European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The train ran on schedule and the Airport did not close but it was hard to enjoy Egypt knowing that families at Home were upset and that terrorism was now a constant worry. Thaler cautioned members of the group to identity themselves As new sealanders not americans if. Asked their nationality /. There was also uncertainty. Which direction would the War go would Egypt become involved in hostilities that May seem unlikely but the politics of the Middle East Aie Complex almost incomprehensible to westerners with Only a newspaper knowledge of places events and policies. Most egyptians the group encountered seemed pro american anti Saddam. The Day War broke out one of the Many horse drawn carriages that clip clop up and Down the Avenue hugging the Shore of the Nile in Luxor the ancient capital of Egypt had two Small Lameren bags stuck in its Side panels. At the City s souk Middle Eastern Bazaar merchants were glued to television news. One invited an american tourist to come in sit Down an watch can news in English. Quot Saddam bad he said. O More French groups no More German groups. No . He and thousands of others throughout the c country who depend on tourism for their income have suffered since the invasion of Kuwait. The guide who led the americans through the egyptian museum in Cairo said they were the  of tourists she s had in 2 it months. Quot Aren t you afraid no one comes  the Young Man representing the egyptian travel Agency in Cairo that arranged the trip said he had been reassigned to office work. For months he has had no groups of tourists to Shepherd from Airport to hotel or to arrange local Tours a a a for \ a its Tough for these people but far worse for the Carriage Drivers and Shoeshine boys for those who Hawk postcards and tourist trinkets at popular Sites for the Camel and Felucca owners who depend on visitors to pay for rides. Egypt is poor. The average salary is Between 100 and 1 50 egyptian pounds $35 to $50 per month. But the vast majority of the population has no salary. Their earnings depend on services or goods they can sell. Survival not politics is Foremost on their minds. A for members of Egypt s upper c Lav Tor those who Are educated politics Are important. Some of the people the top left participants in the University of Maryland tour drink Tea and try smoking a water pipe while visiting the Bazaar in Cairo. There were few tourists in Egypt during their visit with the exception of Small groups of egyptians such As those above at the Luxor Temple. Left group members ride donkeys to visit the tombs of Nobles near Luxor. Above the guide tells them about Queen Hatshepsut s mortuary Temple also near Luxor. Group met Are unhappy with their president Hosni. Mubarak whom they Leol has sold out to  Stales. While they Are not pro Saddam Hussein they Are not pro War they do not however associate individual american tourists with . Policies they May . Rich or poor educated or not All the egyptians the group met were Friendly helpful gracious. Accommodating. In fact it was the people a As  the pyramids or tombs or temples a who c activated the  a. Quot the people Are amazing. They have so Little yet they Are so Happy. They re unlike people i be met on other trips. They have an incredible optimism Quot said University of Maryland student Ashley English who Tell in love with the country and Hopes to return to study at tin americ an University in Cairo. Thaler who has  University of Maryland groups to Egypt for the past 1 2 years has another trip scheduled in the Spring. Quot i m relatively optimistic that Well come balt k to Egypt in  january 24, 1991 Stripe s Magazine 9