Security

I have mentioned security and that I would explain it in a later post. Our guides explained that the Dept. of Tourism wants to ensure anyone visiting Egypt has a safe, pleasant experience so they have hired lots of police to "protect" tourists, especially Americans. They understand that with events on the news and the viciousness of Islamic terrorists, people are afraid to visit the Middle East. To try to offset that, they have an armed guard travel with every group of 12 or more Americans. Since we had an "important" representative of the American government in our little group of 7 (James is a consul for the State Dept.), we were especially well-looked after. Russ took this first picture a bit surreptitiously. The James Bondish handsome guy in the foreground is our grandson, Nick. The guys behind each of his shoulders are armed security guards ever on the lookout.

They even did "extra duty" at times, giving us a hand on and off boats or in any precarious stepping situation. They also intervened a couple of times with the aggressive, desperate vendors- telling them to leave us alone when we let it be known that we were not interested in buying anything. This second photo was our falluka ride (smallish sailboat) on our last day on the Nile. Our tour guide is here next to James, Susanne, and our grandsons. Behind them are 3 armed guards putting along in a small inflatable boat staying close with us as we sailed along peacefully.

Egyptians want Americans to know they welcome them with hospitality and look forward to being able to show them their treasures. I'm just passing along the message that they will do their best to keep tourists safe. You'd be safer there than on the streets of Detroit!