Egyptian tour guides

[newcastle]

CAIRO – 30 July 2017: “Egyptian tour guides are the best in the world according to the evaluations of international tourism organizations and internationally approved performance reports,” Walid al-Batouty, minister of Tourism Advisor stated on Friday.

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/9/145 ... is-advisor

I guess I must have been plain unlucky with the ones I had!

[carrie]

They are all excellent I have never met one yet who doesn't excel at showing you the perfume factory, the papyrus makers, the alabaster show rooms. It's only the pharaonic things they fall down on.

[newcastle]

I never minded being told that Tutmosis III murdered his wicked stepmother Hatshepsut 'cos she nicked his throne.

I just wish they could get their story straight.

They seemed confused as to the weapon...rope, knife, candlestick....and where the deed was done

[Yildez]

I had a long discussion with Ahmed Balal at Petra Travel (now Oceanus) a few years ago, about finding me a guide who REALLY knew what he was talking about, and who knew more than me! He introduced me to Waleed, who was excellent, and had worked on specialist cruises such as Jules Verne. The Temple of Mut had just opened, and we spent about 3 hours there - as an archaeology student he'd worked on a much earlier excavation there. I asked him which temple was his favourite - it was Habu. So I challenged him to convince me - what a fabulous 4 hours, in a temple that I'd visited before, but now saw in a completely new way.

It wasn't that expensive, about £10 for half a day as I remember, but boy was it money well spent. We had really interesting discussions, particularly about the use of narrative in the big wall scenes - just a great guide who knew his stuff inside out.

Need a guide? Talk to Ahmed about Waleed!

[Dusak]

I had three guides in all, two when we took our first holiday here, the other a private one we hired when we had friends over. Could not fault them, very professional and informative. But then again, when you don't know anything, or next to very little about Egyptian history, then they could tell you anything without fear of contradiction.

[carrie]

Waleed was great and he agreed with me about Habu.

[Winged Isis]

That's eerie Yidez. Just yesterday I was thinking next visit I will try Petra for a better guide than usual, one that has actually studied archaeology and actually has an interest in it, not just in their fee/tip. So many have neither, just a few facts they have memorised, and take clients to the same features at sites every time. The bare minimum of effort.

Dusak: So true. I've had to correct a number of guides, tomb/temple guardians (not that I expect them to be experts, but they do offer "information") on various "facts". One Deir el Medina guardian tried to tell my husband the Opening of the Mouth ceremony scene was the deceased visiting the dentist!

Shopkeepers are good at telling clients "true" stories about papyrus scenes, statues etc. too.

[Dusak]

Waleed was great and he agreed with me about Habu.

What? That it had been built in the wrong location.

[carrie]

I must add to Yildez's recommendation WI he really was excellent. Went to a few places with him, he doesn't try to rush you round and is very knowledgeable.

[Yildez]

Having overheard some of the rubbish that so-called tour guides deliver to their groups, I was insistent that Petra provide an experienced and knowledgable guide, and Waleed was exactly that! A lot of the Guardians talk nonsense too - one in Karnak told me the little shrine of Alexander, at the back of the Jubilee Hall, was that of Hatshepsut