A professional always wins!!!!
Here is the man who made me spend nearly $550, instead of $55.
1. His name is Omar. He is a tour guide. Egyptologist. Polyglot.
2. When a group of at least 15 people buys a tour offer from him, the price is reduced to $55 per person.
3. It's a guided tour for an entire day in an air-conditioned bus. Departure at 8:00 return at 18:00.
4. The $55 includes transport, a visit to the museum, the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Papyrus Institute, Ali's scented palace, and a buffet lunch.
5. In addition to the specific places mentioned, we can ask all kinds of questions about the country....
We mobilized more than 30 people and we left in a nice air-conditioned bus.
But....
6. When it was time to pay the $55, he explained to us that we could experience the Pyramids in a more intense way. It's the "panoramic" offer. It includes camels, iconic photos with the pyramids in panorama mode. Out of the 36 of us, 35 bought... Additional cost $15.
7. Omar teaches us the history of writing. Hieroglyphs.. and how it's an amazing thing.. He pulls out a flyer.. to enchant us with the possibility of seeing his name and the names of his loved ones written in gold or silver letters. He links history to the heroism of soldiers.. how they carried their names and could be identified even after their deaths..
Even I, who don't wear jewelry, was charmed by the story.. love, heroism, immortality.. $30 for a gold and silver bracelet with NNENNA in hieroglyphs for me. We also got some for spouses and children...
8. At the Papyrus Institute.. Oh Lord!! They take us into a magical room, to unveil the mysteries of the artistic works on papyrus... after, of course, having demonstrated the paper-making process from the plant. We are given "the good news" that we will receive a 50% discount on each purchased art scroll.. and of course, it will come with a nice case featuring pharaoh motifs...
Some spent more than $200 on site.
9. After eating Omar tells us that he will serve us tea and juice for FREE in a mythical place. An artisanal factory of perfumes and scented essential oils. If only we had known. As soon as I set foot there, I knew I was going to spend money. All the bases of world perfume were there... Moustapha, the manager, and his nephews, gave us an unforgettable demonstration of scents.. It was total. I connected on-site to transfer money from my bank account to my card...
I don't dare say how much I spent on site...
10. Oh God!! Omar.. he's an amazing guy. We bought water and sweets on the bus. We bought other gifts at the museum, the Pyramids, the Sphinx.. and at the end of the day.. the whole bus agreed to give him a nice tip..
I learned one thing.
There are professionals in every trade...
A tour guide is not just the guy who explains things.. he is there to make you do things....
You should never say never...