Going to Egypt!!!! Any advice???

[cherie4usama 0]

OMG....the water! Here I was drinking out of 'bottled water' for over a week when I noticed my SIL putting tab water into the bottled water! Here I was thinking I was drinking bottle water and I was drinking the real think the whole time. The second time I went to Egypt I just drank from the tab and did fine.

I haven't gotten any vaccinations as of yet. Which ones do i really need?

[ya falaha! 0]

None.

OMG....the water! Here I was drinking out of 'bottled water' for over a week when I noticed my SIL putting tab water into the bottled water! Here I was thinking I was drinking bottle water and I was drinking the real think the whole time. The second time I went to Egypt I just drank from the tab and did fine.

I haven't gotten any vaccinations as of yet. Which ones do i really need?

[Henia 11]

Esalaam First off have a good trip....bonne voyage...second: You probably will not get married in Egypt since they are allowing Americans marry Egyptian...do not hang out on the pier with the rainbow lights....

[doodlebug 3]

They are not allowing Americans to marry Egyptians in Egypt but you can go to Cyprus I believe to get it done. I hope you have looked into this so you are not too disappointed. BTW my husband's phone had no $$ in it for a while which is why he was not able to call your hubby. I forgot to tell you that before. If you need his number again let me know.

I'll be going from July 21 to July 29, but I have no clue what the name of the place I'm going to is. I keep forgetting it. All I know is that after a 15 hour flight with a 3 hour stop in Milan, I'm getting on a bus for a 7 hour ride which better be freakin' air conditioned, to this place kind of between Libya and Alexandria. I don't really mind since I'll be with hubby on the bus but it does seem like a waste of time since I'm only there really for about 7 days. Oh and it'll be that time of month too so this trip should be all kinds of fun. I can just picture me totally wiped and beatchy. At least he'll have seen my worst. He's heard my worst but never saw it yet. Keeps saying, "it is ok habibi, I have a lot of patience stored up for you so you can give me your best and I can take it. "

:energetic:

Ask your pcp what shots you need. Most say you don't but I'd be hesitant to give medical advice without knowing your history. Everyone is different. I got the hepatitis shot and they gave me an antibiotic to take as soon as I get sick, which I didn't, for a stomach thing and also some typhoid fever pills which I stopped taking since they made me sick.

Have fun and seriously...look into the whole wedding thing because I'd have to see your heart drop from disappointment...............unless you're just doing the mosque thing which will involve a whole separate thread which will prolly get locked but heck it's been slow in here lately.

[cherie4usama 0]

They are not allowing Americans to marry Egyptians in Egypt but you can go to Cyprus I believe to get it done. I hope you have looked into this so you are not too disappointed. BTW my husband's phone had no $$ in it for a while which is why he was not able to call your hubby. I forgot to tell you that before. If you need his number again let me know.

I'll be going from July 21 to July 29, but I have no clue what the name of the place I'm going to is. I keep forgetting it. All I know is that after a 15 hour flight with a 3 hour stop in Milan, I'm getting on a bus for a 7 hour ride which better be freakin' air conditioned, to this place kind of between Libya and Alexandria. I don't really mind since I'll be with hubby on the bus but it does seem like a waste of time since I'm only there really for about 7 days. Oh and it'll be that time of month too so this trip should be all kinds of fun. I can just picture me totally wiped and beatchy. At least he'll have seen my worst. He's heard my worst but never saw it yet. Keeps saying, "it is ok habibi, I have a lot of patience stored up for you so you can give me your best and I can take it. "

:energetic:

Ask your pcp what shots you need. Most say you don't but I'd be hesitant to give medical advice without knowing your history. Everyone is different. I got the hepatitis shot and they gave me an antibiotic to take as soon as I get sick, which I didn't, for a stomach thing and also some typhoid fever pills which I stopped taking since they made me sick.

Have fun and seriously...look into the whole wedding thing because I'd have to see your heart drop from disappointment...............unless you're just doing the mosque thing which will involve a whole separate thread which will prolly get locked but heck it's been slow in here lately.

Hi there brigette. Thanks for the heads up. I was wondering is there anything i can do here in the usa to be able to marry in egypt. I read the information and it just says that the us consulate is not issuing a form that the egyptian embassy needs to have in order for us to marry so i was thinking maybe i can get a notorized form that i am free to marry here in the usa.

[aj1 1]

I agree with what everyone said Have a wonderful time!!! Remember to enjoy yourself really do all that you can in this time that you are there because the time goes really fast!!!!

AJ1

[doodlebug 3]

They are not allowing Americans to marry Egyptians in Egypt but you can go to Cyprus I believe to get it done. I hope you have looked into this so you are not too disappointed. BTW my husband's phone had no $$ in it for a while which is why he was not able to call your hubby. I forgot to tell you that before. If you need his number again let me know.

