Covered by: Nour El Hoda Foad
CAIRO, Nov. 4 (SEE)- Upon arrival, Port Said welcomes tourists with its refreshing coastal aroma, long standing historical monuments and contemporary thoroughfares. The valiant city is a great destination if you plan to embark on a budget friendly road-trip.
Besides their hospitality, people of Port Said captivate their visitors with the tales of courageous war heroes, martyrs and historic battles.
Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling once said: “If you truly wish to find someone you have known and who travels, there are two points on the globe you have but to sit and wait, sooner or later your man will come there: the docks of London and Port Said.”
So, if you plan to follow the late writer’s advice and travel to Port Said, here’s a review of the city’s most interesting features.
Shopping
Shopping at Port Said is a matter of luck; it depends on how far could you convince the salesman to offer you discounts and your chance of stumbling upon a branded item inbetween the large stack of clothes at roadsides. Clothes markets are allocated between ‘Talatini,’ ‘Togari’ and ‘Mohamadi’ streets.
Most of the brands are either Italian, American, Chinese or first-rate Egyptian exports. Jeans price range between EGB 50 and EGB 90. Shirts’ prices though start at EGB 150.
Food and Delicacies
The city is known for its top-rated seafood dishes, as most of its residents work in the fishing sector. Various fish types and seashells are available including; mullets, sardines, bream, crab and shrimp.
Port said’s cuisine has distinct specialities including; tiny fish and crab soup and molluscs seared in tomatoes sauce. One of most renowned restaurants is ‘Abo Essam’ which is known for its savory main courses.
Street food delicacies include ‘Zalabia,’ ‘Tamreya’ and ‘Casata,’ a toothsome mixture of lemons, fruit-flavored ice cream and whipped cream.
Budget Hint: The old market’s prices are way more competitive and affordable than the new one.
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Casata[/caption]
Cultural Show
Don’t miss out the ‘Bambootia’ show in which sailors jump over their ferries and sell handicrafts, souvenirs and food to tourists as they sway on the tunes of ‘Semsemia,’ an ancient Pharaonic instrument only found at canal cities.
The sailors also perform acrobatic moves and tell jokes to entertain the audience.
Originally, the performance got its name from the British expression ‘Man on a Boat.’
Accommodation
If you prefer to enjoy the ancient streets at night, book a room either at ‘Helan’ or ‘Sonesta’ hotels in Mohamed Ali street. Prices start at EGB 500 per night.
Staying at a 5 star resort by the sea costs EGB 850 or more per night.
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