Customer Reviews

CAIRO 1999 THE PRACTICAL (P) (v. 1)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is not your average "here's-how-to-get-to-pyramids" guide book to Egypt, nor is it intended to be. This is a book specifically for individuals and families moving to Cairo for an extended period who have not spent time in Middle Eastern, African or other second-tier countries whose citizenry has a different "walterschaaung" or worldview. Listing this guidebook in the travel guide section is wide of the mark; this is a survival guide for ex-patriots to one of the most historic and culturally unsual (from a Western perspective) place on the planet. Thousands of survival tips are given, such as which kinds of cheeses to select, where to find and what to pay a housekeeper, where to find fresh meat, which mall has a Baskins-Robbins, which neighborhood would best suit the new arrival, and a pretty good chapter on survival Arabic. The writing style, like this guide, is not sugar-coated but directly sparse, defoliated and easy to read and remember. I would pack this book along with several other guidebooks if you are planning an extended (more than a few days) stay in Cairo. While world-romping tourists could probably live without this guide, the expat would find it indispensible. Chances are, though, a new guide book edition (the 10th) is already headed toward the American University in Cairo Press.