The New Egypt: experience from a gay traveler's perspective
I just returned from nearly three weeks in Egypt in this post-revolutionary era and was amazed by the level of calm Iexperienced. I was hosting nearly 60 passengers in Cairo and the Nile with an extension onwards to Jordan.
Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan while I was in the middle east, and major State Department alerts were sent out for travelers. A serious riot had taken place in a Northern Cairo suburb between Coptic Christians and Islamic fundamentalists. Given these factors, the peaceful nature of the nation and smooth traveling experiences for my group were gratifying.
The hospitality and friendliness was wonderful. Even the well-known somewhat aggressive behavior of sales vendors was far less bothersome than during any of my many visits to this terrific destination. Now is the time to visit Egypt as tourism is off nearly 85%. T
here are no crowds anywhere. Monuments, museums, and cities are being cleaned up, and the new spirit of democracy is strongly felt as one travels through this historic country.
Tahrir Square (ground zero for the Egyptian revolution) was cleaned up and looked fresh after the turmoil that prevailed this past January. I truly felt safer than on prior visits. There is still trouble brewing, however, and this is said to be normal for such a large and diverse population. The Nile cruises were operating with about 25 of nearly 200 boats that travel between Luxor and Aswan. Even the weather was surprisingly comfortable for most of the trip.
Hotels are averaging 10-20% occupancy in Cairo and it was quite jarring to see some major hotels with nobody in attendance. My group was fortunate to have the opportunity and time to visit this great destination which still ranks among the top travel destinations on the planet. The prospect of a better future has Egyptians feeling hopeful, proud and excited about the possibilities for their nation.
Now is the time to go to this amazing and very affordable destination before the crowds reappear and prices go back to normal levels… I would go back tomorrow if I could. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience both the ancient monuments and the contemporary culture of Egypt.
