This weekend was a 'long weekend' for us as school was closed for two days for the presidential elections. We think school took the pro-active decision to close as many workers would have otherwise struggled to get to polling stations to 'use their voice' - it didn't feel like the decision was anything to do with concerns about security or safety. We were pleased that the whole lead-up to the presidential elections had been peaceful and this boded well for a productive election. A number of friends had decided to use the long weekend as an opportunity to get out of Cairo. Much as we felt we needed (and deserved!) a break from it all too, there were a few things we needed to be in Cairo to do, and so we felt that a relaxing long weekend here would still do us good. Little did we realise how busy it was going to turn out to be!
We got home from school on Tuesday and spent some time mooching around the apartment - not wanting to launch in to our long weekend just yet. At about 5pm we were on the phone to SayNo and checking something on the internet for her when we had a powercut. We promised to call her back when it was restored, but after 15 minutes we saw that it wasn't just a blip (we ended up loading the USB dongle on the laptop to finish our search for her!) Two hours later and the light outside was fading, meaning we could no longer read and play guitar as we had been doing to fill our time (fustratingly we couldn't use Skype to call MummyP on her birthday or DaddyB to see how he was doing). We decided we needed to take action - out to dinner it was!
We assumed that walking a block or so towards the Degla area we would see the power back on and have a choice of places to eat, but no such luck. It seemed that the power cut was very sporadic; affecting all the buildings in our street and about half the buildings in Degla with no particular pattern. The first two restaurants we planned to go to were both out of power and so we went to Ceilo Lindo with SayNo and the Prebbles. We often Otlob from there but had eaten there a few nights ago for the first time and found it to be alright. How wrong we were! It was busier than before (probably because the powercut had reduced everyone's eating out choices) but still not significantly busy. Yet it took them 20 minutes to bring us our drinks and over an hour to bring us our food. I had to send back a plate of rice they had served me ten minutes before anyone else because it was now cold, and they even managed after all that time to miss one meal off the order! We had a nice time chattering together as we haven't caught up properly for ages, but we didn't leave a tip!
On our way out of the restuarant we had a call from our agent where we found out that someone else had already expressed interest in our 'first choice' apartment. This was really fustrating, not only because I could have called him earlier in the day, but also because the message from him was unclear about what was now happening; had the landlady agreed to let the apartment to someone else or not, what was the actual rental price she was looking for?
All this created huge anxiety which we blogged about here. Overnight, and on waking on Wednesday morning, we were unsure about what was happening but couldn't distract ourselves from it. We finally have a call from our agent and manage to work things out, which we blogged about here.
With a contract and the keys to our new place in our pocket (!) we were all set for Wednesday evening - a 'pirate felucca party'! It was SayNo's birthday and she wanted a fancy dress pirate-themed felucca party and we were only too happy to oblige!
We spend sunset on the felucca enjoying some cider and beers in our fancy dress and bunting-decorated boat. We like to think that the felucca sailor enjoyed the evening too; looking on at these crazy westerners and getting a can of Sprite served in a pirate-theme paper cup. Back at SayNo's apartment we ordered some food in for dinner and then enjoyed two amazing deserts; warm brownies with vanilla frosting and then a Captain Basboussa cake that we had designed (a large circular basboussa with a pirate face cut out of it!). It was late when we finally wandered home, but we were glad to have had such a positive afternoon when 24-hours ago things looked quite different.
After a hectic first day off we decided to have a restful Thursday morning so attempted a lie-in. But we were soon up and looking again at pictures of the new flat. Since visiting it again yesterday we'd become really excited and having signed it feels like we 'know where we are going' now. It was hard to have a restful morning when actually all we wanted to do was plan the move! So we started to think of where our things would go in the new place and what things we might need to buy. There isn't a desk in the new flat, and the dining room table we want to keep as a dining room, so we decided to have a pre-purchase look at a few stores at what desks we could get. It was just before lunch when we got in a cab and headed to Carrefour.
