Friday, January 8, 2010
Zombie Diner
We saw this sign before we stopped for dinner - trying to find a place that understood that you don't want meat of ANY kind - and they look at you like you're crazy. So - we eventually found a place, ordered dinner and didn't eat the meat.
Cool People Once Lived Here
I could go broke just buying stuff here. Lighter? Check. Rotary phone? Check. Laurel and Hardy floor lamp? Check.
The Victrolas are in abundance and in many different models. They all have a 78 on them – I'm so tempted to fire one up...
Isn't that the coolest kitchen knife holder? The four man jazz band...awesome! Camera's, binoculars....it's as if really cool people from a hundred years ago lost all their stuff and here it is in these shops.
The Victrolas are in abundance and in many different models. They all have a 78 on them – I'm so tempted to fire one up...
Isn't that the coolest kitchen knife holder? The four man jazz band...awesome! Camera's, binoculars....it's as if really cool people from a hundred years ago lost all their stuff and here it is in these shops.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Night Life + dinner (so many more pictures to follow)
The pictures were all taken without a flash – so I had to retake them until I was standing still long enough. There is video as well – but the internet connections here are not sufficient to load it – even wireless.
It kind of looks like Disneyland – without kids, rides and churro's but plenty of scooters zooming through without headlights. I don't know what the fascination is with driving without headlights....if you're walking they'll flash them in order to get you to move out of the way. Maybe it's illegal?
After much walking around we finally found a place for dinner – without a bunch of guys smoking inside. When one of the girls asked about what kind of meat, the waiter listed several, one of them included kidneys (this was after walking by a few places that proudly specialize in/with brain). There was a moment of silence at the table. So – the meat dish (thank god it's on a separate plate) could possibly be beef, or something like that, but no kidneys. I don't know....the rice, salad and hummus was fresh and (I assumed) kidney free.
I really could have used a beer that night.
It kind of looks like Disneyland – without kids, rides and churro's but plenty of scooters zooming through without headlights. I don't know what the fascination is with driving without headlights....if you're walking they'll flash them in order to get you to move out of the way. Maybe it's illegal?
After much walking around we finally found a place for dinner – without a bunch of guys smoking inside. When one of the girls asked about what kind of meat, the waiter listed several, one of them included kidneys (this was after walking by a few places that proudly specialize in/with brain). There was a moment of silence at the table. So – the meat dish (thank god it's on a separate plate) could possibly be beef, or something like that, but no kidneys. I don't know....the rice, salad and hummus was fresh and (I assumed) kidney free.
I really could have used a beer that night.
EGYPT THE ACHIEVEMENTS
The old citadel on the hill has a mosque that dates back to the first century. In an act of conservancy they added Yousef's Well, Royal Carriage Museum, Writers Museum and Military Museum. Yousef's Well was closed off with a girl telling everyone to “Turn Back – There is Nothing to See” (fun job – eh?), the Royal Carriage Museum was nowhere to be found (after the first arrow pointed you in a general direction). Now it's a choice of looking for the writers museum or the military museum. Really – how hard does one want to work at finding a museum in a walled citadel, on a hill with the only restrooms being near the exit – especially when you run the risk of being told to “Turn Back – There is Nothing to See”
So – the military museum it is – since it's kind of hard to hide the entrance with two vestibules (guard stations?) from WWII (no bullet holes but with cracks) painted emerald green at the entrance.
I am sorry to have missed watching them maneuver these relics into place – especially as this was after the Spinney's adventure. Nothing will appear the same to me after that evening.
The plaque under this statue stated "The Best Soldiers In The World."
O.K.
I really wanted to order a perger to see what it was. Instead, we opted for egyptian pancakes at Khan El Khalilli market. So worth the wait.
So – the military museum it is – since it's kind of hard to hide the entrance with two vestibules (guard stations?) from WWII (no bullet holes but with cracks) painted emerald green at the entrance.
I am sorry to have missed watching them maneuver these relics into place – especially as this was after the Spinney's adventure. Nothing will appear the same to me after that evening.
The plaque under this statue stated "The Best Soldiers In The World."
O.K.
I really wanted to order a perger to see what it was. Instead, we opted for egyptian pancakes at Khan El Khalilli market. So worth the wait.
Reward before shopping for water & supplies
Spinney's was having a special buy 2 get one free case of water - so we went for the full deal. Unfortunatly - the best laid plans can be turned inside out and upside down. The quick answer to get this much stuff back was to have one stay with the cart while the other went to get a taxi and had them drive down to the garage, load up then get back to the flat. But no, this is Egypt and the guys in charge of mall security (and ensuring the cart did not leave the garage) decided the best thing to do was to take the loaded trolly through to the other end of the parking lot, up the escalator to the exit where one Spinney's employee along with another (who had obviously clocked out) were enlisted to carry the boxes of water up a flight of stairs, out to the taxi area and across 4 lanes of traffic. Genius - as this involved about 8 guys, not including the two Spinney's. Of course I tipped them well - but it would have been quicker and less hastle if the guys had left the engineering to two females.
