Egypt and Turkey are favorite countries for recreation for residents of the CIS. In pre-Soviet times, a trip to Egypt was relatively inexpensive. Many could afford to fly to a distant unexplored country. The Red Sea and its underwater world is something indescribable. A wide variety of unlimited food, a gastronomic paradise, trips through the desert - this is undoubtedly a big plus for such a vacation. There everyone can find a rest according to their wallet and taste. Among the abundance of food, gastronomy and active tours, many do not pay attention to the life around them. And where is a significant part of the life of local residents? In houses.
I was in Egypt in the distant pre-Covid Ages, when there were no restrictions on movement, PCR tests and masks were not required. The world seems to have changed a lot since then, but the reality is this. In order to see the local flavor, it is not necessary to go on an excursion. All that is required is to go into the city and turn off the tourist route. Turn to where the locals live. It has sometimes been argued that some Egyptian architecture is stuck between the past and the future. Some houses seemed outlandish to me, but very atmospheric.
Another interesting detail that I noticed is that there are many unfinished buildings in the city. There was a feeling that the builders left their job and moved on to building a new house. Such unfinished buildings can be seen throughout the city. They are like architectural ghosts that remain a lifeless place for years. I wondered for a long time about what this is connected with. Possibly due to the economic situation? But the answer was mixed. Yes and no.
People live in some unfinished houses. Surprising, because I had not seen this before. Most often, the first floor of such a "residential" building is unsuitable for habitation. There are only bare walls and floors. Sometimes shops are located on the ground floor. Sometimes only the second floor is unsuitable for habitation. But sometimes it is combined. One way or another, this phenomenon can be seen in 20-30% of cases.
The answer refused to be simple. Everything really has a financial side. Local residents told me that in this way, residents of unfinished houses evade paying some taxes. Since housing is unfinished, then it is not necessary to pay taxes for it yet. Simple arithmetic in Egyptian. This is a loophole that allows you to save part of the family budget. Everything ingenious is simple.
However, in most cases, residential buildings are occupied by guests, among whom people from the CIS countries also live. I happened to meet a married couple who bought an apartment in Egypt and lives there. They are accustomed to the local color and enjoy the sun, sand and local life.
Home is not where you were born, but where your soul lies. Everyone chooses his own house for himself. For me to see Egypt was a culture shock, but in a good way. It is very easy to walk along the streets of an unfamiliar city and see how and where local people from another continent live. They live very differently from how people live in the CIS countries. Particularly in terms of architecture. To see this cultural diversity is to enrich oneself.
This country is developing in terms of tourism. Interestingly, if I return there in 5 years, will these houses be completed? But I am sure that many of the beautiful hotels under construction that I have seen will be a busy place.
Have you been to Egypt?
All photos taken by me during my trip. Thank you for your attention!
I was fortunate to have visited Egypt some years ago. And just like you, it opened my eyes to the tremendous wonders of its history, culture, people, food, and most especially, its marvelous architecture. Being the type of adventurer who loves to explore beyond the norm, I always seek non-touristic experiences that make the trip more worthwhile. Egypt is definitely a fascinating haven of discoveries, and I'm glad we have something in common to share. Superb post @frank1in. 😊
Thank you very much, I am convinced that Egypt has given you many pleasant memories. If you want impressions, you should turn off the tourist route. I am very glad that you feel the same as I do when remembering Egypt. Have you managed to visit the main attractions of this wonderful country?
Definitely. One of my most unforgettable moments in Egypt was my curious exploration of the pyramids of Giza. I had the rare opportunity of entering one of them through an extremely narrow shaft until reaching the king's chamber in the middle interior. It was an eerie experience but it surely challenged my nerves for authentic adventure.
What about you? Were there any major architectural monuments that fascinated you the most?
Wow! This is a wonderful excursion. Entering because you managed to overcome your fear and satisfy your curiosity.
Probably one of my memorable excursions is a walk around Luxor. This is also a great historical place. with many hysterical monuments and ancient Egyptian architecture. I liked the majestic and ancient temples, especially the Temple of Hatshepsut. Memorable adventure for the whole day. Unforgettable experience!
This also looks quite outlandish to me, but nevertheless, it looks nice.
This building is very interesting. I was very curious whether people live there or not. This house is sandwiched between two high-rise buildings.
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Many thanks! I am grateful to you for your support!
You're most welcome @frank1in. Best wishes. 😀
It is not surprising that this country with so many political and economic conflicts that it has had, has to take such drastic and ingenious measures to somehow make up for its budget, anyway it is something very interesting that most visitors omit, so thank you very much for sharing.
I agree, Egypt is a very colorful country, but alas, there are financial and political differences. It was very interesting for me to learn about why people live in unfinished houses. An interesting find for a traveler. Thank you for taking the time to read and support!
this kinda reminds me of when we went on a trip to Cambodia that included a city called Sihanoukville back in early 2020 before the lockdowns started, was expecting to see it as a calm, quiet beach town like a previous article i read before our trip but was shocked to see dust and construction everywhere due to rising casinos. it turned out to be very underwhelming 😔 Thank you for sharing your article on this! 😊
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Cambodia is a beautiful country of contrasts. I have been dreaming of visiting this country for a long time. Probably casinos are popular establishments there! Anyway, I'm sure you had a great time back then 👍. Thanks for your support!