Voting in Egypt

This goes in the “what we take for granted" department, or what we take “mostly” for granted ... since the US system isn’t perfect either.

Things are going pretty smooth with the voting, and people are turning out, lots of people are turning out. I was gone for several days and just returned to work on this second day of voting. I work with many Egyptians and they are all talking about it.

An Egyptian man here about my age, a professional man told me he was never encouraged to vote before and he said it didn’t really matter anyway because it was already determined who would win and what would happen. He said “this is my first time” and he showed his inked finger to prove it. I have heard these sentiments, these words before in print but to hear him say it with a smile on his face brought a smile to my face. 

Contrasts

People often talk in terms of contrasts. This or that place is “a city of contrasts” and Egypt is no different.

Wealth – poverty, violence - restraint, strength – weakness…garbage strewn streets – peaceful green gardens, jeweled-collared poodles and street dogs.  We seem to understand things better when they are placed against their opposites, black against white. Especially things and places that are complicated. I think most of us live in the middle somewhere, trying to make sense of it all.

The news here has afforded us all so many images of struggle and protest and dreams. Here, we sit anxiously in front of our computers becoming news and image junkies because although we are not experiencing Tahrir Square in Tahrir Square we are close enough to be experiencing it in our guts and it gives us pause.

 I wish I could capture some of what’s happening in the streets with my camera (don’t worry Paul – I will stay home) but as a matter of contrast I offer pictures of our more mundane life on the fringes. Life goes on for most Egyptians and us visitors but we are watching and hoping for great things and more peaceful times.

Soon please – all this uncertainty is not good for my liver!

Alexandria to the north

Alexandria to the south

Alexandria on the beach

Maadi flower pot tins

On the road to the mall

Cat of the day

Alexandria

I didn't realize how happy it would make me to see the sea again. We took a work trip by train to Damanhour in the Delta and then on to Alexandria - much needed refreshment!

Cairo train station

Alexandria

Alexandria

Elections - would you rather be a rifle or an onion?

Midan in Maadi

Don’t’ come looking here for thoughtful commentary on the Egyptian political situation. With 10,000 people on the ballot for the parliamentary elections on the 28^th (presidential elections won’t occur until early 2013 they say), Egyptians themselves are calling the process of this coming election incomprehensible.

What I can comment on from an outsider’s point of view is the intriguing method of candidate identification. The city began spawning political posters this last week on the major roads home from work and in the roundabouts (midans) or squares in the burb where I live - Maadi. Posters for individuals or groups have icons, a random object used to identify the candidate. In that way if people who are voting cannot read, at least they can identify their candidate by the icon. Visual literacy - I like that.

So far I have seen as icons – a tractor, a chandelier, an envelope, a rifle, a tennis racket, scales of justice and an onion. Who chose these? Maybe more importantly …who decides who gets which icon?

Hoda - the envelope candidate

Chandelier Man

Rifle Candidate.
Would he be smiling if he knew it was pointed at him?

For Paul

Your kind of dog!

Your kind of place....I'll go on Friday and get some action photos!

Revenge

Dalek - 1
Katie - 1

EID - Part 2

It is still going on… this holiday… this festival of sacrifice. I don’t mean to complain too much – I’m a lucky one after all, but it’s been 2 weeks without hot water and now 4 days without Internet.  I have never been one to dis a holiday, but when will it end?

Last night, finally,  the landlords son came and started up my gas hot water heater, a device I am afraid of along with anything electrical in this country. “It is a little known fact that many people are electrocuted in developing countries” I was told on my way to work one day by a physician. As if they don’t have enough to worry about, I thought.  Another little factoid to remember as I gaze at the painted over wires sticking out of the wall of my apartment and the wires poking out of every street lamp you bump into when walking down the street. 

I have learned your secrets and am no longer afraid!

EID

Wall at the Egyptian Museum

I have 5 days off – all because of the Muslim holiday of Eid–Al-Adha. It’s also called the festival of sacrifice – when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son for god. My religious roots are sadly pretty shallow but was reminded of Dylan’s Highway 61 and it  all came back. Now-a-days it’s celebrated by visiting family, giving gifts, making donations to the poor and killing a sheep – not just in the villages but apparently right in the courtyard of my apartment building. I heard an uncharacteristic bleating out my window last evening - then didn’t. I take solace that the sheep don’t really know what’s going on.

I spent yesterday with some workmates riding the metro intodowntown Cairo to visit the Egyptian Museum.  A very nice Egyptian man greeted us when we got off the train and told us the museum was closed because of the holiday…but… there was a market open that he could take us to on his way home to his family after a long night of work. We visited the market, got the hard sell, then walked around Cairo until we found ourselves in front of the museum, which to our surprise was open! Feel like a sheep - did my part for the holiday.

On the bridge to Zamalek

Tourist boats on the Nile

Lions on the Zamalek bridge

Fridays

In Egypt the workweek is Sunday – Thursday. Friday is a day of prayer when cars, people and life slows way way down until noon anyway and I feel like I am sneek’in a day off by not working. That is until I remember yet again that I have to work on Sunday  - not Monday. Wonder how long it will take to get used to that. Mornings are great for morning people…and I’m one of them so Friday is a good day to head out early, walk around and take pictures that would otherwise brand me “tourist”.  Here is this mornings’ stroll.

Cat of the day