[cbarros]

I take a couple of long sleeved cotton/linen shirts to toss on over the sleeveless and short sleeved tshirts while I am out and about. Looser clothing is going to be cooler in the hot months of the summer so the long loose cotton skirts are a good idea. I like to have the long sleeved shirt to help protect me from the sun too . . . it will be intense during the summer.

You will probably notice that there are young Egyptian women running around in tight jeans with head scarves (amongst many others wearing long skirts, full coverage, etc). I saw many wearing short sleeved shirts with long sleeved stretchy ones underneath (I kept think how hot they must be as those long-sleeved ones are probably polyester).

Hehe, you can even find bright colored leggings to buy to wear under your skirt as I had one guy at a street corner scarf shop (really just hanging on the sides of the bldg and down the alley) pointing them out and trying to sell them to me . . . i didn't want them, but I probably should have bought some to see what they are like.

While in the hotel at the Festival, you don't have anything to worry about. And in most places you go, it won't be a problem. But I feel it is better to err on the side of being a bit over-dressed than under-dressed while you are downtown.

At the tourist spots, you will see everything including beet-red sunburned skin on many tourists! Take the sunscreen and something to protect your head and arms . . . avoiding shorts is good too even though you will see many a tourist wearing them. You want to enjoy your time in Egypt and not be suffering due to the heat and sun!

I never seem to have time to run out to buy any additional clothing items once I am in Egypt . . . so I usually take what I need with me. But scarves/shawls are everywhere, so definitely you can pick up a few that are NOT for dancing . . . although I do see some head scarves that do have sequins and beads on them.