We started with getting lunch at the food hall there and it was just so nice to be out and about. With everything going on this year we haven't been going out so much and this last week especially we haven't had much time to ourselves - so a trip out together was really good. After lunch we browsed all the stores looking for Eurovision outfits (fancy dressis Eurovision-themed next weekend) and found a few options. We also found a general clothes store that had a really good baby range upstairs, so we'll definitly visit there again.
In Carrefour itself the desks were dissapointing; either something cheap and flimsy or something the size and look of a company executive! Oh well - at least we gave it a go! With hindsight we shoud have quit shopping at this point, but we though 'oh, let's just see if there is anything we need'. We knew we didn't need a big shop, but managed to find four things to buy. The queues were pretty big, so we had the good idea to get round to the far end of the shop and the 'ten items of less' tills. We spent 15 minutes in a gathering (not queue) of people who all had the maximum ten items (one man had ten boxes of water - surely that's cheating). We left empty handed and pissed off.
So to try and make the trip worthwhile we return to some of the potential Eurovision outfits, only to find on trying them on that they aren't so great after all. I don't think any of the dresses I was trying on would have suited me anyway, but my growing bump definitly wasn't helping and nothing worked. We abandone shopping and head home feeling grumpy and tired (well, I feel like that!).
After a few hours recovering from a truely bad shopping trip I head to the Grand Mall to give it a go. I scout every shop on every floor and come up with a shortlist of possibilities. We decide on a dress and finally can say two things - we know what we're going to dress-up as for the Eurovision fancy dress (after being undecided for weeks!), and that you _can_ buy everything you ever need from the Grand Mall!
Surely today should be a rest day, but no we've decided to head up to Rehab this Friday morning. We've been tipped off that there is a garage sale taking place with lots of second-hand baby and kids stuff so we are going to meet our friends Adam and Lorna with their daughter Alya and go along together. It's nice walking along the green walkways and quiet streets with the buggy in Rehab, but we know we've made the right choice to stay in Maadi next year.
We end up with a set of large foam mats that can be used to cushion the floor in the nursery or living room, a play mat, bouncer, cot mobile and some newborn clothes. We've also paid for a great looking cot that we'll pick up in a few weeks time. With all this baby stuff things are starting to get real!! We manage to chat to some other parents at the sale who give us various tips about giving birth out here and having a baby in Egypt and in Maadi.It's after prayers by the time we can call a taxi to get home and we've been out a lot longer than we thought!
Back in Maadi we relax at home for a bit before heading to the BCA where we need to make the public draw for our Eurovision sweepstake competition. we have a few drinks along with the draw and then visit Kimo on the way home to buy some fresh veg for dinner. Tomorrow will be our day off!
Or maybe not (!) as we get a text from a family friend, Hugh, who is in Cairo for a few days as he is reporting for the BBC on the elections. Today, Saturday, is his last full day and although we'd love a total rest day we decide to head downtown to meet him. It's always good to meet Hugh and catch up on the goings on and rumours that can abound in this city. We decide that a taxi will be a less tiring way of getting to Midan talat Harb, but not with the taxi we manage to pick up. He really doesn't seem to know the way downtown and so keeps checking with people. We then has the brilliant idea to try the AC in the taxi, but after a few minutes with the air pumping and the windows rolled up it seems that the only air being sent in our direction was heated! we didn't want to be rude, but having the heater on in a closed vehical while it's high 30's outside is not a good thing! We meet at Cafe Riche which is on Talat Harb, a main street running east from Tahrir Square. It's a great place with some classic furniture and old photos on the wall. The table cloths look like original Stella ones that have been washed and used so many times that the table shape is permanently imprinted in their hanging. It's great to pick over the happenings of the last few days in the election and afterwards we walk towards the old AUC building checking out some of the new grafitti on the walls.
