Went to Egypt for holiday.
Driving is chaotic. Somewhat similar to that in India. Cairo is very big city. If you replace Arabic signs with Hindi it will look like any large Indian city - only difference that 95% buildings have sandstone colour whereas in Indian cities buildings are of different colours.
I saw some very old cars. Could not recognize them but looked like Lada type. There were many Chinese cars - mostly Chagan and BYD.
I traveled mostly in a Chagan saloon or a Toyota Hiace van (as arranged by tour company).
Also did one journey in Kia Cerato. In fact, in my journey from Aswan to Abu Simbel, 50% of cars passed on opposite direction were either Kia/Hyundai or BYD.
In Luxor/Aswan area police cars were BYD.
Seat belts seem optional and drivers using handheld mobile phones very common.
I also rode a tuktuk (Bajaj auto-rickshaw from India) in Edfu.
Most articulated lorries were Mercedes. The other lorries I could not recognize but looked like old Bedford lorries.
Travelled in overnight sleeping train. Not very well maintained. Brakes were not good as frequently it jolted like a learner driver not having proper clutch control.
Never felt unsafe (from terrorism) though - armed police at all tourist locations.
The Aswan to Abu Simbel [280 km] trip started with a police convoy in early morning darkness but after sun rose the police cars disappeared.
Didn't notice many German cars, except few very old Mercedes.
There were plenty of pick up trucks.
Did Nile cruise as well. It was an excellent experience.
Usual tourist attractions like Great Pyramids, Karnak temple, Edfu temple, Abu Simbel were all very impressive. It is amazing they achieved that kind of engineering 3000-4000 years back!
Last edited by: movilogo on Mon 29 Oct 18 at 20:08
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>>Never felt unsafe (from terrorism) though - armed police at all tourist locations.
Wonderful:-)
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I think it's the police and military in Egypt some are wary of. Tourists should be fine. Well usually.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Mon 29 Oct 18 at 20:41
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When the tourist buses need armed guards onboard and military escorts it says enough to put me off returning.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 29 Oct 18 at 22:07
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Egypt has been my go-to destination in recent years (since retiring) - great value for money and the rather offensive Russians don't go there now. The Red Sea resort I was going to (Hurghada) is somewhat run down but nowhere near as bad as Sharm, as that's been virtually closed since the Russian airliner was shot down there in 2015, and many of the formerly beautiful hotels are now in a quite advanced state of disrepair and decay.
Egypt has had it's share of atrocities but I'd guess there have been more frequent attacks in other places, like London, Paris, Manchester, Las Vegas, Turkey. I must admit I haven't travelled outside Hurghada but there were no armed guards at any hotel that I saw.
Clearly some people here don't travel much, even the UK. You can see armed police at many tourist destinations and transport hubs. France and the US also have armed police.
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I admit I have not been to Egypt for a few years, last time I visited Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Symbel, and their associated tourist areas. Clearly some people here don't travel much when on holiday. I was in Casablanca recently for a brief visit, much like Egypt without the obvious guns
Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 30 Oct 18 at 09:41
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>> here don't travel much when on holiday. I was in Casablanca recently for a brief
>> visit, much like Egypt without the obvious guns
I like Morocco, its clearly islamic in population, culture, history and feel aided by much moorish art and architecture, but not over the top with it. The faithful still get called to prayer at silly o'clock in the morning, your wife would get lynched if she went into the mosque, but you can get a drink in any restaurant or hotel bar and the food is fantastic. There is a degree of tolerance around that makes it feel quite uplifting
The weather helps. Need to do Rabat next I think.
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 30 Oct 18 at 14:43
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Agree with all of that. Though Marrakech will always be my favorite.
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I prefer Tangier, because of its history, and a port city, it has an gritty, slightly mysterious edge to it. Its Kasbah really hits the spot, you feel you could trade your wife for a goat and 6 camels there.
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I know what you mean, especially about the Kasbah, but still I think Marrakech is more fun. Depending whereabouts you are, of course.
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Missed Edit
Reminds me, one of the things I like about cruises is having dinner with a different set of strangers every night. Invariably the conversation gets round to "where did you two meet" and I get to crack one or other of my favourite lines
"I won her in a card game in Cairo"
or
"She cost me a goat, a donkey and 4 camels in the Kasbah in Tangier. Her sister was cheaper but I went for the extra quality"
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I visited Tangier when it was a "free port". (circa 1964 or 65) Went over from Gib in a MFV.
Quite a few fellow travellers needed a trip to the sick bay on returning to HMS Theseus!
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MFV? (It's my day for not knowing things).
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Cars in Egypt - MD
