Safety in Egypt

Egypt has been in the news a lot lately- in particular, there have been a lot of clashes between Copts (an ancient Christian sect comprising about 10% of the population there) and Muslims. This has been going on for centuries (and of course, that doesn't make it right). In order to stay safe while we are there, we are taking a few precautions. First of all, we are traveling in a group the entire time (there are five of us "girls" plus the dig director and her husband). Secondly, we aren't staying in Cairo at all. We are flying into the Cairo airport, and taking another flight to Luxor, where things have been very calm. We'll stay in Luxor a day at a very nice hotel (for super cheap to- $29 a person!), and the next day travel to Edfu via car. Our return trip in December will be the same way.

Once in Edfu, we will have ten very wonderful workmen living in the first floor of our house to protect us. None of us will be going anywhere besides the work site and home without an escort. We have emergency plans to return to Luxor and stay at Chicago House (which is basically a University-owned fortress on the Nile) in case of any unrest in the Edfu region. We also have plans to get out of the country if things get too bad.

Basically, we understand that we are going into a politically unstable country, and have done all we can to prepare for it. I trust the director when she says we'll be safe there, and since there has been very few issues in the Edfu region, I think we will be okay. We are also leaving Edfu before the elections (which in the Aswan area, in which Edfu is a part, will be taking place on December 14th). So, don't worry about me!