I'll be going from July 21 to July 29, but I have no clue what the name of the place I'm going to is. I keep forgetting it. All I know is that after a 15 hour flight with a 3 hour stop in Milan, I'm getting on a bus for a 7 hour ride which better be freakin' air conditioned, to this place kind of between Libya and Alexandria. I don't really mind since I'll be with hubby on the bus but it does seem like a waste of time since I'm only there really for about 7 days. Oh and it'll be that time of month too so this trip should be all kinds of fun. I can just picture me totally wiped and beatchy. At least he'll have seen my worst. He's heard my worst but never saw it yet. Keeps saying, "it is ok habibi, I have a lot of patience stored up for you so you can give me your best and I can take it. "

:energetic:

Ask your pcp what shots you need. Most say you don't but I'd be hesitant to give medical advice without knowing your history. Everyone is different. I got the hepatitis shot and they gave me an antibiotic to take as soon as I get sick, which I didn't, for a stomach thing and also some typhoid fever pills which I stopped taking since they made me sick.

Have fun and seriously...look into the whole wedding thing because I'd have to see your heart drop from disappointment...............unless you're just doing the mosque thing which will involve a whole separate thread which will prolly get locked but heck it's been slow in here lately.

Hi there brigette. Thanks for the heads up. I was wondering is there anything i can do here in the usa to be able to marry in egypt. I read the information and it just says that the us consulate is not issuing a form that the egyptian embassy needs to have in order for us to marry so i was thinking maybe i can get a notorized form that i am free to marry here in the usa.

I think people just don't know if that will work or not. The only surefire way is to have hubby or a friend actually go to the Ministry of Justice and ask if that will work. Better to be prepared than let down. Again though, Cyprus is an option. http://cyprus.angloinfo.com/information/10/marriage.asp . Check out this thread too http://www.egyptsearch.com/forums/ultimate...3715;p=1#000014 since someone actually had the affidavit written up and her hubby to be showed it to a lawyer in Egypt and said it was not good but that something else would be ok...which I tend to doubt.

Good luck whatever you decide. Personally if I had it to do over I would have filed the K-1 and gotten married here since 1) he would be able to work right away once he got here, even if only for 90 days with the EAD stamp at JFK and 2) it would have been nice to have had a big ceremony here where my friends and family could have seen it and most importantly 3) once we were married we could actually be together like a normal married couple.

Of course hindsight is 20-20 and everyone has to do what they have to do. Good luck!

[Jamie76 0]

OMG....the water! Here I was drinking out of 'bottled water' for over a week when I noticed my SIL putting tab water into the bottled water! Here I was thinking I was drinking bottle water and I was drinking the real think the whole time. The second time I went to Egypt I just drank from the tab and did fine.

I haven't gotten any vaccinations as of yet. Which ones do i really need?

As some have said on here...you don't need your vaccinations. Maybe you don't, but why take the chance? It takes a few minutes to get your basic vaccinations like your MMR, DTP and Tetanus boosters if you haven't had them in some time. Go to a county nurse and have them done for very little. I also had my Hep A and B combo (Twinrix vaccine).

Typhoid is also a good one. You don't have to eat from a street vendor or drink tap water to get it (remember, there is a good chance even good restaurants are making the ice in your drink from regular tap water). Have it just once and you'll probably wish you had taken a little extra precaution.

[melly 0]

I would bring an air conditioner LOL and I am a Texan saying that!

LOL Tell me about it! I found a fare from Texas to Cairo for $1100 for mid-June and I was tempted,but I thought about that heat and said, no way!!!! Hopefully, she'll be OK in the heat.

Where on earth did you find a fare that low at for mid june??? Tell !!!

To the original poster, I agree with whoever it was that said you should at least get your Hepatitis A and B shots. It doesn't take long and it could save you alot of trouble and sickness.

And please please please do as Doodle and Moody have suggested (look back in this thread for their posts) and look into the fact that Egypt isn't allowing American citizens to legally marry in Egypt at this time.

Best wishes for a safe and happy trip.

[ya falaha! 0]

OMG that is hilarious!!! How did I miss this little gem of a story? Too funny!!!

I was afraid to use the scary toilet that wouldn't flush. After holding it for 3 days, I couldn't go anymore. Mo gave me a white pill and told me it would help my stomach cramps. After I swallowed it he says, prepare to run! And I did about 5 mins later. Ahhh good times!

LOL! I actually couldn't even go for about 5 days after I got to Egypt.....then I ate WAY TOO MUCH mashy! I couldn't stay out of the bathroom! And you know how the bathrooms echo with everything you do???? Well.....I was exploding in the bathroom and my husband knocks on the door and says "my love are you ok?" No honey....I'm blowing up in here! Then his sisters wanted to FEED me to help me feed better! They made a rice pudding that they said would help my stomach. Of course I had to eat it.

