234 CultureShock! Egypt
the pyramids—yes, all of them. I fully admit to being a total
sop when I first saw the Great Pyramids of Giza—yes, I started
crying. I couldn’t help myself.
So what is the best way to go about touring Egypt? The
answer depends entirely on how much money you plan to
spend, how long you have to tour, and where you choose
to go and stay. Do you need a tour guide? Well, sometimes
‘yes’ and sometimes ‘no’—it depends, for the most part, on
where you are going as well as how comfortable you are with
Arabic and dealing with the people on-site that are going to
undoubtedly try to sell you things, including their services. To
get the most out of the adventure (especially when you are
new to Egypt) and to ease your way in and out of sites, be
sure to hire a legitimate tour guide! It is critically important
to hire a reputable, licensed tour guide. People are not legally
allowed to approach you on the street or at the tourist sites
and try to drag you off to their brother’s or uncle’s or some
other relative’s shop. This was common ten or 15 years ago,Vendors at the pyramids, like the one above, sell all sorts of souvenirs but
you should not allow them to harrass you.