July 29, 2007
Yesterday we visited the Darus-Salam bookshop in Nasr City/Madeenat an-Nasr, Cairo.
Though Darus-Salam is a well-known bookshop, taxi drivers do not generally know its location. It is situated at the end of mustafa nuhas in one of the side streets.
I bought a few books; enough to overweight our luggage and empty my pocket, wa lillaahil Hamd 
.
July 20, 2007
This man (in the picture) walks through the streets of Cairo yelling ‘bikyaa’ which in `ammiyyah means ‘antiques/old things’. Poverty is rife here, and even in the afternoon blazing heat, the poor old man is on the streets trying to earn a living.
I find the atmosphere here very lively and interesting. Yes, there is alot of pollution, congestion and dirt in Cairo but the city is alive
July 19, 2007
Guess what I found in Siraag Mall (5/10 min walk from our flat):
Yummy
July 8, 2007
A short conversation between me and an Egyptian officer at Cairo Airport. He glances at my passport and then …
Officer: Your nationality?
Me: I’m British
Officer: Your original nationality?
Me: British
Officer: (getting angry) No your original?
Me: (Thinking ‘what?’) I’m British
Officer: Your parents nationality?
Me: British ( And why is this relevant?)
Officer: Your grandparents?
Me: BRITISH
Officer: NO your original?
Me: (Aah I get it – I give up) Indian
Officer: Khalaas
…
Born and Bred in Britian, why can’t I be British? Is it because my skin isn’t white, or is it because I am a Muslim? I don’t act, dress, talk like and Indian and yes, I do cook mostly Indian food but come on, my favourite meal is fish fingers, chips, mushpeas and beans!
…
And then as we are leaving the airport this guy comes up to us, ‘What’s your nationality?’ … `Ermm we are British’ … With anger he then says: ’Me got American Passport but me Egyptian’ with an ironic smile. People like that are just best ignored.
Thus from now on, my husband just says we are from India, at least it gives us 5x cheaper rates 
. Huh.
June 12, 2007
Abou El Sid: This would be Al-Zaieem’s choice if he was in “impress the girlfriend” mode. This relatively new restaurant/coffee shop is in the same space in Zamalek that used to house Zinc and La Charmerie. The latest incarnation of the place has been done up to look like something out of Layali al Helmia. Lots of low light and cushions and inlaid brass lamps. The menu is Middle Eastern and the sheesha is excellent—although it’s hard for us sheesha purists not to roll our eyes at a tobacco selection that includes cantaloupe, grape and cappuccino flavors. There’s also the added bonus of people-watching among the Cairo elite. For Al Zaieem’s money, there’s nothing quite like the sight of rich girls in leather pants air-kissing–although don’t let your girlfriend catch you lingering too long. Be warned though: You WILL spend at least £E 75 per person for the full drinks-to-dessert experience.
Attaturk: A dark horse contender. This Turkish restaurant, with branches just off Shehab Street in Mohandessin and off Al-Thawra Street in Heliopolis, serves consistently unique and interesting dishes with a real sense of style. In Ramadan, they offer an open buffet for a flat £E 49. Staff there make a point of stressing that the buffet fee includes all taxes and service charges—no hidden expenses or running up the bill.
El-Tekia: An old favorite. Pure home food—with extra semna. El-Tekia is a cozy little place with a branch tucked away in Dokki, and another on Hegaz Street in Heliopolis, that specializes in classic Egyptian dishes. But Al-Zaieem isn’t sure if this would be his choice for a special Iftar with the girlfriend. The décor is relatively spartan, and the authenticity of the food might be a drawback in these circumstances. Somehow, eating the exact same food your mom makes might take away from the specialness of the evening. El-Tekia is definitely your most budget-friendly option—as two people can gorge themselves for less than £E 50 total.
In all cases: calling in advance and making a reservation is strongly advised.
Abou El Sid: 735-9640
Tekkia: 349-6673
Attaturk: 347-5135If you’re interested in doing any further research, Al-Zaieem can also recommend a pair of websites to aid your quest. http://www.cairodining.com contains an extensive list of different restaurants, organized by location, price range and type of food. http://www.layalyramadan.com allows visitors to reserve spaces in one of a dozen different suhour tents around the city.
http://www.cairolive.com/newcairolive/zaieem/al-zaieem3.html
Also link to places to eat at in Nasr City, Cairo:
