Egypt "A Land of an Ancient Civilization"

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Shopping Holiday in Egypt

Shopping in Egypt can be a real treat. The most interesting shopping area for tourists in Cairo is the old bazaar - the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is where you can find many cultural and exquisite items, and its fun just to walk through even if you're not very interested in shopping. Khan-el-Khalili specializes in reproductions of antiquities. Jewelry, spices, copper utensils and Coptic cloth are some of the many special items. Among the interesting souvenirs that Egypt offers are mother-of-pearl inlaid wood, brassware and leather goods (though some of the less expensive items may not be adequately cured). Other items include carpets, shisha water pipes, alabaster and soapstone carvings, paintings on papyrus, rag rugs, Egyptian clothing, gold, silver and copper ware, perfumes and reproductions of antiquities. For the reproductions, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum is a good source. Elsewhere, if an item is presented to you as an antique, it's probably a fake (and if it is genuine, it can't be legally exported). In fact, be very careful when buying something that may appear to authorities to be of historical importance—the police have detained tourists for days while determining that well-made reproductions were not authentic.

The streets leading up to it are wild and woolly—lots of interesting shops can be found. Haggling is expected, and sometimes encouraged, as a way of communication and human contact. This kind of bargaining is acceptable almost everywhere: Even fine shops will consider bids on big-ticket items. The bargaining process may seem to be a waste of time to people used to just taking items to a cash register, but try to enjoy the process—the key is to try to keep the price low without being arrogant or insulting. Learn to fake astonishment at a suggested price or walk slowly out of a shop if necessary. But don't bargain if you're not truly interested in buying. If you have time for some bargaining, here are some basic words and phrases: Ais (Ahh-ees) means "I want;" Mish ais means "I don't want" (mish negates everything), and to ask "how much?" say bekem?" Do make a practice of counting and inspecting your change after making a purchase. Merchants often give visitors bills that are torn, badly faded or wrinkled, and other shopkeepers won't accept them. There are also modern shopping centers available, particularly near Tehrir Square. Business hours in the winter: Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat - 0900-1900, Mon and Thurs - 0900-2000. During Ramadan, hours vary, with shops often closing on Sunday. Summer: Tues, Wed, Fri-Sun