Egypt boasts different civilizations, cultures

When people think of Egypt, the first thing that comes to mind is the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the famous Abou-Simbel temple.

Egypt is well known for its 7,000 years of history and for owning one third of the known antiquities in the world. However, a visitor to Egypt will find many different places to visit and different things to do.

For over 7,000 years, Egypt has interacted with different civilizations and cultures and as a result, Egyptian history has been influenced by these.

Egypt has a large Greek and Roman heritage highly concentrated on Alexandria.

Roman theater, Pompeii columns, the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria and most recently, the underwater discoveries which may lead to the final resting place of Marc Anthony and Queen Cleopatra are all part of this heritage. Alexandria is also home to the Greco-Roman Museum housing a large collection of relics from this era.

Egypt also enjoys a large Coptic and Islamic heritage. On the Coptic side, there is the Hanging Church, the St. Georges (Mar Guirguis) church and the St. Katherine Monastery in Sinai.

As for Islam, the numerous mosques in Cairo and the old Cairo area around Khan El-Khalili and Al-Azhar area are the best representation of more than a thousand years of Islamic heritage in Egypt.

But history is not the only thing one can enjoy in Egypt.

There are many other things to do. For example, Egypt has seriously taken on Eco-Tourism. Today, there are 21 national parks designated as Protected Areas in Egypt are devoted to eco tourism, the most famous of which is Ras Mohamed Protected Area in the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

The area is around the St. Katherine’s monastery in Sinai, the Zaranik area on the eastern shores of Lake Bardawil abutting the Mediterranean Sea, and where bird watchers can enjoy the sight of different types of birds on their migratory routes and the petrified forest with its uniquely shaped dunes.

On the other hand, Safaris in the desert are activities that many visitors to Egypt enjoy. Either by jeep, on a quad bike or on the back of a camel, these one-day or overnight trips are a delight.

This kind of activity is very famous in the west of the Nile River and around the Oases area, and in the Sinai Peninsula, especially around Wadi Feiran Area.

Leisure tourism is also popular in Egypt. In winter, Sharm El-Sheikh and the Red Sea Riviera enjoy perfect weather where one can spend his lazy days on the beaches or around the pools of five star hotels or even diving or golfing.

In addition to Sharm El-Sheikh, the cities of Hurghada, Safaga, Qoseir and Marsa Alam are all equipped with different levels of accommodation and a variety of activities suitable for everyone in the family.

In summer, Alexandria and the north coast of Egypt enjoy the great Mediterranean sun, and beautiful weather that’s perfect for that nice vacation where children can play and adults can relax.

An area worth visiting is the point where the River Nile meets the Mediterranean Sea, in the town of Ras-El-Barr.

Cairo _ described as a city that never sleeps _ is the center of cultural activity of Egypt and one of the most important in the Middle East.

One can enjoy culinary delights from many parts of the world in many of its diverse restaurants, or just go to a movie or a play in the many cinemas and theaters in town.

A dinner and an oriental music show on a dinner cruise in the Nile River is an unforgettable experience. Also, one can just watch an artistic performance in one of the many buildings of Old Cairo that have been restored and specifically equipped to be culture and art centers.

Alexandria is also a very busy city, especially in summer. It’s when many of the restaurants and other attractions come to life to serve the large number of tourists and vacationers, with its many cafes and restaurants by the sea side, nice gardens in Montazah palace or the beautiful seaside walk.

Of course the newest and most attractive of Egypt’s resort cities is Marsa Alam. It has a large number of tourists and vacationers and numerous activities such as diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours and many other recreational, therapeutic, athletic and entertaining activities available for different members of the family.

Egypt has much to offer for different people with different tastes. For a taste of ancient Egypt, please visit www.egypt.travel or www.myegypt.or.kr