And the boxes would have stayed intact.
I want to learn to say in Arabic: “Let's find the most difficult/confusing/impossible way to do something then do it!”
Seriously.
I deserve a beer!
Noise Pollution and a Simple Matter of Convenience.
Living in Cairo, as confirmed by different locals, is a very hard life. Nothing is convenient, to which everyone agrees, but what to do? Continue to suffer is the general answer, Allah will take care of you and your family. No one here likes having to run around to so many different places, they dislike the time wasted for simple daily tasks, but they're all so busy running around there is no time or space to improve life. And if it's not broken then it's good enough. Interesting comparison when we live in a society that improves things whether we thought they were inconvenient or not. We make things efficient, productive, useful then we go back and improve on them again.
The Egyptians know they need to improve the living quality, but the problem is where to begin. Like I said earlier, there are 270 thousand gajillon people here and the infrastructure is older than antiquated. Old trolly tracks that have fallen into disrepair are used for parking. One very proud Cairoian pointed out the civil workers digging trenches by hand and commented that they are laying cable. The trenches are dug in many areas and none of them seem to be joined in a pattern, it's all quite random, as well I haven't seen any spindles set out. I didn't ask if it was for electricity or something completely useless like phone since these people seem to thrive on cell phone service. Never assume the obvious here, because you'll never be correct.
One of the biggest obstacles in class is to concentrate when there is so much noise. I don't own a hair dryer because I can't stand the noise. Here - military helicopter flying low, the cacophony of horns, donkeys braying, workers hammering (since heavy working tools are nearly non-existent – nearly everything is manual labor and there is construction everywhere), some religious propaganda via bull horns....It's like a parade with everyone out of tune from 8 am to midnight seven days a week. Give it a rest already.
Driving in Cairo consists of a complex system of communication via car horn. As for skill, acquiring a drivers license – I think you simply buy (bribe?) one. Maybe not.
The car horns are the most annoying, yet persistent. You use the horn to inform the cars around that you are going to:
*speed up
*slow down
*pass
*turn right from somewhere left of center
*turn left from somewhere right of center
*that you're over here or over there
Or – you're letting everyone know you're there and you really like your new stereo system and the cd you're blasting (yep - arab techno music – rock on!). Sometimes you just honk the horn because no one is around you for 5 car lengths (front, side or behind). Of course, when traffic is at a dead stop for untold car lengths, the further back you are the more you honk your horn because, you know, that's what's going to get the traffic moving. Mostly, you honk your horn because you have one.
As for other rules of the road:
*The median strips painted on a road or carriage way signifies that this is a paved road and in no way means that you have to stay in between the lines.
*The direction of one-way streets applies to the direction you're driving – since you can only go one way at a time....ergo – one way. Should you shift into reverse, you're still only going one way.
*You are only responsible for what is in front of you as the person behind you is responsible for what is in front of them.
*A stop light – when they exist - means that you pull out to stop the intersecting car so you can get through the intersection safely (please refer to previous rule)
*Always yield to the big buses since the driver is usually under 25 and in a heated/animated conversation with their best friend/brother and can't be bothered to look where they're going, assuming there are rear view mirrors on the antiquated buses. But then that's what the best friend/brother is there for, as a lookout for the driver as well as to collect bus fare.
*Should the road narrow and two cars meet, the one furthest forwards will slide on through and cause as little damage as possible while waving to the other driver that it's all O.K. Of course, when you have a moment, pull over and investigate the damage done and blame it all on the other driver.
The good part about so much traffic is crossing the street is a million times easier. There is no such thing as jay-walking since there are no cross walks. You just shoot across when the coast is clear, or at least enough room for the car/bus/truck/donkey pulling a cart to swerve out of your way. Inshalla – you will make it in one piece and on-time to your destination, or some place close to your destination but late, or somewhere completely different at the correct time you were supposed to be at your destination. No matter what, you should still be somewhere in Cairo.
At the end of it all, I'd come back. The insanity is becoming familiar.
Speaking of insane, Arabic for the word human (singular) is pronounced, you guessed it: insane.
The Egyptians know they need to improve the living quality, but the problem is where to begin. Like I said earlier, there are 270 thousand gajillon people here and the infrastructure is older than antiquated. Old trolly tracks that have fallen into disrepair are used for parking. One very proud Cairoian pointed out the civil workers digging trenches by hand and commented that they are laying cable. The trenches are dug in many areas and none of them seem to be joined in a pattern, it's all quite random, as well I haven't seen any spindles set out. I didn't ask if it was for electricity or something completely useless like phone since these people seem to thrive on cell phone service. Never assume the obvious here, because you'll never be correct.
One of the biggest obstacles in class is to concentrate when there is so much noise. I don't own a hair dryer because I can't stand the noise. Here - military helicopter flying low, the cacophony of horns, donkeys braying, workers hammering (since heavy working tools are nearly non-existent – nearly everything is manual labor and there is construction everywhere), some religious propaganda via bull horns....It's like a parade with everyone out of tune from 8 am to midnight seven days a week. Give it a rest already.
