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Egypt Shopping
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Before you head out to the market
in any of Egypt’s great cities, it’s important to
know that you’ll be encouraged—expected even—to
haggle with vendors. This is especially true over more expensive
items, such as gold and jewelry. Some even call haggling in
Egypt another art form (and, yes, it is legal). The trick with
haggling is to use any prewritten price as a maximum amount
that you’d be willing to pay—aim for something much
lower and then negotiate upwards, |
slowly, until you find a price in the middle that you’re happy
with. One trick: use cash, not credit card. Another tip: try to find
a local who you trust—whether a tour guide or someone you already
know from the country—to help you bring down the “international
tourist” inflation that you’ll no doubt be charged. Finally,
try the phrase “Be kam?” to ask “how much”
something is.
While there are literally hundreds of markets spread throughout
the country, the most famous—by far—is the Khan el-Khalili
market in Cairo. Better known simply as Khan, this market is said
to have been founded in 1382 and responsible for establishing major
trade between the East and West—apparently leading to the
discovery of the North American continent. While you’ll no
doubt find numerous stalls filled with Egyptian art and fine gold
jewelry, don’t be surprised to spot American branded jeans
and other international goods.
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