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Any traveler with the soul of an explorer knows that Egypt is a fascinating destination to live a multitude of experiences soaking up its rich and long history. In this beautiful country we can admire ancient archaeological remains, the famous pyramids, the tombs of the pharaohs and the Nile. Know in person everything that we have ever read in books.
On a visit to Egypt you will surely take as many photographs as to fill several albums but you may want to bring other types of memories of it and even a gift for family or friends. The reality is that Egypt is an excellent country to go shopping, since its cities have large markets where everything you can find is sold and obviously the most typical products of this land. What is the best thing you can buy during a vacation to Egypt?
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Papyri
Papyri are easy to find in stores in all cities. It is a support for writing that the ancient Egyptians obtained from an aquatic herb called Cyperus papyrus.
Authentic papyri are not cheap so to avoid being bullied you will have to look at it against the light, because if black specks appear you can be sure that it is not a copy. Another trick is to wet it since when doing so the sheets that make it up should not separate.
The Egyptians used papyri to record hieroglyphs, scenes of the gods, and relevant events for posterity.
Shisha
Shisha is the metal and glass container used to smoke tobacco of different flavors and filtered by water. It is a deeply ingrained habit in Muslim countries so it is easy to find them in restaurants and tea shops and businesses.
They come in different sizes and designs, so if you go to a craft store to buy a shisha, you can surely find them hand-painted with some Egyptian decorative motif. One of the best places to buy them is the Khalili market in Cairo, where you will find a great variety of them at very attractive prices.
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Belly dance costume
Of Egyptian origin, this dance is manifested by certain hip movements and specific music. The costumes to dance this dance are designed in fabrics of different colors and styles with embroidery and shiny finishes. It is very common for tourists to buy these garments as souvenirs but they are not designed to be used outdoors.
Beetles
Beetle-shaped amulets are another souvenir to buy in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians referred to the scarab as Ra, creator of the universe and one of the most important gods of ancient religion. They come in all materials, colors and sizes. They are also very popular in necklaces and bracelets.
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Djellaba
Djellaba is the typical Egyptian clothing. It is a tunic made of different materials that covers the body from neck to feet. Men traditionally wear it white with some red details on the neck, while women have a wide range of colors and embroidery to choose from. They can be found in many of the shops that are located in the villages around the Nile, as well as in the more traditional shops of Cairo.
Image | Pixabay
Perfumes
The African country has a great tradition in creating perfumes and it is one of the most sought after products to buy in Egypt. If the essence is of quality, a single drop should be enough to perfume for a long time. In cities like Alexandria or Cairo there are streets full of these types of shops but you have to be careful to buy perfumes in a store with guarantees since some mix the essence with plenty of water and sell it as if it were authentic perfume.
One of the best known is Alamir Perfumes Palaces for its aroma called Secrets of the desert. It is located next to the Giza area and is authenticated by the Egyptian government.