in terms of street crime.

Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
bob the dog
Member
Member # 4691

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for bob the dog     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
2 weeks??? Forget language schools..... just to what you can do best in Cairo (apart from normal tourist stuff)..... GO SHOPPING!!!!! [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]
Posts: 4238 | From: USA | Registered: Jul 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
germanjulia
Member
Member # 8781

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for germanjulia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Tigerlily:
GermanJulia, this following link should give you a quite good impression about street crimes in Russia.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Russia/Gorod_Sankt_Peterburg/Saint_Petersburg-564323/Warnings_or_Dangers-Saint_Petersburg-Street_Crime-BR-1.html

You know, you don't have drunks, druggies on the street in Cairo. Yeah, especially guys going to swarm around you, as they can see you have fair skin so you are a foreigner, they try to smalltalk with you, as Dalia pointed out you get verbally harrassed but that's about it. Btw, haven't you been to Hurghada or Sharm before? So you know what you can expect from Cairo's muchachos. [Wink]

I lived in Cairo for couple of years and felt always more than safe. I was out late many nights even by myself - no problems. I think that's one of the best things of living in Egypt.

The saying "Lack of money is the root of all evil" definitely doesn't fit Egypt in terms of street crime.

yep, been to hurghada before. but i thought the guys from cairo were a bit more extreme than the ones from hurghada. cos honnover boys are nothing against the "berlin gangstas" either [Big Grin]
but samia already said that hurghada men were mostly, erm, "male sluts" i guess it was, and if you now tell me the ones from cairo aren't worse...then yes, i know what to expect from them! [Smile]
but what exactly is meant by "being verbally harrassed"? i mean, will they say things like, i don't know, "habibi" or something like that, something more or less friendly? or will they say really bad things too? they will know i don't understand it... or does it also depend on how i behave in front of them? ignorant, friendly, arrogant, funny...??

Posts: 457 | From: Any Questions? | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
zam05
Member
Member # 9771

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for zam05     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Normally they will just look at you and say friendly things, but of course it's possible you'll meet some who'll say bad things. It also depends on your way of dressing and behaviour.
I asked an Egyptian friend to teach me some "bad words", so when I understood anybody said something like this I answered with "Yalla, emshi" or "Yalla, eskot" (Come on, go lost or Come on, shut up).It works if you say it bad and loud enough.

Posts: 39 | From: Germany | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Nile_pharaoh
Member
Member # 9938

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Nile_pharaoh     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
hi julia , i guess egypt is so great and charming you should come here and experience the different culture and atmosphere , that will be great , if you go to Russia that would be useless
Posts: 73 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Dalia
Member
Member # 1230

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Dalia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by zam05:
Normally they will just look at you and say friendly things,

Well, if you consider "HELLO-O-O", "How are you", "Oh, how buuutiful", "Velcome velcome" or "Vere you from?" as friendly ... I consider it as harrassment. And I assure the Arabic words you hear are sometimes anything but friendly ... [Wink]


quote:
but of course it's possible you'll meet some who'll say bad things. It also depends on your way of dressing and behaviour.
Unfortunately whether you get harrassed or not has very little to do with dress and behaviour.
Posts: 2334 | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
zam05
Member
Member # 9771

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for zam05     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Well, Dalia, I don't consider it as harassment, I let them talk and anyway it can happen to you everywhere, not only in Egypt.
And I think it has to do with dress and behaviour, I was in the last year in Cairo as the leader of a group of young girls. Even though I gave advices for dressing and behaviour, some didn't follow and went through the town dressed and looking at the boys like in Europe. And exactly only these ones got in trouble.

Posts: 39 | From: Germany | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
tombsman
Member
Member # 2841

Rate Member
Icon 1 posted      Profile for tombsman   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
you can download arabic courses (standard, Syrian or Egyptian) from this forum as a torrent file:
http://www.mvgroup.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5459

but first u have 2 install Bittorrent program which will be used to download these files:
www.bittorrent.com

tombsman@hotmail.com

Posts: 48 | From: 6 october, giza, egypt | Registered: Sep 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Dalia
Member
Member # 1230

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Dalia     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by zam05:
Well, Dalia, I don't consider it as harassment,

Good for you, then. I consider it an insult if complete strangers believe they have the right to approach me or make obscene comments about me.

quote:
it can happen to you everywhere, not only in Egypt.
I disagree. This kind of harrassment does not happen everywhere!

quote:
Originally posted by zam05:
And I think it has to do with dress and behaviour, I was in the last year in Cairo as the leader of a group of young girls. Even though I gave advices for dressing and behaviour, some didn't follow and went through the town dressed and looking at the boys like in Europe. And exactly only these ones got in trouble.

I have no doubt the girls you mentioned were harrassed more due to their clothing and conduct, but the conclusion that modest attire will prevent harrassment is wrong! I've been living in Cairo for 2,5 years and according to my experience you can cover up as much as you can, it will not stop the harrassment.

[Mad]


Help Stop Sexual Harrassment

Posts: 2334 | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.
UBB Code™ Images not permitted.
Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | EgyptSearch!

(c) 2015 EgyptSearch.com

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3