Jon

Hello, I thought it was about time that I actually made my own (admittedly meagre) contribution to the family blog. Life in Cairo is progressing reasonably well, it was with some shock the other day that I realised we have been in Cairo almost three years! The time has certainly flown by.
Social life is as active as ever, with feluccas (sail boats on the nile) still a regular occurrence on Thursday and Friday nights, and now the weather has got warmer after a very cold (by Egypt's standards) winter they are very pleasant.

A felucca towards the end of last school year

Recently, during half term, I went on a school trip to Tanzania, with the aim of climbing Mt. Meru (I have a certificate somewhere that says how high it is but I can't find it, trust me though it's huge). I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was blown away by everything there. The scenery was incredible, the people genuinely friendly and the mountain trek itself incredibly rewarding. The walk took three days, including a tortuous twelve hour stretch that we began at 1am! However, it was well worth it when we got to the top.

The group in Tanzania

Now I am just busy with school, preparing for the summer exams which are drawing nearer at an alarming rate.

The end of Ramadan

It's over! What a relief - everything now returns to normal, well normal for Cairo. As you can see from the latest photos we did attend one iftar (lit. breaking the fast) which was surprisingly quite pleasant. Out first experience of the company iftar two years ago wasn't much fun so we had a jaundiced view of the whole idea. This was much nicer and the location, Al Azhar Park, was a pleasant surprise. A well maintained, green space on the eastern edge of the city with some lovely views of The Citadel and Islamic Cairo. We've driven past it numerous times but never made the effort to go in (complicated u-turns required on a very busy road) which I can now see is a real shame. This one now goes on the list for future visitors. The big silver 'urn' in the photo contains some vile looking herbal drink which apparently helps aid the digestion of the huge amount of food eaten at iftar. I wasn't tempted to try it but watching the guy pour it out was entertaining.
Today is the second day of Eid al Fitr (the holiday at the end of Ramadan). This is the first time we've stayed in Cairo for this holiday and again I'm pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be chaotic and noisy but it's wonderfully quiet. The cafes, restaurants and some food shops are open but pretty much everything else is closed. Very little traffic.
This afternoon we're taking a trip on the Nile with some friends on a lovely boat called The Christina. It's a wonderful way of spending 2 or 3 hours, enjoying the views, chatting, drinking and eating. If I remember the camera I'll take some photos and post them here. Cairo looks completely different when seen from this angle especially at sunset.
On Tuesday we're off to Taba Heights for a few days holiday, the kids have half term this week. Well, when I say we, that doesn't include Jon who, as a 'mature' 16 year old, refuses to come with us claiming pressure of work as an excuse. We haven't been to this resort before so it'll make a change. It's really just a collection of hotels on a beach although it's possible to do day trips to Jordan (Petra) and Israel. This is probably the last trip to the beach this year as it'll start to get chilly soon.

So far I'm having an "I love Cairo day"

It's only about 10.30am and I've already tackled Egyptian bureaucracy and won! I an now the proud possessor of a 10 year Egyptian driving license.

OK, so it wasn't exactly me who tackled the red tape. A very efficient (amazing!) young man called Mohammed (what else) greeted me at the entrance, whisked me to the waiting room, produced a file with my name on it, whisked me off to another room to have my photo taken (why did I have to provide 4 photos in advance?) and 5 minutes later presented me with my credit card sized license. So, if you have the right contacts life here can be quite straightforward. We won't mention the driver getting lost trying to find the place or the reversing on the dual carriageway when he missed the entrance ......... Or the fact that wives are not allowed to drive the company provided cars. I have the license that's all that matters. Driving test - don't be silly!
So, now I just have to get a car ..................

More rats

For those who've been following the rat thread (see comments from Roy) my decison to follow the poison path has been vindicated as demonstrated by the following (out of sensitivity to the animal lovers among you I've posted the link rather than the full text - you choose):

Charlie Brooker
Saturday September 29, 2007
The Guardian
I had a rat once. Not as a pet, you understand - I'm not that cool and alternative and lawless and hard - but as an invader. I was living in a shared house near Clapham Junction, and one day my flatmate heard a noise coming from a kitchen drawer, pulled it open and got rat in his face. It had been nesting there for some time; it was the drawer where all of our overdue bills were kept, and it had gnawed these up into tiny strips of bedding.


Article continues

Rats and Ramadan (again)

All's quiet in the ceilings so hopefully the rats are playing somewhere else and no nasty smells to indicate they're decaying somewhere nearby.

Our apartment building seems to be undergoing a facelift. No, of course there's no scaffolding! Just a youngish man leaning over our balcony wall (3rd floor) with a large bucket of paint and a roller on a long pole. And later the same youngish man, still amazingly in one piece, on a long ladder reaching up as far as he can from the 1st floor balcony below with the same long handled roller. Can't wait to see how's he going to reach the bit in the middle.

Best time to go to Carrefour during Ramadan? 5pm Saturday. Practically empty, no queues at the checkout or car park. But we did see an interesting altercation at the pizza counter - not sure if it was because they were or weren't selling the pizza during daylight. And learn how to dodge the floor cleaning machines before they sweep you away.

A recently arrived lady was telling me that Ramadan in Egypt is a picnic compared to Abu Dhabi. Apparently the restaurants etc. have to remain closed during daylight even to the tourists. And even the hotels can only serve food and drink through room service. So, don't go to Abu Dhabi during Ramadan.

More about Ramadan

Well the Ramadan lamp is now out so I'm entering into the spirit (if a little reluctantly). A Ramadan story, last night Pete got a phone call from the optician to tell him his new glasses were ready to be picked up. 'What's so interesting about that?' I hear you say. It was eleven thirty pm!
An everyday driving story - got a lift home from a board meeting this evening with an Egyptian guy. It was about 6.30pm so roads fairly quiet with everyone 'iftaring'. His mobile rang and of course he answered it, and proceeded to have an animated conversation all the while changing gear by reaching across the steering wheel and using his left hand! (Remember they drive on the right here in left hand drive cars).

Hi Roy,


thanks for the comment. I'm still waiting for you to come and show me where to buy this deadly ant powder. And if you know of anything that will discourage the rats that play above the kitchen and bathroom ceilings I'd love to hear about it.


The Ramadan lamp is hiding somewhere, I promise to go and find it. Seriously, you became a bearded effendi and blended in, it's different for a woman. I know a few people who are more in touch with 'real' Egyptians than I am and they're commenting on how much more religious Ramamdan, and the people in general, are becoming. Yes, Maadi is still an expat oasis but time doesn't stand still.