The Great Adventure

[Reinout]

Stephen,

Filming taxes are huge and I doubt you'll be able to slip your camera man inside a pyramid without paying a lot. By digital camera, do you mean a photocamera? They require only the usual camera tickets (varying from LE 5 to LE 10 normally). If you're talking about a digital filmcamera that has to be mounted on one's shoulder than I think you won't be able to pull it off.

I don't know about local crime in general, but tourists are safe. They'll try to cheat you out of your money, but only in a fair way! I meant that when you have to store your camera, you won't get a receipt or a ticket or anything. They have a cupboard where they store the equipment; it's guarded by one or two personnel. But since you don't get a ticket, anybody can claim your camera! You will have to rely on the memory of the person operating the storage facility - and with sometimes as many as a 1000 tourists a day I wouldn't want to gamble on it! Also, the personnel are shifted quite a few times during the day. I remember visiting the museum at Luxor. We paid LE 15 for entrance and decided not to purchase a camera ticket as we weren't likely to shoot much there. But when we didn't get a voucher, we were starting to worry. After 10 minutes, the suspense got too much and we collected our camera's and paid for a ticket. In the space of those 10 minutes, no less than 4 persons had been behind the counter! So in other words, you don't have to fear Egyptians, you have to fear other tourists who decide that a more expensive camera is well worth the gamble of being caught!

The only sure way of being included in the visitor limit is being there first thing in the morning. However, the pyramids will look less gorgeous from the outside because of the morning fog. If you want to be sure, I might be able to dig up the address of one of my guides. He has e-mail and you could easily ask him about the current visitation options of the pyramids and how to arrange a visit.

I used to dress like this in the Near/Middle East: a pair of long pants that could be converted into shorts (didn't use that often - the sun would scorch the legs) and average t-shirts. Be prepared to switch t-shirts every day, as well as socks. Us westerners aren't physically adapted to the temperature so we soak our clothes in our own sweat every day. I didn't bring my best t-shirts, I simply bought a pile of plain shirts. So I guess you are pretty much on the right track with your clothing. There maybe some special clothing designed to be worn day after day (my trousers were, I wore them straight for almost two weeks except the evenings when I wore regular jeans) but I wouldn't know about that - outside my budget!

Kind regards,

Reinout

[stephen]

Thank you again, Reinout! I would REALLY like to get the email address of your tour guide, but I'd need it quickly... any chance of finding it in the next few days? That would be a big help and I would most definately contact him.

I'll also count on paying all camera fees... sounds much safer. I won't be taking a digital (hand held) camera after all... just my itty bitty Canon Elf.

Sounds like my wardrobe is pretty close... are short sleeves better to stay cool, or am I better off with light, long sleeves and a collar to keep the sun off me?

[Reinout]

I haven't found the address yet, will look further this afternoon.

I sometimes used a suncream to protect my arms and face. I always wore a baseball cap (white), sometimes backwards to protect the neck. Please remember that you're going there during wintertime, I was there during spring, so you might want to take some long sleeve shirts along. Also bring along one warm sweater as the nights have a tendency to be very cold - if you don't sleep in a hotel.

I'll bring your e-mail address home with me. I'm going home to my parents alter today and I shall not return until the 29th, but my bro has e-mail capacities.

Kind regards,

Reinout