Today I set out on several small missions in the neighborhood and was more or less successful. The biggest success (proof to come later) was the promise of a no-charge repair to my prescription sunglasses frames. They will be ready in three days, on Monday. Since the price is right I could hardly argue with the schedule. Given that the shop was staffed by one young woman and had no apparent repair facilities, I expect all such tasks are done elsewhere. After I left the glasses I spotted about three more eyeglasses shops en route to my destination, the Diwa Bookstore. I also successfully negotiated the purchase of two local English-language newspapers (more on that later).
Diwa is a fan-shaped bookstore on a corner, with about half to two-thirds of its offerings in English. They offer American and British writers as well as Egyptians and others in translation. I was impressed by the breadth of the offerings as well as how current they are. Almost all the books are paperback and perhaps printed locally. There were two that interested me but the printing in about 9-pt type was not going to work. The prices are perhaps a little less than they would be at retail at home. In the middle Diwa has a small café where I got a latte and a cinnamon cookie and read the papers I had bought. Outside is a restaurant that made me think of Oliver. As I took out my phone to snap a photo of it a heavily garbed woman who was sitting nearby scooted inside.
The Daily News appears to be sort of a Chamber of Commerce rag reporting on everything Egyptian and economic--strength of the pound, wedding expos, various development projects, a possible visit with German officials, and delays in signing agreements for wind farms, etc. Most of it very rah-rah. The articles about the recent "surge" in tourism caught my eye. The headlines made it sound great, but the facts were less amazing. From a 40% occupancy rate a year ago, the occupancy rate for peak season got as high as 55% this year. Now, granted this is a boost but I would not use the word "surge." Such as it is, the growth is coming from Asia--principally China and Japan. The market for European tourists remains very weak, as does the Russian market (thanks largely to the airplane crash of tourists from Sharm El-Sheikh). My museum guide Nadir told me the Chinese visitors in particular come on very inexpensive packages that include only a couple of major sites and they spend the rest of the time in their hotels. I presume he learned this from other free-lance guides. My thought was that if the hotel was reasonably comfortable, it might be a nice vacation.
The other paper is a weekly called Al-Ahram. It seems to offer a broader scope of coverage, including international news and sports. There are several by-lined op-eds, including one claiming Egypt will be vital to Trump. Hope springs eternal, perhaps. One item that made both papers was a recent one-day visit by Lionel Messi, the darling of Barcelona football. He was here to promote a "Tour and Cure" campaign focused on Hepatitis C. The idea is to combine a vacation with getting treated in Egypt for Hep C. There is also a "Living" section which this week includes a Moroccan chicken tagine recipe worth trying.
While I was out walking, both the nearby British high school and several primary schools let out for the day. The high school students seemed to have a modest uniform that includes a sweater. The younger children were all picked up by an adult and were not in uniform. Their school days end about 1:00, which is the usual time for lunch.
Nearby I noticed this car with its windshield wipers pulled out, as Vermonters do in anticipation of snow and ice. Then I started noticing others that had done the same thing. I am still puzzling as to why someone would do this here. Any guesses?
I braved a small dark shop that had some yarn skeins in evidence--also sells towels, baby clothes, buttons, and socks. The elderly man sitting behind the counter tried to help me find knitting markers for Denise but we settled on some old-fashioned diaper safety pins with the fat plastic heads in a variety of colors. More than she will ever need for $1. Then he practiced his English a little with me and seemed pleased for the opportunity. The darkness of the shop is typical. Usually when a customer enters someone turns on a light, but not this time.
Stopped in a store called "Gourmet" for a fresh loaf of fabulous seeded bread and beetroot hummus and salmon spread. The hummus looks like raspberry gelato and tastes great on the bread. Smoked salmon is very popular here but I have not yet discovered where it comes from. Place of origin is not on the food package labels in English.
The florist bundled up a bunch of purple mums and tied a matching bow on it. I suspect they can grow flowers here in Egypt but I don't know where they get the flowers. I know Israel produces quite a lot and sells through the Amsterdam markets, but not sure they export to Egypt. They had tulips, stock, lots of roses, mums of different kinds but only in purple. I picked the bunch that looked most fresh.
My last stop was for street food in the form of a roasted yam. Mr. Potato Man would not let me take his picture but he was willing to let me take a photo of his cart. The aroma of the wood-roasted potatoes fills the intersection and he does a brisk business. I tried to buy one potato but the minimum apparently is 2 for 10 pounds. I could eat about half of one. These are yellow, sweet and quite starchy. My thought is to buy several and mash them with excessive amounts of butter for a really yummy treat.
