Elevators, Israelis, Armenians, Yachts and Food Poisoning or, Alot Can Happen in Two Weeks

Well I know I've taken too long to blog when I need to look back at my pictures to remember what it is I was doing a week or two ago. Then again, that's why I took the pictures in the first place, so I guess this is kind of a field test for my methods. Now for the explanation of my tardiness (explanation, never excuse!), not having a charger for my laptop has really given me a new way of relating to my computer. Its no longer a cheap tool of distraction, but a highly valuable and necessary device which requires my full attention and respect when in use. Not that the blog isn't worthy of such attention, but finishing a post can take anywhere from one to four hours, and my battery sure doesn't last that long. Two things then, relating to that point. Firstly, you'll all be happy to know that a new charger is currently on its way in the form of a care package from my amazing parents, and secondly, I wrote most of this out by hand to decrease the amount of time I need to spend on the computer (inshallah). This may explain the drawn out, wordy nature of the post. Hopefully in the editing stages it will get more readable though. Now on to the good stuff.

After the exhilarating experience that was my 20th birthday, things calmed down a little bit for a couple days and I spent time just going to class and relaxing. Except now that I think about it, not really, because on my way home Sunday I detoured to Maadi to begin my search for a regular church to start attending. I got hopelessly lost trying to find it, and by the time I did mass was nearly over so I had to settle for evaluating the priest by his accent and the music by the final song. Both were.. eh.. sub par- I couldn't understand the priest at all (Nigerian maybe?) and the synthesizer failed to evoke a very church-like mood. I returned the following Sunday, where a different priest, who I also couldn't understand, was giving Mass, and there was the interesting addition of pan-pipes to the synthesizer's dulcet tones. I blame Vatican II personally, but eh, its Egypt (which also explains why I have to fight to hear the priest over the Muezzin's constant droning). After Mass on that first Sunday I rushed off to the Cairo Opera House to see an Armenian performance that Alison invited me to go to. It was exceedingly cool, see video below. Since it was a troupe from Armenia, naturally the entire Armenian-Egyptian population showed up. It was like some kind of mass reunion of something; people were finally getting to see the objects of their community gossip and I kept hearing things like 'Oh look that's my Grandma'. My 'escort' in particular was surprised to see his parents there as we were walking to the car. All in all a fascinating event. (I couldn't get videos to work, so just pictures for now. Lo siento.)

Monday passed by uneventfully and then came Tuesday. I woke up at 10am to catch a bus to campus to then spend the day at Amr 1's house along with the rest of the crew. Since I believe Amr frequents this very blog I'll give only a conservative assessment of the day, but seriously, this place was ridiculous- as in elevator, rooftop terrace, and fake palm trees that light up at night ridiculous. (most pictures complements of Nitasha Malhotra)

Elevator in the background on the right


The backyard, note the 'palm tree' on the right

We spent the day doing a number of things..

Swimming..

Ana Pash!!

Snacking..


And pleeenty of dancing


yep..


We don't mess with them



Some relaxing..


An absolutely delicious lunch

And of course we couldn't go the whole day without studying.. Not when we have our own personal Arabic tutors anyway. I probably learned more in that one session than in a weeks worth of classes. All in all, pretty sweet day. Sankis you Amr for having us over!

Wednesday passed by in the usual fashion (you'll be glad to know I edited out a discussion of the concept of hump day here), with the exception that in the evening I hopped the metro, took it to the end of the line and picked up the most amazing Maayan and her friends who were visiting Egypt from Israel during their break for Sukkot. For those who don't know, Maayan is my Great Alto Aunt in the Mental Notes. She may have been before my time, but she will always have a special place in my heart. Maayan stayed with me, but her friends got rooms in a nearby hotel which we set off to find before getting dinner or anything. After everyone got settled in we decided to meet back at a restaurant we'd seen along the way called The Pub or something like that. Appearances can be deceiving however and once we were settled in our seats and past the point of no return drink-wise we realized this was no restaurant, i.e. they didn't serve any food. So with our stomachs rumblingwe nibbled on crappy bar food, drank our beers, and sulked home to our beds. May I also note that we suspected this bar of being a bit more than a bar.... female-service wise.... but this is mere speculation, friends, mere speculation.... But there were no women in the place except for the 'servers' who were definitely not dressed like normal Egyptian women, and where did that back staircase lead..?......


Thursday after school we all went to Amr 2's house where his mother was amazingly kind enough to make us some absolutely delicious home-made Koshary. They shovel enough food for three grown men into your bowl and you're expected to eat it all.... so I did. And good thing I did too, because that night I joined Alison and a certain percentage of the Armenian population at After 8 Bar and Club where we danced the night away and where the Koshary proved the perfect cushion for the beverages consumed

Good night? Good night.