So although we tried to fit in some relaxing time this weekend, it turned out to be a very packed long weekend! It was all great fun though and we wouldn't have wanted to miss out on the parties, gatherings and exploring as that's what life here should be all about. Whilst all this excitment would make next weekend the ideal weekend to plan 'nothing' we kind of have the opposite in mind.... Next weekend in Eurovision-Jungee!
We got home from school on Tuesday and spent some time mooching around the apartment - not wanting to launch in to our long weekend just yet. At about 5pm we were on the phone to SayNo and checking something on the internet for her when we had a powercut. We promised to call her back when it was restored, but after 15 minutes we saw that it wasn't just a blip (we ended up loading the USB dongle on the laptop to finish our search for her!) Two hours later and the light outside was fading, meaning we could no longer read and play guitar as we had been doing to fill our time (fustratingly we couldn't use Skype to call MummyP on her birthday or DaddyB to see how he was doing). We decided we needed to take action - out to dinner it was!
We assumed that walking a block or so towards the Degla area we would see the power back on and have a choice of places to eat, but no such luck. It seemed that the power cut was very sporadic; affecting all the buildings in our street and about half the buildings in Degla with no particular pattern. The first two restaurants we planned to go to were both out of power and so we went to Ceilo Lindo with SayNo and the Prebbles. We often Otlob from there but had eaten there a few nights ago for the first time and found it to be alright. How wrong we were! It was busier than before (probably because the powercut had reduced everyone's eating out choices) but still not significantly busy. Yet it took them 20 minutes to bring us our drinks and over an hour to bring us our food. I had to send back a plate of rice they had served me ten minutes before anyone else because it was now cold, and they even managed after all that time to miss one meal off the order! We had a nice time chattering together as we haven't caught up properly for ages, but we didn't leave a tip!
On our way out of the restuarant we had a call from our agent where we found out that someone else had already expressed interest in our 'first choice' apartment. This was really fustrating, not only because I could have called him earlier in the day, but also because the message from him was unclear about what was now happening; had the landlady agreed to let the apartment to someone else or not, what was the actual rental price she was looking for?
All this created huge anxiety which we blogged about here. Overnight, and on waking on Wednesday morning, we were unsure about what was happening but couldn't distract ourselves from it. We finally have a call from our agent and manage to work things out, which we blogged about here.
With a contract and the keys to our new place in our pocket (!) we were all set for Wednesday evening - a 'pirate felucca party'! It was SayNo's birthday and she wanted a fancy dress pirate-themed felucca party and we were only too happy to oblige!
We spend sunset on the felucca enjoying some cider and beers in our fancy dress and bunting-decorated boat. We like to think that the felucca sailor enjoyed the evening too; looking on at these crazy westerners and getting a can of Sprite served in a pirate-theme paper cup. Back at SayNo's apartment we ordered some food in for dinner and then enjoyed two amazing deserts; warm brownies with vanilla frosting and then a Captain Basboussa cake that we had designed (a large circular basboussa with a pirate face cut out of it!). It was late when we finally wandered home, but we were glad to have had such a positive afternoon when 24-hours ago things looked quite different.
After a hectic first day off we decided to have a restful Thursday morning so attempted a lie-in. But we were soon up and looking again at pictures of the new flat. Since visiting it again yesterday we'd become really excited and having signed it feels like we 'know where we are going' now. It was hard to have a restful morning when actually all we wanted to do was plan the move! So we started to think of where our things would go in the new place and what things we might need to buy. There isn't a desk in the new flat, and the dining room table we want to keep as a dining room, so we decided to have a pre-purchase look at a few stores at what desks we could get. It was just before lunch when we got in a cab and headed to Carrefour.
We started with getting lunch at the food hall there and it was just so nice to be out and about. With everything going on this year we haven't been going out so much and this last week especially we haven't had much time to ourselves - so a trip out together was really good. After lunch we browsed all the stores looking for Eurovision outfits (fancy dressis Eurovision-themed next weekend) and found a few options. We also found a general clothes store that had a really good baby range upstairs, so we'll definitly visit there again.
