Lufthansa bike

SnapShot: Urban fail

A building in dokki by misaha and pyramiza. A wall at least ten stories high with not a single window. would it have killed them to let a little light in?
Or is this the perfect place for a rock climbing wall?

Yemeni breakfast

Yum yum, not a bad way to start the gastronomical day, with Yemeni omelet and beans.

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. 

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. 

SnapShot: The return of Morsi

In the form of a cafe named moursi Abu al Abbas! Believe it!

SnapShot: Construction site à la egyptienne

This is what we call here engineers doing engineering work

What they are doing here, in both photos, involves using those three poles connected in a teepee form, to start laying the foundation. The three poles suspend a pulley which connects a large cylinder. A machine raises and drops the cylinder (gravity) causing the cylinder to pound the earth until it gets deep enough and reaches the bedrock (I'm assuming). I'm not sure if they pour cement afterwards or just note the depth.
It's pretty fun to watch these guys work. So far, I've only seen them work on the edges of this property, starting the the foreground, working down the left side of this picture, to the back (in the picture above, not sure about below).

Update: of the construction site shown above

Taken on March 28th. Foundation coming along well. 

Site #2

The first photo was in dokki across from the noran hotel by ghir zaman.

The second was on Mohei eldeen by behoos. 

The first site caused the death of about five old trees which were cut down after the earth was removed from next to them for the foundation. 

These were taken on Sunday February 23, 2014.

Update: taken on March 5, 2014

"Allah! Allah" as they exert their strength to move the motor. 

Same guys as above. Calling to join in the fun. taken on March 18th 2014

Site #3 

Taken on March 28th near Midan el Geish. Again, notice the outer rebar of the foundation. 

Photo: Chair with a cool penchant

Keeping the parking spot with some creative means. two weeks ago, on Haroun street in Dokki

SnapShot: me on France24

I stood by for about 5 minutes, watching them do the different takes. Finally it got boring to watch, so I left, and I guess that was the best take! this is on Dokki street. in the same report, he also interview some merchants I know in Soliman Gohar!

Photo: Pink Scooter

This probably belongs to a guy

Photo: Mechanic Shop

Photo: Mechanic Shop 2

Photo:

Photo: Playful kitty

Photos: Grilling Scenes

SnapShot: water crisis, eh?

The fountain on Batal Ahmed elAziz street, pumping at full blast for the stand-still traffic

Water crisis, ethiopia dam?
Doesn't show...

Photo: Civilized line at Dokki Metro

SnapShots: Cement Cranes and Moons, Dokki

taken around 2:45AM  2013/05/24 after a night out of billards with E and a nice talk with some Syrians at the new shawerma Syriana place on tahrir street.

The noisy work continues on Okba street.

It looked very nice in real life.

SnapShots: ginormous bugs of Dokki

They don't look that big in these photos, but man they were huge! Big enough to make a 6 foot guy jump from his seat!

Cockroach at the stella bar . 

did you know? 8. Cockroaches are fast!
Anyone who shares their home with cockroaches will tell you how fast they scurry for cover when you flip on the light switch. But when I say they're fast, I mean measurably fast. Cockroaches detect approaching threats by sensing changes in air currents. The fastest start time clocked by a cockroach was just 8.2 milliseconds after it sensed a puff of air on its rear end. Once all six legs are in motion, a cockroach can sprint at speeds of 80 centimeters per second. And they're elusive, too, with the ability to turn on a dime while in full stride.

Tarantula in Basha Sabry street. It wouldn't budge even though I kicked a few pebbles towards it.

SnapShot: Giant Cement Pump

Last night in Dokki, cement being pumped up to continue construction. This building is really rising! I hope it has parking so that all of its inhabitants don't clog up Tahrir street.