Tonight we are part of a group having a special chef's dinner at the Inner-Continental Hotel. One of Denise's colleagues knows the chef. Personally, I am hoping for a display of top-notch Egyptian dishes. NTFII.
Meanwhile waiting for a wine delivery. The Magic of Egypt strikes again.
Diwa is a fan-shaped bookstore on a corner, with about half to two-thirds of its offerings in English. They offer American and British writers as well as Egyptians and others in translation. I was impressed by the breadth of the offerings as well as how current they are. Almost all the books are paperback and perhaps printed locally. There were two that interested me but the printing in about 9-pt type was not going to work. The prices are perhaps a little less than they would be at retail at home. In the middle Diwa has a small café where I got a latte and a cinnamon cookie and read the papers I had bought. Outside is a restaurant that made me think of Oliver. As I took out my phone to snap a photo of it a heavily garbed woman who was sitting nearby scooted inside.The Daily News appears to be sort of a Chamber of Commerce rag reporting on everything Egyptian and economic--strength of the pound, wedding expos, various development projects, a possible visit with German officials, and delays in signing agreements for wind farms, etc. Most of it very rah-rah. The articles about the recent "surge" in tourism caught my eye. The headlines made it sound great, but the facts were less amazing. From a 40% occupancy rate a year ago, the occupancy rate for peak season got as high as 55% this year. Now, granted this is a boost but I would not use the word "surge." Such as it is, the growth is coming from Asia--principally China and Japan. The market for European tourists remains very weak, as does the Russian market (thanks largely to the airplane crash of tourists from Sharm El-Sheikh). My museum guide Nadir told me the Chinese visitors in particular come on very inexpensive packages that include only a couple of major sites and they spend the rest of the time in their hotels. I presume he learned this from other free-lance guides. My thought was that if the hotel was reasonably comfortable, it might be a nice vacation.
The other paper is a weekly called Al-Ahram. It seems to offer a broader scope of coverage, including international news and sports. There are several by-lined op-eds, including one claiming Egypt will be vital to Trump. Hope springs eternal, perhaps. One item that made both papers was a recent one-day visit by Lionel Messi, the darling of Barcelona football. He was here to promote a "Tour and Cure" campaign focused on Hepatitis C. The idea is to combine a vacation with getting treated in Egypt for Hep C. There is also a "Living" section which this week includes a Moroccan chicken tagine recipe worth trying.
While I was out walking, both the nearby British high school and several primary schools let out for the day. The high school students seemed to have a modest uniform that includes a sweater. The younger children were all picked up by an adult and were not in uniform. Their school days end about 1:00, which is the usual time for lunch.
I braved a small dark shop that had some yarn skeins in evidence--also sells towels, baby clothes, buttons, and socks. The elderly man sitting behind the counter tried to help me find knitting markers for Denise but we settled on some old-fashioned diaper safety pins with the fat plastic heads in a variety of colors. More than she will ever need for $1. Then he practiced his English a little with me and seemed pleased for the opportunity. The darkness of the shop is typical. Usually when a customer enters someone turns on a light, but not this time.
Stopped in a store called "Gourmet" for a fresh loaf of fabulous seeded bread and beetroot hummus and salmon spread. The hummus looks like raspberry gelato and tastes great on the bread. Smoked salmon is very popular here but I have not yet discovered where it comes from. Place of origin is not on the food package labels in English.
The florist bundled up a bunch of purple mums and tied a matching bow on it. I suspect they can grow flowers here in Egypt but I don't know where they get the flowers. I know Israel produces quite a lot and sells through the Amsterdam markets, but not sure they export to Egypt. They had tulips, stock, lots of roses, mums of different kinds but only in purple. I picked the bunch that looked most fresh.
My last stop was for street food in the form of a roasted yam. Mr. Potato Man would not let me take his picture but he was willing to let me take a photo of his cart. The aroma of the wood-roasted potatoes fills the intersection and he does a brisk business. I tried to buy one potato but the minimum apparently is 2 for 10 pounds. I could eat about half of one. These are yellow, sweet and quite starchy. My thought is to buy several and mash them with excessive amounts of butter for a really yummy treat.Tonight we are part of a group having a special chef's dinner at the Inner-Continental Hotel. One of Denise's colleagues knows the chef. Personally, I am hoping for a display of top-notch Egyptian dishes. NTFII.
Meanwhile waiting for a wine delivery. The Magic of Egypt strikes again.
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