In Carrefour itself the desks were dissapointing; either something cheap and flimsy or something the size and look of a company executive! Oh well - at least we gave it a go! With hindsight we shoud have quit shopping at this point, but we though 'oh, let's just see if there is anything we need'. We knew we didn't need a big shop, but managed to find four things to buy. The queues were pretty big, so we had the good idea to get round to the far end of the shop and the 'ten items of less' tills. We spent 15 minutes in a gathering (not queue) of people who all had the maximum ten items (one man had ten boxes of water - surely that's cheating). We left empty handed and pissed off.
So to try and make the trip worthwhile we return to some of the potential Eurovision outfits, only to find on trying them on that they aren't so great after all. I don't think any of the dresses I was trying on would have suited me anyway, but my growing bump definitly wasn't helping and nothing worked. We abandone shopping and head home feeling grumpy and tired (well, I feel like that!).
After a few hours recovering from a truely bad shopping trip I head to the Grand Mall to give it a go. I scout every shop on every floor and come up with a shortlist of possibilities. We decide on a dress and finally can say two things - we know what we're going to dress-up as for the Eurovision fancy dress (after being undecided for weeks!), and that you _can_ buy everything you ever need from the Grand Mall!
Surely today should be a rest day, but no we've decided to head up to Rehab this Friday morning. We've been tipped off that there is a garage sale taking place with lots of second-hand baby and kids stuff so we are going to meet our friends Adam and Lorna with their daughter Alya and go along together. It's nice walking along the green walkways and quiet streets with the buggy in Rehab, but we know we've made the right choice to stay in Maadi next year.
We end up with a set of large foam mats that can be used to cushion the floor in the nursery or living room, a play mat, bouncer, cot mobile and some newborn clothes. We've also paid for a great looking cot that we'll pick up in a few weeks time. With all this baby stuff things are starting to get real!! We manage to chat to some other parents at the sale who give us various tips about giving birth out here and having a baby in Egypt and in Maadi.It's after prayers by the time we can call a taxi to get home and we've been out a lot longer than we thought!
Back in Maadi we relax at home for a bit before heading to the BCA where we need to make the public draw for our Eurovision sweepstake competition. we have a few drinks along with the draw and then visit Kimo on the way home to buy some fresh veg for dinner. Tomorrow will be our day off!
Or maybe not (!) as we get a text from a family friend, Hugh, who is in Cairo for a few days as he is reporting for the BBC on the elections. Today, Saturday, is his last full day and although we'd love a total rest day we decide to head downtown to meet him. It's always good to meet Hugh and catch up on the goings on and rumours that can abound in this city. We decide that a taxi will be a less tiring way of getting to Midan talat Harb, but not with the taxi we manage to pick up. He really doesn't seem to know the way downtown and so keeps checking with people. We then has the brilliant idea to try the AC in the taxi, but after a few minutes with the air pumping and the windows rolled up it seems that the only air being sent in our direction was heated! we didn't want to be rude, but having the heater on in a closed vehical while it's high 30's outside is not a good thing! We meet at Cafe Riche which is on Talat Harb, a main street running east from Tahrir Square. It's a great place with some classic furniture and old photos on the wall. The table cloths look like original Stella ones that have been washed and used so many times that the table shape is permanently imprinted in their hanging. It's great to pick over the happenings of the last few days in the election and afterwards we walk towards the old AUC building checking out some of the new grafitti on the walls.
So although we tried to fit in some relaxing time this weekend, it turned out to be a very packed long weekend! It was all great fun though and we wouldn't have wanted to miss out on the parties, gatherings and exploring as that's what life here should be all about. Whilst all this excitment would make next weekend the ideal weekend to plan 'nothing' we kind of have the opposite in mind.... Next weekend in Eurovision-Jungee!
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