Winter in Egypt, 2024 - Walking through the Neighborhood

We spent part of the afternoon at the home of friends in the neighborhood to install curtains in the bedroom that we remodeled last year.  We are going to go back with my hacksaw and cut that curtain rod down to size next week.

(Photo from last year on the left, this year on the right.)

Linda made an excellent choice of fabric for this girl's room decor, don't you think? We took measurements in 2023 so that she could work on the project in MN. The fabric selection and all the sewing were done during the time we were in MN. So happy that it fits nicely over the window.

  

  

 

After we finished visiting we headed home, taking a small detour to visit the neighborhood "Smart Mart" that we blogged about six years ago.  They have the largest selection of vegetables near us.  We passed a much smaller market along the way where the owner was just putting out some fresh tomatoes; I couldn't resist taking a picture.

  

 

We were looking for broccoli and found it at the Smart Mart.  This handsome head weighs in at over two pounds and cost 63 cents.  

 

Reading the text at that six year old post, I noticed that most vegetables were then selling for 3 to 5 EGP per kilo versus 10 to 25 EGP now.  No wonder we hear so much discussion of high prices among people here.  

People at home often ask if we feel safe in Cairo.  Well, of course.  It's nothing like Chicago, Philadelphia or even Minneapolis.  People let their small children go out alone to play; our friend's children walk us out to the main road even after dark without a worry.

There are hazards, of course.  Traffic is the worst of them.  Cars frequently go the wrong way in what appears to be a one-way area; they pass remarkably close to other cars and pedestrians; crossing the street is an exciting challenge. We refer to crossing the street as "dodge and weave". And any vehicle can weave in and out of spots you wouldn't even try to negotiate in the US.

This young man, holding some boards in place in the trunk of his father's car is probably taking more risk than the average Minnesotan is used to nowadays.

Another hazard is ongoing construction.  We passed a building going up nearby.  Watching the load of re-bar being hoisted up to the top, we stopped and gave it plenty of clearance. "Always look up." someone once said to me. (Thanks, Aliza. I know it's not what you meant but it works for situations like this also.)

  

 

You can watch the re-bar load come off the ground and start to ascend on this brief YouTube video.  The rigger has a bit of trouble when a few extra pieces catch onto the load but the man handled the situation deftly and without injury.

Some years ago, I recorded this video showing one of the small cranes that lift this kind of load. Watch below to see the raising of loads of sand to a high floor.