Benin

2008-04-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Porto-Novo is nominal capital of the country. Government and major part of business moved to the west, in Cotonou. Population of Port-Novo is about 180 thousands, and the city remains quite beautiful historical place. There are some commercial-advantages because of its nearness to Nigeria's border. In Gran IVlarche d'Ajara, which is still working, you can buy tom-toms, fabrics, hand-made baskets and the best earthenware in all Benin. In Porto Novo Museum of Ethnography, you can find great religious worship collection of Yaruba tribe. You can also visit ornamental

Brazil

church (it's mosque now), which was built by Portuguese in XVII century. Covered with palm leaves fishing villages staying on piles in lagoon near Porto-Novo, now, in XXI century, look like unusual buildings from the past.

Cotonou

Cotonou is the largest city in Benin. In the first place, tourists take an interest in National Museum and Botanic Garden. There are great number of local and international restaurants and striking bars and clubs in Jonke. The main sight of the city is huge beautiful market Gran Marshe d'Dantokpa. You can buy on low price different goods, from audio cassettes, radio equipment, provisions, to sacral voodoo items.

The best city beach is situated in 4 km from center of Cotonou. It's safe, clean and crowded place, but perfect beach is situated in 40 km to the capital, near Quidah (Quidah is a capital of Benin's voodoo)

Further to west are wonderful beaches Gran-Popo. Shores are quite safe, sand has charming white color and water is pure and limpid, that is seldom happens in Africa.

Ganvie-African Venice

Ganvie is situated to the north from Cotonou. Its population is only 12 thousand people, and they live in bamboo shacks on piles, scattered on a few kilometers on Nokue Lake. Tofinu tribe built this unique village in XVIII century for protection from Dahomey i and Fon kingdom's aggression, because their religion forbad the warrior to march into the river. Now, all buildings, restaurants and even hotels are elevated for 2 meters over the water. Locals are against from taking pictures, and it is better to refrain from photography in Ganvie.

Abomey

The town of Abomey is the old capital of the Fon kingdom of Dahomey. The main city sight is reconstructed King Palace of Fon with museum inside. Majority of buildings constructed in 1645 were destroyed by fire in 1892, but remained buildings are very beautiful and excite hold your attention by their age. The Palace is decorated with bronze unique bas-reliefs, which were announced as universal heritage by UNESCO. Museum has great display of voodoo objects; encrusted skulls, items of Portuguese colonization period and dwellings of local tribes, (it is strictly forbidden to take a pictures!)

In 600 km to northwest from Cotonou, at the border with Togo town Bokumbe is situated. It's widely used by the best market place all other the country. Only there you can buy local artisans' pride objects-rare traditional original sculptures and tobacco pipes made from valuable wood. Every four year in Bokumbe unique Lashing Festival is held. During this event, young naked people with lashes crowd andfight seriously with people from neighbouring villages. Of course it is ritual ceremony, which doesn't hurt really, but this show is not for nervous people.

There is great variety of religious and cult dances in this country. Every dance expresses some specific event or phenomenon. Sometimes choreographic group, but more often individual and very expressive local dancing ceremonies, can be compared with popular Japanese Kabuki. Dancing performances ordinary are held on special Festivals like La'Gani. It is holiday of folk culture. The greatest cultural events in Benin are held in Martyr's Day (16^th January, the day of victory over mercenaries, attacked Cotonou in XVII century), Independence Day (1^st August), State Holiday (30^th November) and Harvest Day (31^st December).

Egypt

2008-03-12T03:03:00.000-07:00

It's better to start Cairo sightseeing from Sadat square-the most famous place in the city. There is Egypt Museum, in which treasures of Tutankhamen's tomb are kept.
It will be interesting to see ruins of Roman stronghold - Babylon.
The most famous museum in Egypt is Coptic museum; there you can see Markus Simaik's collection of Coptic artistic and cultural items. From citadel to mosque al-Azhar, lays Town of Dead - cemetery, which exists from XII century. There are all types of monument s, from magnificent Emirs' mausoleum to ordinary gravestones.

Near Cairo, on the very brink of Western Desert you can find one in seven wonders of the world -Egyptian pyramids.

Hurgada is touristic center on the shore of Red Sea. If you bring your vocation in Hugarda, you should plunge on submarine, which is called "Sindbad".

Main advantage of Hugarda is coral islands. Local touristic companies set up interesting expeditions on these islands.

You should to visit sound-light show "Dancing fountains" in hotel "Golden 5".
You can find in Hugarda great variety European entertainments in bars and discos.
There is all equipment for aquatic amusements, such as catamarans, canoes, parachutes, water ski, in Sharm-al-Sheikh.

Nile cruise

Ancient Egyptians called Nile "Mother of all nature". This river was and stays source of the life for Egyptians. The main parts of Egyptians are living in the thin valley of the Nile. Majority of the most famous monuments of the ancient civilization are situated along the bank of the Nile. Bit it is impossible to visit some of them without using the boat. That's why it is not surprising why cruises are so popular among tourists. There are 250 motor ships and 150 of them are floating 5-stars hotels with comfortable cabins, restaurants, bars, discos, boutiques, promenade decks with swimming pools.

Cruise starts in Luxor- unique grand museum on the open air, and ends in Aswan -the most southern town in Egypt in pharaohs' time. Nile cruise can be wonderful adding to visiting Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo, or rest in the one of resorts in the Red Sea beach.
Cruise program is a very exciting rest on the motor ship, with interesting informative excursions. It consists of visiting main Upper Egypt sights. Besides Aswan and Luxor, you will see temples in Esne, Edfu, and Kom-Ombo.

Camel races and camel fairs

After 1000 mile race called "darb-al-arba-Hain" (40 days way), camels are moved to Daray bazaar. It is situated half an hour journey from north of Aswan or Imbahy - suborb of Cairo. Every day, from 7 am, camel sellers haggle with peasants and butchers. Camel races are very popular in Persian Gulf countries and now they begin popular and in Egypt too. Every April, since 1994, Bedouins arrange races in the north of Sinai Peninsula, near El-Arish. Spectators are allowed, but stakes are forbidden (officially).

Trips to Africa. Description of rounds, personal f

Benin

Egypt