Driving in Cairo consists of a complex system of communication via car horn. As for skill, acquiring a drivers license – I think you simply buy (bribe?) one. Maybe not.
The car horns are the most annoying, yet persistent. You use the horn to inform the cars around that you are going to:
*speed up
*slow down
*pass
*turn right from somewhere left of center
*turn left from somewhere right of center
*that you're over here or over there
Or – you're letting everyone know you're there and you really like your new stereo system and the cd you're blasting (yep - arab techno music – rock on!). Sometimes you just honk the horn because no one is around you for 5 car lengths (front, side or behind). Of course, when traffic is at a dead stop for untold car lengths, the further back you are the more you honk your horn because, you know, that's what's going to get the traffic moving. Mostly, you honk your horn because you have one.
As for other rules of the road:
*The median strips painted on a road or carriage way signifies that this is a paved road and in no way means that you have to stay in between the lines.
*The direction of one-way streets applies to the direction you're driving – since you can only go one way at a time....ergo – one way. Should you shift into reverse, you're still only going one way.
*You are only responsible for what is in front of you as the person behind you is responsible for what is in front of them.
*A stop light – when they exist - means that you pull out to stop the intersecting car so you can get through the intersection safely (please refer to previous rule)
*Always yield to the big buses since the driver is usually under 25 and in a heated/animated conversation with their best friend/brother and can't be bothered to look where they're going, assuming there are rear view mirrors on the antiquated buses. But then that's what the best friend/brother is there for, as a lookout for the driver as well as to collect bus fare.
*Should the road narrow and two cars meet, the one furthest forwards will slide on through and cause as little damage as possible while waving to the other driver that it's all O.K. Of course, when you have a moment, pull over and investigate the damage done and blame it all on the other driver.
The good part about so much traffic is crossing the street is a million times easier. There is no such thing as jay-walking since there are no cross walks. You just shoot across when the coast is clear, or at least enough room for the car/bus/truck/donkey pulling a cart to swerve out of your way. Inshalla – you will make it in one piece and on-time to your destination, or some place close to your destination but late, or somewhere completely different at the correct time you were supposed to be at your destination. No matter what, you should still be somewhere in Cairo.
At the end of it all, I'd come back. The insanity is becoming familiar.
Speaking of insane, Arabic for the word human (singular) is pronounced, you guessed it: insane.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Movin On Up
With much regret, it's time to bid a deux to Pension Roma. Nice place, really. They've been dilligently repainting the place (heavy laquer, super high gloss, plenty of lead- I'm sure) and hanging new curtains. But - the taxis are killing me. Quite frankly, I'd be happy to just roll out of bed, make some coffee and walk 5 minutes in the dust, dirt, and smog to get to class as opposed to treaking through the streets to the metro then taxi (random side trips at no extra charge). It's been fun but there is a purpose for being here. I'll keep the random taxi experiences to the weekends (thur/fri).
I'll miss the view
These are early morning pictures but it is not fog but smog. Not as bad as that one day, but still {{{cough....cough}}}
I'll miss the view
These are early morning pictures but it is not fog but smog. Not as bad as that one day, but still {{{cough....cough}}}
Petrol
So - as want to happen - I left early the other morning so I could get in a few moments of review before class. Of course - the taxi driver who had time to kill before a 9pm appointment (and had been waiting around for a while) decided that on the way to school was a perfect time to stop for petrol. Nice considering he could have refuled at the petrol stop 3 blocks from school (he did have 1/4 tank, mind you. I looked) but no - he would rather stop at some place on the way.
The process involves popping the hood and connecting the hose somewhere under there. Maybe it secures employment for station attendants? What was unnerving was that I could hear the petrol filling the tank RIGHT BEHIND THE FRIGGIN BACK SEAT! Yes, the one I'm sitting in. Remember the issue with a particular year model of Ford Pinto's in the 70's (you know - "hit me and we all die" issue). Yes? Well, that has nothing on this since there are a gajilion people in Cairo and at least 1/2 of them drive some sort of car.
For your viewing pleasure - this gentleman pulls up
The attendant will affix the hose but you have to clean your own window
It's a truck. I have no idea where the "engineers" of these fine automobiles would imagine a good place is for the gas tank
If you're wondering, no - I did not make it earlier as planed to get a little review in, but, I was on time.
The process involves popping the hood and connecting the hose somewhere under there. Maybe it secures employment for station attendants? What was unnerving was that I could hear the petrol filling the tank RIGHT BEHIND THE FRIGGIN BACK SEAT! Yes, the one I'm sitting in. Remember the issue with a particular year model of Ford Pinto's in the 70's (you know - "hit me and we all die" issue). Yes? Well, that has nothing on this since there are a gajilion people in Cairo and at least 1/2 of them drive some sort of car.
For your viewing pleasure - this gentleman pulls up
The attendant will affix the hose but you have to clean your own window
It's a truck. I have no idea where the "engineers" of these fine automobiles would imagine a good place is for the gas tank
If you're wondering, no - I did not make it earlier as planed to get a little review in, but, I was on time.
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