Egypt Travelogue November 2001

My wife and I had the opportunity to honeymoon in Egypt in November 2001, just two months after the fall of the towers. The timing had numerous interesting ramifications, primary among them being that there were no tourists. Halls, tombs, and museums all over Egypt were virtually deserted throughout the 2001 tourist season, and it was not much better the following year. My wife and I witnessed endless economic devastation during the entirety of our two week stay. Though I have never seen any projections, I think that the 911 attack on the WTC worked comparable injury on both the US and Egypt. Certainly, the ecomonic impact was much greater in Egypt than in America, despite what isolated and isolationist Americans may prefer to imagine. Egypt's economy is about 3/4 geared for tourism, yet the well of tourism dollars was bone dry for 2 solid years, and still has not come close to full recovery. I would even hazard that loss of life was similar in both countries, here due to collapsing skyscrapers, there due to starvation and disease as a result of the harsh economic fallout.

Arrival

If you ever visit Cairo, stay here:

The Mena House

I shot this from the balcony of our 2nd floor room. The elaborate structure between the pyramids is the lobby, formerly the palace of a wealthy sultan. 5 minute walk to the pyramids from here.