Text by Katie Knorovsky
Before you set out for the Land of the Pharaohs, prime yourself with Traveler's picks for blogs, podcasts, maps, and other essential resources.
Blogs
Canadian Maryanne Stroud Gabbani moved to Egypt in the late 1980s with her husband and children and now spends her days guiding horseback trail rides through Egypt. Her reflections zigzag through all aspects of daily life, from molokheya (which she says could be called the Egyptian national dish) to celebrating Christmas Egyptian-style. Plus, she journals her experiences on horseback and chronicles Cairo street scenes with daily photos.
Cairo-based Hannah Allam, a correspondent for McClatchy newspapers, provides polished commentary on regional news headlines, reviews of intriguing Arab art exhibits, and profiles of community activists.
Tap into the local scene through this Web portal featuring news, celebrity gossip, chat rooms, travel basics, and more.
Listings of upcoming live music—from rock to flamenco—as well as movie showtimes, new art exhibits, and detailed restaurant descriptions.
The "premier Egyptian news and views portal," Cairolive.com launched in 1996 as Exodus Egypt to cater to the Egyptian émigré community worldwide. Editors compile and summarize news from the Egyptian press as well as local viewpoints. Skim through the reader-submitted questions in "Ask Al-Zaieem" for tips to help plan your trip.
Baheyya: Egypt Analysis and Whimsy
An independent-minded Egyptian woman shares commentary on politics and culture as well as musings on literature, art, and issues of social justice. Be warned: Some postings provide a grim (and graphic) look at the Middle East.
A clearinghouse of Egyptian bloggers, sorted by language or topic.
Let Flickr take you on a tour through Cairo with this diverse collection of photos captured by amateur and professional photographers from around the globe.
