I have been in Cairo since Sunday and enjoying it. The trip was a bit tiring but not necessarily due to the flights themselves (hell, I had to change planes in Zürich) but because I had to fly very early in the morning and I usually don’t get any sleep on the night before in such cases. On top of everything, the clocks had to be moved forward on that same Sunday. But that’s a whole different story.
I don’t think the city has changed too much since 1999 when we came to Egypt as tourists and made a tour of the country (pyramids, Nile Cruise, temples, the Valley of the Kings and all the rest). It is very loud, pulsating with life, polluted and very safe. The traffic is crazy and it never stops. After all, it’s a city of several million people (18 after some sources, 22 after some other) out of which approximately 5 million are forced by poverty to live in cemeteries, in tombs.
The weather has been extremely pleasant, the hotel is acceptable (apparently the best in town but there still is a lot to be desired, Egyptian standards) and the people are extremely nice and friendly. The hotel is a real fortress, with police using especially trained dogs to check the incoming cars for ammunition; they also scan all suitcases, backpacks, etc. the way they do it on the airports.
I am the only girl in the team, the other 3 members being men and our office here is also staffed mostly by men. So I have been very spoiled and have received a lot of flattering attention during these few days :-) . Too bad that we are supposed to do some work here too, hehe. If men were staring in China, well here they are simply overwhelmed … They look as if they cannot believe their eyes. I understand that a pleasantly shaped, green eyed, natural blonde girl is not that common here but, hey men, get a grip!! This is starting to become embarrassing!
M, who is German, has convinced me that I have to practice my rusty German. Having done so to a certain (limited) extent, both of us have discovered that it is not that rusty after all – quite correct grammar and the vocabulary is not poor at all! Well, I think I need to practice more and, with so many German colleagues continuously around, this is feasible. It is actually not the first time I receive praises for my German – too bad that I stubbornly refuse to speak it, fearing of making silly mistakes. And I am also quite lazy which is not of much help.
I haven’t had time for play since I arrived in Cairo so I am looking forward to the weekend (which is Friday and Saturday) and to the following weekend which will be a long one (A will join me here for a mini holiday). However, on Saturday I have to interview a local candidate for one of the positions in our team in Brussels so ... work again. But I will also be a tourist – I have brought my camera and I have promised people to take lots of pictures of the smog and, if possible, of pyramids :-). It’s true that some of them just wanted pictures of me so I will try and please both categories …. Oh, and I should not forget my dear friend Richard who, as usual, would like pictures of dirt and street cabinets!!
One of the guys, who has never been here before, wants to go and see the pyramids on Friday - perhaps I will join him because I want to see them again. The rest of the guys would like to go to the souk (market) for some bargaining and fun. I can’t bargain but M has offered to do it for me in exchange for a certain tip. What’s the advantage of having him bargain on my behalf if I need to pay him for that :-)
In one of my future posts, I will write about the referendum that was held here these days – quite interesting …. But for now, I bid you goodnight and get under the covers ... I promise to write again soon and post lots of pictures ...
I don’t think the city has changed too much since 1999 when we came to Egypt as tourists and made a tour of the country (pyramids, Nile Cruise, temples, the Valley of the Kings and all the rest). It is very loud, pulsating with life, polluted and very safe. The traffic is crazy and it never stops. After all, it’s a city of several million people (18 after some sources, 22 after some other) out of which approximately 5 million are forced by poverty to live in cemeteries, in tombs.
The weather has been extremely pleasant, the hotel is acceptable (apparently the best in town but there still is a lot to be desired, Egyptian standards) and the people are extremely nice and friendly. The hotel is a real fortress, with police using especially trained dogs to check the incoming cars for ammunition; they also scan all suitcases, backpacks, etc. the way they do it on the airports.
I am the only girl in the team, the other 3 members being men and our office here is also staffed mostly by men. So I have been very spoiled and have received a lot of flattering attention during these few days :-) . Too bad that we are supposed to do some work here too, hehe. If men were staring in China, well here they are simply overwhelmed … They look as if they cannot believe their eyes. I understand that a pleasantly shaped, green eyed, natural blonde girl is not that common here but, hey men, get a grip!! This is starting to become embarrassing!
M, who is German, has convinced me that I have to practice my rusty German. Having done so to a certain (limited) extent, both of us have discovered that it is not that rusty after all – quite correct grammar and the vocabulary is not poor at all! Well, I think I need to practice more and, with so many German colleagues continuously around, this is feasible. It is actually not the first time I receive praises for my German – too bad that I stubbornly refuse to speak it, fearing of making silly mistakes. And I am also quite lazy which is not of much help.
I haven’t had time for play since I arrived in Cairo so I am looking forward to the weekend (which is Friday and Saturday) and to the following weekend which will be a long one (A will join me here for a mini holiday). However, on Saturday I have to interview a local candidate for one of the positions in our team in Brussels so ... work again. But I will also be a tourist – I have brought my camera and I have promised people to take lots of pictures of the smog and, if possible, of pyramids :-). It’s true that some of them just wanted pictures of me so I will try and please both categories …. Oh, and I should not forget my dear friend Richard who, as usual, would like pictures of dirt and street cabinets!!
One of the guys, who has never been here before, wants to go and see the pyramids on Friday - perhaps I will join him because I want to see them again. The rest of the guys would like to go to the souk (market) for some bargaining and fun. I can’t bargain but M has offered to do it for me in exchange for a certain tip. What’s the advantage of having him bargain on my behalf if I need to pay him for that :-)
In one of my future posts, I will write about the referendum that was held here these days – quite interesting …. But for now, I bid you goodnight and get under the covers ... I promise to write again soon and post lots of pictures ...
2 comments:
So there you are, Cairo. Full of egyptians staring at you. And seem to be revelling in it. And your team, the only girl - centre of attention. How nice for you. I know if I was inthe crowd and saw you going by I would stare too. Puiul de arici - you posted, I wonder how you fare in a hot clime? :)
I know you would stare ... And I would feel comfortable, for the first time.
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