Egypt's Field of Dreams
Egypt, the state of 7000 years, should never know despair. It is home to more than one third of the Arab world. Its deserts, both east and west, are full of natural resources are akin to a credit card with no expiration date. From Halfa south of the Nile valley to Port Said and Alexandria in the north, overlooking the shiny Mediterranean. West of the Nile Valley, there is now the New Valley. Its oases (plural of oasis -a word of Egyptian and Greek origin) are fertile areas amidst a parched desert. Signaling hope of life eternal.
The deserts await water to burst forth with greenery and life. The sea nutrients are there left by a receding Mediterranean Sea which separates Africa from Europe. The oases seem to beckon the Egyptians to leave their congested cities for the spacious expanse. And with drip irrigation, the new settlers can grow their crops, feed their animals and themselves. Government subsidies are enticing the bold of heart to move. Go West; Go West!!
And suddenly, huge fields of natural gas are discovered. Cheap energy which is being developed mainly by Italian companies on contract with Egyptian State enterprises. Those fields extend through the Mediterranean northward to the edge of Italy and Turkey.
The chaos in Libya is blocked at the Egyptian western border. In fact there is a helicopter carrier purchased from France sitting at the border between chaotic Libya and stable Egypt. Those Egyptian military assets are also poised to discourage acts of terrorism and extortion. The Egyptian air force are a guarantee against hooliganism at the great west. Reason why the Northern Coast (Al-Sahel Al-Shamali) has grown to be the choice for investors, vacationers, and security forces.
The length of Egypt's coastlines on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea is about 3000 miles. And the two Suez Canals linking between those two great seas are expected by 2024 to draw up to 85% of international maritime commerce. As to the chaos in Yemen on the southern terminus of the Red Sea (Aden and Al-Hodaiyedah), the Bab Al-Mandab isthmus is where Egypt's naval military assets guarantee the freedom of navigation.
This is done together with other multinational forces bent upon securing a safe passage for oil and other items of commerce between the West and East. The stability of those linkages is bolstered by the Egyptian/Israel peace treaty, as well as with its companion, the Jordan/Israeli peace treaty with the partnership of Saudi Arabia.
In a couple of years, a new Egyptian capital shall be rising to the east of presently congested Cairo. At that location, there are also two huge centers of worship, the biggest mosque and the biggest Coptic church in the world of today.
The tunnels under the twin Suez Canals are recent linkages between Egypt West and Egypt East (Sinai). New investments are now directed to the Suez Canals zone to create a modern and self-contained industrial amalgamation. The Bedouins in Sinai are now target of modernization.
No wonder that the hub of tourism from Europe to Egypt is anchored on direct air flights from Germany to Sharm El-Sheikh and other Red Sea locations. Thus Asian tourism from Japan, China and Korea has taken a great leap forward. This trend has been enhanced by the network of modern highways, linking between Luxor, the capital of ancient Egyptian antiquities, and the Red Sea resorts.
The low cost of living in Egypt has boosted European and American travel to it. A round-trip directly from JFK (New York City) to Cairo International Airport costs about $1000 (economy). A bargain when compared with the cost of sea excursions whose customers experience only the edge of that great civilization.
Egyptian universities now grant degrees in hospitality specializations. Five Star Hotels, such as the Four Seasons, employ the best and brightest of those graduates who use several languages in their communications. Trips to the oases, especially to Fayoum and Al-Farafrah in the West Egyptian desert have now become common experiences.
Religious tourism, both Jewish and Christian is now enthusiastically developed. Historic temples, and the entire route of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (including the Suspended Church in Cairo) have been refurbished. Restrictions on alcoholic consumption or the forms of dress are being rolled back. And the floating rate of the dollar to the Egyptian pound ($1 to more than 12) has been a helpful feature.
Let us not forget the Egyptian sense of humor, the love of bargaining, and the creation of a new Egyptian Antiquities Museum. These are all signs of revival.
The deserts await water to burst forth with greenery and life. The sea nutrients are there left by a receding Mediterranean Sea which separates Africa from Europe. The oases seem to beckon the Egyptians to leave their congested cities for the spacious expanse. And with drip irrigation, the new settlers can grow their crops, feed their animals and themselves. Government subsidies are enticing the bold of heart to move. Go West; Go West!!
And suddenly, huge fields of natural gas are discovered. Cheap energy which is being developed mainly by Italian companies on contract with Egyptian State enterprises. Those fields extend through the Mediterranean northward to the edge of Italy and Turkey.
The chaos in Libya is blocked at the Egyptian western border. In fact there is a helicopter carrier purchased from France sitting at the border between chaotic Libya and stable Egypt. Those Egyptian military assets are also poised to discourage acts of terrorism and extortion. The Egyptian air force are a guarantee against hooliganism at the great west. Reason why the Northern Coast (Al-Sahel Al-Shamali) has grown to be the choice for investors, vacationers, and security forces.
The length of Egypt's coastlines on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea is about 3000 miles. And the two Suez Canals linking between those two great seas are expected by 2024 to draw up to 85% of international maritime commerce. As to the chaos in Yemen on the southern terminus of the Red Sea (Aden and Al-Hodaiyedah), the Bab Al-Mandab isthmus is where Egypt's naval military assets guarantee the freedom of navigation.
This is done together with other multinational forces bent upon securing a safe passage for oil and other items of commerce between the West and East. The stability of those linkages is bolstered by the Egyptian/Israel peace treaty, as well as with its companion, the Jordan/Israeli peace treaty with the partnership of Saudi Arabia.
In a couple of years, a new Egyptian capital shall be rising to the east of presently congested Cairo. At that location, there are also two huge centers of worship, the biggest mosque and the biggest Coptic church in the world of today.
The tunnels under the twin Suez Canals are recent linkages between Egypt West and Egypt East (Sinai). New investments are now directed to the Suez Canals zone to create a modern and self-contained industrial amalgamation. The Bedouins in Sinai are now target of modernization.
No wonder that the hub of tourism from Europe to Egypt is anchored on direct air flights from Germany to Sharm El-Sheikh and other Red Sea locations. Thus Asian tourism from Japan, China and Korea has taken a great leap forward. This trend has been enhanced by the network of modern highways, linking between Luxor, the capital of ancient Egyptian antiquities, and the Red Sea resorts.
The low cost of living in Egypt has boosted European and American travel to it. A round-trip directly from JFK (New York City) to Cairo International Airport costs about $1000 (economy). A bargain when compared with the cost of sea excursions whose customers experience only the edge of that great civilization.
Egyptian universities now grant degrees in hospitality specializations. Five Star Hotels, such as the Four Seasons, employ the best and brightest of those graduates who use several languages in their communications. Trips to the oases, especially to Fayoum and Al-Farafrah in the West Egyptian desert have now become common experiences.
Religious tourism, both Jewish and Christian is now enthusiastically developed. Historic temples, and the entire route of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (including the Suspended Church in Cairo) have been refurbished. Restrictions on alcoholic consumption or the forms of dress are being rolled back. And the floating rate of the dollar to the Egyptian pound ($1 to more than 12) has been a helpful feature.
Let us not forget the Egyptian sense of humor, the love of bargaining, and the creation of a new Egyptian Antiquities Museum. These are all signs of revival.
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