Travel Pyramids? What's the Point? Steve Burgess from Tyee encounters tourism in Cairo: "Sad but true, there are many annoyances awaiting the visitor to Cairo. As in the old medinas of Morocco and some sections of Istanbul, Cairo's tourist attractions and markets are gauntlets of mercantile pressure. Here the art of salesmanship frequently crosses the line into outright bullying. One's natural trust crumbles under the realization that virtually every friendly enquiry and casual conversation will rapidly morph into a very hard sell indeed. Ask for directions to some particular spot and you will eagerly be led to your destination, which always turns out to be the shop of your new friend's brother, where great deals await."

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