Monday, March 31, 2014

SnapShot: shady street vendors

On the left see how they've pulled the banner out to make shade over the sidewalk? Pepsi was never so refreshing. Genius. 

SnapShot: xmas tree of the fish shop

This would be funny to hear: "yea, meet my in dokki square by the fish shop with the christmas tree on the pole"It would work any time of the year.




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

separate your garbage campaign

Separate your trash to deal with the garbage problem.
Food in one bag and the rest in another bag.



Thoughts on: Garbage problems around Soliman Gohar square, Dokki

So, lately, I have once again been baffled by something which is total normal in Egypt. 
Consistently for the past few weeks, everyday that I go out around 8am, I see at least three garbage trucks picking up the garbage at Soliman Gohar (SG) Square. 
SG square is a place where all the garbage gets deposited (not in bins, on the floor, taking up two or three parking spots) from the surrounding market place and businesses. Usually there is a bit of a lag between the accumulation and the pick up. Not so anymore! But now, we have not one company cleaning up, we have TWO!

From what I've gather based on different local nearby merchants, one company is the government entity (or governorate, not sure) where the workers get paid peanuts (300 EGP/month?). this money gets collected as part of the water bill (which for our 5-story building is about 250 LE per month (including both) according to my cheap-o landlady). 

The private company that picks up the garbage and does a good job is the one were each apartment unit or business has to pay about 15 LE per month for their private services. That's the service traditionally associated with the zabaleen in manshiet nassr (I went to see an exorcism there in 2011). They are also generally considered very efficient. This has been extensively covered by Western media.

Anyway, the point being, we went from having not enough garbage pick up, to TOO much garbage collection. And still no garbage bin. 

Finally, a nice quote from my favorite NGO operating in Egypt, GIZ:
"The institutions responsible for waste collection and disposal are unable to cope with the complexity of the task in hand despite international support. There is no legal framework or strategic planning and responsibilities and tasks are not clearly allocated. The sector is significantly underfinanced and has an enormous need for long-term investments and services."


That's the zabaleen truck. pilled high. probably super dangerous for the roads too. and therefore perhaps TOO "efficient". 

Here, we have a view of the square, with one truck on the left, and two on the right, and one behind us (above). Normally the garbage is piled up in the center of the photo where the three men are standing side by side.  
This is from a different date than the two photos above. same location. "The truck has become the bin..." I like the tree/shrub sticking out of the back of the truck. 



Photos: Exorcism in Manshiet Nasr

These are from 2011.
There are not actual exorcism photos here, just photos of where they take place. 

Nice drawings on the cliff at the entrance

the two tablets of the ten commandments

Entrance to the church before it goes in to the side of the cliff.

JEEZUS

During mass

I like how the crosses also support the ceiling. 


after mass. when the exorcisms took place. I didn't take photos of it out of respect!

A chat about religion lead to an emotional hug out.

Notice the Egyptian flag. We are Copts, but we're still Egyptian too! 

The exorcisms were actually quite powerful. Although I knew they weren't real, it did feel like something was going on. Definitely something interesting to witness at some point. the power of faith. 

SnapShot: cool door in garden city

Super nice door. I should take a better photo of just the door and just the facade. Located on abu el din gamal mohsen street. by Falak café. 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

SnapShot: Doll head


Found in Soliman Gohar Street today in front of an antique shop.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

SnapShot: birdie on my computer in class

SnapShot: slogans on the walls of Cairo University

The more your erase, the more we'll write.
Down, down, with the military regime.

Congratulations on the new paint.
:p

What good humor they have.

Update:

on the left, it says "SISI or CC" kofta. in reference to the army aids kofta debacle. 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

New Word: Polistratics

POLISTRATICS: noun describing military involvement in civilian politics.

Memories: coffee making in cairo






Final result
And the source of it all... Brazil!