Holiday in Egypt

Holiday

in Egypt

Holidays · was / were / went

B1 · 60 minutes

Warmer: Egypt quiz

Task Choose A, B or C for each question. Guess if you don't know.

1

What is the capital of Egypt?

A. Alexandria B. Luxor C. Cairo

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What language do most Egyptians speak?

A. Turkish B. Greek C. Arabic

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Which big river runs through Egypt?

A. The Nile B. The Volga C. The Danube

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The Sphinx has the body of which animal?

A. A camel B. A lion C. A horse

Which sea is next to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh?

A. The Black Sea B. The Red Sea C. The Dead Sea

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Who was Tutankhamun?

A. A sea god B. A famous builder C. A young pharaoh

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What money do people use in Egypt?

A. The Egyptian pound B. The euro C. The dinar

How old are the Giza pyramids?

A. About 4,500 years B. About 450 years C. About 1,500 years

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Brainstorm: things to do in Egypt

Task In 2 minutes, list as many things as you can that people do on holiday in Egypt. Aim for 10.

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Top 5 things to do in Egypt

Task Read the five cards. Then answer questions 1 and 2.

1. Which ideas from your list in "Brainstorm: things to do in Egypt" are here?

2. Put the five in order for your trip, from most to least exciting.

The pyramids and the Sphinx

Stand next to the Great Pyramid of Giza, just outside Cairo. It is about 4,500 years old, and many of its stones are heavier than a car. Ride a camel, then meet the Sphinx, with its lion's body and human face. Go early, before the heat and the crowds.

Snorkelling in the Red Sea

Put on a mask, look down, and you are in a giant aquarium. The Red Sea has warm, clear water and bright coral reefs full of colourful fish. Take a boat to Giftun Island from Hurghada or Ras Mohammed from Sharm el-Sheikh. Look out for turtles and dolphins.

Luxor: temples and tombs

Luxor sits on the Nile. Walk between the huge columns of Karnak Temple, then cross the river to the Valley of the Kings. Go down into the painted tombs of the pharaohs, including Tutankhamun's. From Hurghada it is a long day: four to five hours each way by road.

A desert safari

Leave the hotel in the afternoon and ride a quad bike into the desert. Stop at a Bedouin village, drink sweet tea and try a short camel ride. Then climb a sand dune and watch the sun go down. On longer trips, you eat dinner under the stars.

Khan el-Khalili bazaar

In the centre of old Cairo, this market is more than 600 years old. Walk through narrow streets full of lamps, spices, silver and perfume bottles. Haggle for a good price, then rest at a traditional cafe with mint tea or strong coffee.

Why Egypt?

Why is Egypt such a popular holiday destination for Russians?

Task Answer the big question with at least three reasons. Then answer questions 1 to 3.

1. What time of year do most people go, and why?

2. Egypt or Turkey: which is better for a beach holiday? Why?

3. Who do you think Egypt is NOT good for?

Three reviews

Pavel, Kazan

All-inclusive hotel in Hurghada

5 out of 5

Marina, Saint Petersburg

Resort plus lots of trips

5 out of 5

Artyom, Novosibirsk

Cheap guesthouse in Cairo

2 out of 5

Task Read the three cards. What do you think went wrong for Artyom? Guess.

Review 1: Pavel

Task Read Pavel's review. What three things did he do every day?

Pavel, Kazan

Two weeks, one hotel, zero problems

My wife and I stayed at an all-inclusive hotel in Hurghada for two weeks, and we never left it. Every morning at seven I was swimming in the pool, and the hotel was still quiet. After breakfast we were lying on the beach under an umbrella, and I was reading a sci-fi book. The sea was warm and very clear. For lunch we ate fresh fish, and every evening we tried something new at the buffet. The staff were wonderful: on day three a waiter remembered my name and my coffee. At sunset we were sitting on our balcony with a cold drink and watching the boats. My friends at home asked, "Did you see the pyramids?" No, I didn't, and I don't mind at all. I was tired after a long year at work, and there I slept nine hours a night. When we flew home, I was already planning our next holiday at the same hotel.

Review 2: Marina

Task Read Marina's review. List the trips she went on. Which one did she like best?

Marina, Saint Petersburg

Good hotel, but the trips made our holiday

We booked a resort in Hurghada, but my husband and I didn't come to Egypt for the pool. On our second day we went snorkelling at Giftun Island. While I was swimming over the coral, a big turtle swam right under me! Two days later we left the hotel at four in the morning for Luxor. At nine we were walking between the huge columns of Karnak, and I was taking photos of everything. Then we crossed the Nile by boat. The Valley of the Kings was hot and dusty, but the painted tombs were amazing. Our guide, Ahmed, knew a story about every pharaoh. My favourite trip? The desert safari. At sunset we were riding quad bikes over the sand, and later we drank sweet tea in a Bedouin village. I was so happy. On the flight home we were already talking about Cairo and the pyramids for next year.

Review 3: Artyom

Task Read Artyom's review. List three problems he had and one good moment.

Artyom, Novosibirsk

I wanted the real Egypt. I wasn't ready for it.

I don't like resorts, so I booked a cheap guesthouse in central Cairo for a week. Big mistake, for me. I arrived in July, and the heat was terrible: about thirty-five degrees every afternoon. The streets were so noisy: car horns, music, voices. At three in the morning I was still lying awake. Everything felt strange. On day two I ate some street food. It tasted great, but my stomach wasn't ready for it, and that night I was feeling awful. I spent the next day in bed. I tried the local buses. I didn't understand the signs, and I got lost twice. In the market I was trying to buy a lamp, and I paid too much because I didn't know how to haggle. My best moment? One evening I was sitting on the roof with the guesthouse owner, drinking tea and watching the sunset. He was very kind. But next time? An all-inclusive hotel by the sea.

Was or no was?

Task Some of these sentences are broken. Find them and fix each one. Then say why the others are fine.

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Pavel was swim in the pool every morning.

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Marina was very happy in the desert.

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We were eat fresh fish at the buffet.

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Artyom was get lost in Cairo.

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At nine they were walking between the columns of Karnak.

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The guide was know every pharaoh's story.

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They were ride quad bikes at sunset.

Your holiday

Task Answer each question in full sentences. Give at least one detail.

1. Whose holiday sounds the best?

2. Artyom says, "Next time? An all-inclusive hotel by the sea." Is he right?

3. What kind of holiday will you have in Egypt?

4. What will you do on your first day there?

5. What do you want to bring home from Egypt?