Friday was a long day of 'sleeping in'. I could have gone with Maayan and her friends to the pyramids, but you don't go to After 8 and then wake up at 6 the next morning. Its just not right. So instead I met up with them later that evening in a little cafe in Tahrir for some tea and shisha. It was very old Egyptian man of us and perfectly enjoyable. Maayan was pretty tired and I was perfectly happy doing nothing, so we picked up some Koshary and Tamiyya on the way home as well as some amazing pastries and kounafa from the pastry shop across the street and sat down to a relaxing evening of Egyptian food, tea, and Harry Potter 6.

Friday's staying in was completely made up for by Saturday. We packed a picnic and went to Al-Azhar park and Khan el Khalili. We meant to go to a Sufi dance concert that evening but we got there too late and all the tickets were already given away (apparently you need to get there like 2 hours early since its a free event)

Al-Azhar park, view of the Citadel


Our delicious picnic! Sandwiches, bell peppers, cucumber, pita, feta and olives, leftover dessert from the pastry shop, and water. And then we napped on a grassy hill and talked some wonderfully nerdy a cappella talk. Best day ever.

Me and my sammich


Maayan and her sammich

A few select shots of and from the park, which is located in the top of a plataeu and therefore gives a wonderful view of Cairo..

The little dots are birds


There's a wonderful walkway that spans the whole park, complete with fountains and pillars that light up at night




Park and Citadel in the background


Ahh Cairo


More Cairo


And then..



Select shot from our brief trip through Khan el Khalili where I was pressured into buying some spices..

We hurried home that evening since Maayan had to catch a bus back to Taba then onto Israel since her dad was coming to visit. I grabbed some foul sandwiches from downstairs and made some eggs on the side, while Maayan ran across the street to buy some of those pastries to take home, because boy were they delicious. I was sad to see Maayan go, but it was great while it lastsed!

After the excitement of Saturday, Sunday marked an especially mundane beginning to the week, including my second visit to the church in Maadi (recounted above) which was less than religiously satisfactory since I couldn't understand anything the lectors or priest were saying.

Monday saw the return of my old friend, food poisoning. I didn't go to class and spent most of the day sleeping, being thirsty, then being so thirsty and hungry I was too tired to eat or drink anything, culminating in a fainting episode in the hallway of my apartment. Luckily for me Maayan's friend Spencer had just come by to pick up some things I was watching for him (Maayan left before the rest of her friends who were still touring Egypt- Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria etc.) and in true medical student form took care of me the rest of the evening. Spencer was definitely mvp of the weekend and I am eternally indebted to him. Though, all I could really do is promise him that if I ever go to his house and he faints in front of me, I'll take care of him too. Tuesday was spent in a similar fashion, but with more food, water, and Antinal, such that by the end of the day I felt significantly better and planned on going to class Wednesday. Which I did. After a quiz and a lecture from my professor (this tiny ancient Egyptian Grandma) about being late (the bus is late every day, what am I supposed to do?) the day ended and I came home. Unfortunately, since Tuesday was my intended shopping day what I came home to was grumbly stomach and an empty fridge, so I sucked it up and went shopping. Grocery shopping here is just such a crappy endeavor. The store is so far (5 metro stops and 6 blocks) that you don't want to get alot of stuff, because you'll die carrying it back, but then again you do want to get alot of stuff so that you don't have to go back anytime soon. I opted for the latter option in the paradox and actually couldn't lift anything for a while after returning home. But I had food so it was cool. Just stuck my face in the plate and stuff.

Thursday, sweet Thursday, brought the end of another atypical week. I had lunch with Ihsaan, Seth, Nitasha and couple new people and ordered the 'Magnum' Sandwich (Sandwich isn't really a sandwich... its like a pita pocket deal thing) which is this terrifying combination of things inside a pita, including but not limited to: beans, a salad concoction, hard boiled eggs (whole!), french fries, falafal, cheese, and tons of other crap. They don't call it the Magnum for nothing. I can't say I disliked it, but I don't think I'll be getting it again. That evening I accompanied Anna to the birthday celebrations of friend of hers and Alison's. The birthday was on a yacht (in true Egyptian style) and was an especially fantastic evening. I learned some new Arabic words (thanks to my friend, Heineken) and afterward a few of us went to dinner (including Moustafa, the birthday boy i.e. we're special). Friday presented an opportunity for me to accompany the Georgetown children to Alexandria, but I was too 'tired' from the night before and not comfortable waking up at 6am. So instead I spent the day pulling myself together; doing laundry, cleaning my room, and catching up on reading for class. It was a wonderfully productive day and as beautiful as I'm sure Alexandria is, I was glad for the day off.

The Ship Cap'n

Dancin (No'oros!)

Peeps

Moustafa the Birthday Child and his Cake

Dinner after. So good.

Someone else's dinner. It was also good.

This brings us to today, phew I'm finally caught up. I woke up early for some reason and have spent all day reading and/or writing this verdamt post and preparing an itinerary for my trip to Luxor and Aswan next week (Mom and Dad, please contact me). Inshallah something here was entertaining enough for you to read, at the very least I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Ma Salama