We'll make it a one way street and other classic Cairo

Yesterday we—Tara, Katharine and I, is who I generally mean by that these days—decided to visit Alzar park, the cite of Cairo Earth Day festival. Tara found the festival listed on yallabina.com, the site Sullivan told us to scavenge for events, and the irony of an Earth day in Cairo, one of the world’s most polluted cities, seemed too good to miss.

At the park we failed to find the wide selection of NGOs promised however we did see a lot of interesting art work—drawings and creations composed of recyclables, and see in interesting e walked in a wedding procession swirled by us, busy in dance, and everywhere we walked children played and couples reladance by children dressed as trees and the like.

The park itself was magnificent. The air smelled fresh, the views were incredible and there were flowers, trees and ponds with sprinklers that made rainbows. As wxed in the shade of trees.

We’re going back to the park today with our entire group to have our last, “debrief,” as Sullivan likes to call our group discussions.

Each day here is a new adventure, a new story, full of possibilities and intrigue. The people I have met deserve most of the credit.

It’s hard to capture the little things which make moments perfect with laugher but those are the ones that mean the most.

Here are some of my favorite/intrinsically Cairo episodes from the last couple days.

There are few stop signs here, no traffic lights and a plethora of police, mostly tourist, but none who seemed concerned with the rules of the road. I’ve seen people get clipped by cars—none hurt and no cars that stopped a time or two.

The other day driving around the block to pickup friends took a good 40 minutes—they could’ve walked to the car in two minutes but the guys decided to swing by and get them….I wouldn’t trade that drive for anything…

It’s a one way street.
Mufas -That’s OK we can make it a two way street.
—Abu Shady zooms down it.
Me-look there’s a woman…and a dog…
Abu Shady—zoom swerve stop zoom swerve.

The guys ask a bizliodfsn people for directions to get back around the block—after we’ve told them—dudes we live here!

Suleyman joked that sometimes he gets his laughs watching foreigners cross the street. Sometimes it takes them five minutes just to get up the courage to walk, he said.

A couple days ago we played soccer probably about 30 Americans and Egyptians combined. It was at this huge outdoor club where adults seemed to sit around chatting while hordes of children of all ages ran wild. I had my video camera out and many of the boys pounced all over me. It was hard to tell if they wanted to be filmed or for me to turn it off...When we finished soccer--about 2 or so in the morning, kids were still everywhere. Only in Egypt.

Last night we—planned, to have dinner with our fav Egyptian guys—Mostafa aka Mufas and Karim—aka K-Money, and then go to a concert at the Sowi Cultural Center, a venue on Zamalek.

*Flashback a couple days ago*
“Who’s playing?”
“The best band in Cairo!”
“What are they called?”
“uhhh hmmm….I don’t know! We’ll get tickets.”
Sounds like a plan.

Sullivan explained before leaving the United States that Cairo time is not the same as time we know. Lateness here is part of the framework. If it’s not the notorious traffic maybe it was time for tea—or really what’s the rush. (Though I’ve been told by Egyptians the rush is here and we’re simply oblivious to it.)

Anyway, 7p.m. found the three of us waiting in Hardee’s, an American chain near our hotel. Ironically we never would’ve set foot in if it weren’t for the Egyptians who always want to meet there.

We’re not sure how exactly we agreed to meet at 7, as the concert supposedly started at 8, predictably the guys arrived 7:20ish—actually quite impressive.

We headed to Didos Al Dente—our fav Italian joint where we had to wait another 15ish minutes for a table. The restaurant was a slightly odd choice; for once we blended in better than our Egyptian counterparts.

While waiting another 7 or so people from our group arrived—again, completely typical. While there’re a plethora of restaurants on Zamalek, let alone Cairo, we hardly go anywhere without seeing a few of the 35 familiar American faces…(I.e. in the middle of the biggest Souk in Egypt we ran into fellow NEU-ers down a small side-street.

So now for the impressive “ow-e” (very) part of the night. They guys knew there own lateness and had a backup plan for us.

We went to Cairo Jazz club, where they had reservations, and spent the night laughing, taking ridiculous pictures, listening to amazing music and playing hand games Brits? at the bar mimicked. Another interesting difference. The guys here are incredible dancers--way better than any of us. I'd love to trade hips....lol.

I’m shocked my ribs aren’t sore from laughing….

I don’t know what the internet situation will be like in the desert we’re driving into early tomorrow…so don’t be alarmed if I don’t post blogs for uhh.. about a week =)

Mufas smiling and Tara and I imitating him....lol>