Useful information

The classical Egyptian breakfast consists of two main courses: fuli and filafili. 

Fuli means boiled beans in sourish sauce, with spices and greens, sometimes with addition of cut vegetables. Filafili are vegetarian cutlets from ground bean. This dish is served with the tekhine sauce plate (ground sesame and nuts with olive oil, spices) and you can  dip bread in it, salad of fresh vegetables, salad-gebna (cheese like brynza mixed up with vegetables). You can take this all with cold tea-karkade from petals of Sudanese rose, we know it as "pharaon tea». 

During the working days Egyptians do not eat a lot. The most popular lunch dish is koshar. The name is a bit frightening, but it contains nothing dreadful. These are simply boiled beans, string bean, lentil and the other cereals mixed with fried onions. All this is filled in with a fiery liquid from bottles served there. Egyptians like the fakirs used to take spicy items swallow their portions. Europeans do it cautiously, with tears on faces. In Cairo you can pay one pound for an impressive portion of koshar. 

Dessert includes various buns and rolls which are lusciously-sweet, impregnated with honey syrup and sprinkled with grated nut, as Egyptians are great masters in this field.

Holidays:

07 January - Coptic Christmas. 

10 January - Great Holiday. 

31 January - Islamic New Year. 

24 April - Coptic Easter. 

25 April - Liberty Day. 

01 May – Labour Day. 

18 June - Day of Evacuation. 

23 July - Day of Revolution. 

15August - Wafaa Al-Nil (flood of Nile). 

11 September - Coptic New Year. 

06 October - Day of Armed forces. 

22 October - Bayram (End of Ramazan). 

24 October - Victory Day in Suez. 

23 December - Victory Day. 

The Muslim belief defines the rhythm of the life for Egyptians. It is obvious from the external signs: for example, five times a day the muezzin convokes believers for  prayer. The month of Ramazan turns the night into the day. All the day long Moslems keep the fast and break the fast only after the sunset. At this moment the public life stops, official institutions work only from 10.00 till 14.00. 

Islamization has almost completely eradicated customs of the Pharaohs epoch, except for the belly dance. However, radical Moslems declared to it the uncompromising war supported with threat to use forces and the increasing number of dancers prefers to remain without work. By the way, many of these art priestess were educated in the European schools of dance. 

Islam influences the family and society more than Christianity does. The basis of the secular legislation in Egypt is formed of the code of norms of the Muslim right - Sheriyat which, however, acts in the softened form. So, in Egypt they refused from such strict punishments, as, for example, cutting hands for larceny. They also attempt to pull together Sheriyat and the modern legislation. 

Egypt is an extremely hospitable country. Guests are always met openheartedly. You will be with great interest asked about the family, work, about your impressions of Egypt. Also they will warmly invite you for a cup of tea.

Clothes

In the territory  of the hotel one can wear dress at their own discretion, but leaving the hotel, please remember that Egypt is the Islamic country, people here are believers, traditions are Puritan. It is necessary to respect the local traditions, after all you are a guest here. The bared shoulders and mini-skirts  are not suitable for walking.

The true Moslems do not take alcoholic drinks though usually do not object when it is done by the others. It is not allowed to make pictures of the local residents without their permission, to criticise Islam, to eat and smoke in the streets. It is not recommended to go to the Sunday markets alone, they are deemed to be criminal zones.

Regardless of in what hotel in Sharm you stay, keep in mind that you need the special footwear to enter the water, this footwear you can purchase in any shop in Egypt. It is sold in all sizes and colours and its cost ranges from 8 to 20 dollars. In Hurgada such footwear is not necessary, since there are no corals along the coast and it is not dangerous for your feet.