Egypt is an incredibly complex country with many layers and many, many things to see and experience. The noise, sights, and smells can be sometimes overwhelming for those visiting for the first (or tenth) time. Egypt is a must for any tourist’s destination list, but it can leave one with a few questions that are even hard for Egyptians to answer.
Why Tahrir is a circle and not a square
That’s peculiar.
How to order delivery
How do you explain where you live after giving the ever-ambigious address? Landmarks? Does the third pharmacy on the right, after the big dumpster count? Seriously, the most valuable technology in all of Egypt is that after the first order; your address is saved with your phone number in the restaurant’s system. This does make it really tempting to order from the same place every time though. Shwarma from Gad never gets old, right?
How there are not more car accidents than there are
Traffic in Egypt is beyond comprehension and explanation. Considering all the zahma and lack of rules and regulations, it seems no one should make it to where they are going in one piece. The first time on the ring road for a foreigner really feels like it could be their first and last. But somehow the traffic just flows, like a school of fish, including those scooters with an entire family on them!
How some Egyptians have never been to the pyramids
It is true that around the world, people take for granted the amazing stuff right next to them because they assume someday they’ll go. But seriously people, they’re the pyramids. And. They’re. Right. There.
How everyone’s watches must all be broken
This is the only explanation for how late everyone is. All. The. Time. It’s like a conspiracy.
Why mulikhia is so slimy
What do you put in it exactly? Seaweed? And how do you make it taste so good at the same time?
Why everyone needs to be tipped
Who knew that so much of an economy could be based on tips? It seems that so many jobs require tipping, even when you didn’t ask for the service: parking attendants, bathroom attendants, an instant tour guide, people giving away flowers in the street that insist they are not doing it for money but they actually are… The list goes on.
Where to wait for the bus and how to stop it
It’s like a complete other language, complete with hand signals that look like they are part of a gang.
How Mogama hasn’t imploded from overwhelming inefficiency
Mogama is like a nightmare that you are stuck in while awake. There are so many things that would make it run smoother, like, hiring people who speak English at the tourist counters. Everyone in the street seems to speak some English, how do they find these employees who don’t speak any? Is it one of the requirements?
When to barter
This is tricky. Should you always assume that there is room to barter, or are there cases that it is considered rude?
How everyone is so friendly
Seriously, Egyptians have something very special going on. It seems no matter where you go in the country or who you meet, people are ready to help and make you feel welcome. It goes beyond Arab hospitality; Egyptians really want to be friends, not just hospitable.
Why more people don’t come
Ask any foreigner what their friends and family told them before they came to Egypt and most likely they will say they were told “it’s too dangerous” and “you shouldn’t go.” But then once they came, they realized that everything was fine, they felt safe, and had an amazing trip. Who can blame them? Between the history, landmarks, cuisine, culture, beaches, and the people, no trip to Egypt can ever be boring!