[Henia 11]

The best tip I could give anyone for a trip anywhere, is to speak to the local people, don't wait for them to say hello, say hello yourself. Make eye contact, even when you feel a little bothered by the sometimes constant ...felluca, taxi, come into my shop.

Egypt is marvelous, especially the people! I had a wonderful time and am going go enchallah with my husband too. A lovely tip is to have tea with the bazaar owner if you are lucky enough to be invited. You will have a friend for life. The owner will then cast his net out over the whole network of shops to bring anything you want to buy right to you. Another tip, be open to every experience and take time to stop and let Egypt just soak into your being. Many tourists get annoyed by the salespeople at many of the sites in Egypt, don't be. This is how they make their living, if you don't want to buy just politely say no, they will get the message. This year I visited three local houses of some of the people I met in Algerie last year. Don't be afraid to go. You will have a great welcome, and you will get to see how the locals live.

Finally, if you havn't been to Aswan , you must go the people are the friendliest in Egypt. If you go to the baazar visit Raffael's shop and say hello to George and Nubie.

One thing that I Was kicking myself in the butt about, was that I forgot a flashlight (torch)! South east of the Great Pyramid, there are hundereds of Mastabas. I was crawling through most of them without a light, but it was well worth the experience.

And if you get a chance to visit in Luxor, visit the new "Museum of Mummification". It gives an overview of mummification-techniques and displays some beautifully preserved mummies as well. A must see machAllah!

The best place to buy gold and jewellery is Radwan in Luxor too!

Wear something to protect your hair from wind, sun and sand, and drink plenty of water during the day; if you are going to walk a lot wear strong shoes; if visiting pyramids, tombs, etc., a small torch may be useful in case of loss of power of the electrical system. Avoid food which has not been cooked and water of dubious provenance: this may reduce the risk of intestinal infections, but, unfortunately, it is not a guarantee! Do bring some medicine just in case( basic things like tynecnol which is paracetamol) And always remember you are travelling in an Islamic country, which means that behaviours which are perfectly normal in a Western country may result offensive for the locals. In particular, avoid (women AND men) to wear clothes which leave a lot of skin uncovered (just look at how covered the locals, men and women, go around). This suggestion is meant especially for the less touristic areas.

[sarah and hicham 3]

Hey Rie!

I'm glad you're finally going. I haven 't talked to you in forever! How are things going?

I don't have any advice for Egypt but have a great trip and take lots of photos!

[monnik 0]

This is just a list of some things I have seen/observed. It may or may not be things you already know. It's not a good / bad list, just random. Here goes:

1st thing off the plane, you will hear

"Welcome to Egypt" a looooot

or my favorite, just "Welcome Egypt"

Heat/Sun - sunscreen mosdef

Pollution - not as much in Alex, though

Staring from men, women, kids

Laid back / relaxed atmosphere - lazy afternoons/evenings

Late nights - all activities go on at all hours - phone calls included

Heavy traffic

No designated lanes

3 hour drive from Cairo to Alex

Fairly frequent power outages - get candles / flashlights

Electrical outlets are not US compatible. need the attachment thingy

Weekend considered Friday and Saturday

Dust/sand everywhere

Not a lot of toilet paper, bidets mostly

Daily trips to market sometimes for 1 or 2 items

Can have anything delivered - prescriptions, fruit, haircuts, etc.

Most TV is on a delay, American Idol Season 6 starts this week

Coffee with Sheesha is an almost daily experience

Some common meats are lamb, pigeon, cow stomach, kababs,

In Alex:

Coastal breeze is heavenly

More tourism in my opinion

Things I couldn't find or haven't seen a lot:

Plantains

Celery

Loaved Bread

Peanut butter

Shower curtains

Comparable to USA chocolates/sweets/pies

Pond's or other brands of Nose Strips

Condoms

Vacuum cleaners

Electric stoves

Microwaves

Rats or Roaches ----- thank God. hehe

[ya falaha! 0]

Funny you say you never saw rats or roaches in Egypt (Alex)...I saw both (rats near the sea) and lots of the roaches (huge flying ones). Cairo doesn't have the roach problem that Alex does. Condoms are available at most pharmacies but you gotta ask for them and they kinda suck so if you're gonna use them, bring some from here. Carrefour (large Super Walmart type store)and Fathallah Market (in Alex) has peanut butter, loaved bread and American/European chocolates such as Snickers, Hersheys and Cadbury. Many homes do have vacuum cleaners but they're old style. My inlaws have one.

[sunset2005 0]

well i have never been to egypt but would love to visit sometime. When you come back from your trip i would love to see you post some pics of pyramids. Have a great trip!