Some Tidbits of Interest

1. Sugar cane fields are not allowed to be grown closer than 400 m anywhere near roads that tourists travel by. This is because terrorists have used them in the past as places from which to ambush and to which the run through to escape capture and possible death. Only very short crops such as clover are allowed grow within the 400 m.

2. Almost all buildings throughout Egypt look to be in perpetual construction. This is to accommodate families as they expand. Construction then predominantly grows upward. Also, as long as the buildings remain unfinished, the tenants/owners are not taxed. Once construction of the building is completed, taxes that run about 40% of the value is then assessed - a very huge amount that is impossible and crippling to many.

3. After the 1997 massacre, the number of tourists visiting Egypt has dropped tremendously. This drop was exacerbated by September 11th. According to numbers that I was given, the number of tourists once ranged at about 6000, dropping to an a low of 800 on any given day (during high season, of course; I'm told only the Spanish are crazy enough to brave the 50-55 degree Centigrade temperature during the summer months). It has recovered somewhat but now because of the war waged by America against Iraq the number of tourists still has not recovered. Hmm... another reason for the Americans to be so disliked?

3. General "impressions" I was told that Egyptians have of the tourists (as a joke but with some seriousness thrown in):
* English - beer in one hand and an arm thrown around a partner
* Aussies - beer in both hands
* Japanese - camera in one hand and an opened umbrella in the other
* Canadians - packs always decorated with the Canadian flag to be distinguished and separated from being identified as American
* Americans - packs decorated with the Canadian flag to be mistakened for Canadian
* Spanish - hands and packs always holding food being consumed
* Dutch - beer in one hand and a sack of weed and other drugs in the other

4. The Egyptians really want their treasures that are now languishing in other countries back. Badly.

5. Despite latitude given to tourists to dress as they please, it's really not appreciated by most Egyptians. Some secretly take it as a sign of disrespect. You know, the attitude of "when in Rome" is preferred. Those that take that into account and also try to learn a few phrases in Egyptian Arabic is hassled much less.