Page 61 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

1 Running the gauntlet. RECOMMENDED

Reading
In Egypt, most of the major ruin sites
are approached along walkways that are
lined with souvenir stalls. The vendors Sahara Unveiled: A Journey
will call out to you with many creative Across the Desert
invitations to inspect their wares, and by William Langewiesche
if you are a woman traveling alone (or (Travel Narrative)
even in a pair), you can expect to hear A Street in Marrakech
some marriage proposals and also some by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
indecent proposals. Sometimes the men (Memoir, Morocco)
will even make kissing sounds. While
you may find this o -putting, bear in Justine

mind that it has more to do with sales by Lawrence Durrell (first book of the
than sex. They are just trying to get Alexandria Quartet, Fiction, Egypt)
your attention, and have no intent of Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, and
following up on their entreaties. Sugar Street (The Cairo Trilogy)
by Naguib Mahfouz (Fiction, Egypt)
2 Dressing for sacred sites. Chronicle of the Pharaohs

by Peter A. Clayton (History, Egypt)
It’s important to wear appropriate
clothing when visiting mosques, The Women of Al-Basatin
churches, or synagogues. Ladies, this by Habib Selmi (Fiction, Tunisia)
means long pants or skirts that cover Married to a Bedouin
the knees, and keeping shoulders by Marguerite Van Geldermalsen
covered. Some Islamic holy sites might (Memoir, Jordan)
ask women to cover their hair. Modesty
is also expected when you visit very The Red Tent
religious neighborhoods in Jerusalem. by Anita Diamant (Fiction, Israel, Egypt)
This is why I always carry a pashmina- Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths
type scarf or shawl. by Karen Armstrong (Religion/History)
3 Mosque protocol. The Museum of Innocence,
The White Castle, or My Name is Red
by Orhan Pamuk (Historical
Most mosques do welcome visitors
who are non-Muslims, though this may Fiction, Turkey)
be limited to certain times based on
crowds and local events. Men and women enter through di erent doorways, and

you will be seated in separate areas. (There are no chairs, so be prepared to sit on the
floor.) Wear clean socks or stockings, because you’ll be asked to remove your shoes.
Many mosques have a special room or rack where you can store your belongings.

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