The wheels go round and round (well, mostly)

There are a variety of options in terms of transport in Egypt. They range from:
• Tuk-tuk
• Bicycle
• Back of a donkey cart (or donkey itself)
• Horse and Cart (or horse and carriage, or horse only)
• Tram
• Train
• Metro (Cairo underground)
• Ferry
• Taxi
• Train
• Bus
• Local mini-bus
They all come in various levels of maintenance, cleanliness and styles of driving, depending on which version or price you pay!!

My Personal Favourites

1. Trams

In Alexandria, by far my most preferred way of getting around most of the city is the tram! It is slow, sometimes crowded, the windows are grimy, the floors not well maintained and some seats might be broken. But this is where the ordinary people are. You can learn a lot about life as you trundle through the city, by watching who is on the tram, what they are wearing, carrying, where most people get on and off.
There is a relatively simple plan of the tram: 2 main routes, which criss-cross and divide up a few times. So have a look at the large maps on the station, well most stations! There is Arabic on the one side of the map and English on the other. There are often no maps inside the tram. So we suggest you take a photo of the map and count the stops as you go along! Also be prepared as there might be several stops which are not official stops: traffic jams are regularly across the tram lines and cause the trams to stop and wait. This is usually accompanied by much hand waving, shouting and horns honking!)

You will also need to learn the tram seating dance! There is a preferred seat (depending on where the sun is) but it is usually the seat facing in the direction of the journey next to the window. So watch how those standing keep their eye on these seats, and try and position themselves in a way to grab the next free preferred seat!
If you are older, then usually a younger person (if they notice you) will offer for you to sit in their seat. You are expected to refuse at first. But when they insist, you gratefully accept the seat. Then try and work you way into the preferred seat of the section you are in!
It is important to note that trams in Alexandria have the first carriage as a ladies only. Our first tram ride found our family (2 males) being glared at by the older women in the carriage and giggled at by the younger girls. That was until finally someone came and made it known (pointing and hand actions) that this was a ladies only carriage.

But for the price of 2.5 pounds (6 pounds if you are in the single carriage antique tram or the modern yellow trams) this is a wonderful way to pass the time. It is in an unhurried way, and you can learn about the people and culture, from within and the carriage.

2. Trains

With the roads being so crowded and the traffic being so congested, my choice for getting between the 2 large cities (Alexandria and Cairo) is the train. There are various kinds:
• the express train (non stop)
• the 1 – 3 stop train
• and then the how many more stops? train (avoid this one)
Take the fast direct train (mubashr) and it usually takes around 2.5 hours. There are first and second class options available, but the difference in experience is not that noticeable. Don’t expect clean and pristine, or you will be disappointed. Most windows are usually caked with dust and Egyptian grime (but you will come to realise that this is everywhere all the time). However you can still get a glimpse of the beauty of the villages as you pass through.
Recently there is a new train, Talgo available. This is much more modern, clean and well cared for than the other trains.
There is a small refreshment trolley that will be wheeled through your carriage (about 3 times) selling tea, coffee and sandwiches. Most people will bring a bag of snacks or their own sandwiches, but do take a glass of steaming tea or coffee. This makes for a pleasant experience. There is a toilet on each carriage, but don’t expect much… and take tissues.

Also remember to allow for delays: and never cut your time too close for airport transfers. Rather have at least 4 hours built in for unexpected delays…. you will get there when you get there.
However, recently the government has issued a change in the price for foreigners. You have to pay in US dollars and many times more than a local person. This makes it a very costly way to travel, so many foreigners are now using the Go Bus, or renting a car or van, if there are more than 2 people.

But, however you get around in Egypt, know that it will be crowded, noisy, grimy… but if you can get over all of that and look around and enjoy the experience, you will meet some wonderful people and get a deeper look into the culture of modern Egypt.