The Logistics of Settling In 137have someone from your home mail you a spare pair.
This can be quite expensive, but you could probably get
them faster than having a new pair made in Egypt. Never
trust the regular mail with something like this, but use
one of the express mail carriers. The same applies to
prescription sunglasses. Good sunglasses are definitely
a necessity to combat the glaring sun and blowing sand.
You can find good sunglasses in Egypt, but they might
be expensive.
If you wear contact lenses, take special precautions. You
may experience discomfort wearing contact lenses in Egypt’s
arid environment. Add air pollution and blowing sand,
and contact lenses rapidly become painful and in need of
replacement. Even if you have worn contact lenses for years,
you should bring a backup pair of glasses for those days when
your eyes are irritated by the environment. Many people
have found that they cannot wear contact lenses at all in
this environment. You are able to purchase some imported
disposable contact lenses in Egypt now, but not all and you
cannot count on being able to get the strength you need in
a timely fashion.
Also, be sure to bring any specialised cleaning equipment
for contact lenses with you. Contact lens supplies such as
sterilised wetting solutions can be found fairly easily, but as
in the case of prescription drugs, specific brand names may
not be available, so any specialised formulas you require
should be brought with you.
BABY SUPPLIES
Baby formulas, such as Similac, SMA and Nestle are available
in powdered form in Egyptian pharmacies or markets.
You can also find items like cough syrups for infants
and Vap-o-rub.
Things you should bring with you if you have small children
include training pants, receiving blankets, crib sheets, a play
pen, door gate, extra baby shoes (at least one size ahead),
car seat or stroller, baby thermometer, diapers and rubber or
plastic pants. Disposable diapers are available, but they are
very expensive. I have seen suggestions to bring a blender