EGYPT’S LOSS – NEW YORK’S GAIN

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

You might be as surprised, as I was, to learn that Lady Liberty (the Statue of Liberty)
became America’s symbol of freedom by accident.

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She was born in Egypt, and was meant to stand at the Northern Entrance of the Suez Canal in Port Said. Her creator, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor had visited Egypt in 1855, and was so impressed with the colossal sculptures he had seen that he returned to Egypt in 1869, the year the Suez Canal opened, with blueprints of a toga-draped giant woman, looking like an Arab peasant.

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Due to Egypt’s economic difficulties – the lack of income from the Suez Canal, which went to the English and French  – and the drop of price in cotton due to the end of the American Civil War, Bartholdi knew that Egypt could never finance this project.

Disappointed he sailed to New York. When his ship entered the harbor he saw Bodloe’s Island – and the rest is history. The French government paid for the Statue, now modified not to look like an Egyptian, and through donations the American people paid for the 89 foot pedestal, where on October 28, 1886 she found her place for eternity.

P.S. Bodloe’s Island was renamed Liberty Island in 1956, the same year Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal and took away the Liberty from the English and French! Maybe the coincident made him smile?

More from Egypt soon

tile bird-3                        Brigitte

Posted in Egypt, Government, Port Said | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SNOW IN CAIRO?

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

When we think of Cairo – the Sphinx, the Pyramids, sunshine and warm weather – come to mind. But this week there was no sunshine and it was not warm – IT SNOWED!

Something that has not happened for over one hundred years, and most people alive in Cairo today have never seen snow — here are some pictures of  ‘what a difference a day can make.’

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It did not snow enough to cover  Khufu’s Pyramid, but enough to confuse the camels.

Snow Falls In Cairo For The First Time In More Than 100 Years[1]

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….and it did not take long for the children to know what to do  – snowmen are international.

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More from Egypt soon

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Brigitte

Posted in Ancient Stones, Cairo, Children, Egypt, HABIBTI YA MASR, Pyramids, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

PHOTO OF THE WEEK- SEEING CLEARLY

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

DO YOU THINK  THESE WOMAN  SEE THE WORLD AS CLEARLY AS YOU AND I?

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…………..OR MAYBE NOT SEEING CLEARLY THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT SEEING WHAT THEY DON’T LIKE?

More from Egypt soon

GEESE

Brigitte

Posted in Egypt, Mothers, Muslims | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

CRAFTS OF CAIRO FOR SALE IN NEW YORK CITY

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

Recently I wrote a blog about the GARBAGE CITY in Cairo. Today I want to give you information about an organization called ‘HANDS ALONG THE NILE’ which helps the Zabbaleens, the garbage collectors, sell their hand crafted goods here in New York City.

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Image (36)Yes, I went to the sale and greatly admired all the beautiful, handmade items created by the women of Zabbaleen. I came home with six white hand-woven place mats, plus a white and green runner. They will have a special meaning on my Christmas Dinner table.

More from Egypt soon

1017049_10151713599110535_2062641693_n[1] Brigitte

Posted in Art, Cairo, Egypt, Garbage city | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

PHOTO OF THE WEEK – LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT IN CAIRO?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

If you are looking for an apartment in Cairo, to rent or buy, don’t ignore these ads……. and DON’T let their appearance  put you off…… Maadi and Zamalek are very desirable neighborhoods…….

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and if you don’t see what you are looking for here, call Sally!

MGEESEore  from Egypt soon

Brigitte

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CAIRO’S NIGHTLIFE

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

Not knowing Cairo well, what was there to do at night. LA BODEGA was the answer. The receptionist in my hotel in Zamalek told me that LA BODEGA was in walking distance.

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Located at 157, 26th of July Street, Zamalek, one of Cairo’s main avenues, – I was confident I could not go wrong – but I did – not being a native I did not know that house numbers are not a must, and that even when the name on the door says BALMORAL – I had arrived. I just didn’t know it until somebody asked what I was looking for – LA BODEGA?

“Yes, here, upstairs!” How could I know that when it says BALMORAL, it also means LA BODEGA. I avoided the old, ornate iron elevator, and took the stairs up to the first floor. In front of the entrance a group of men and women, carved in beautiful white marble was waiting…..

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….and it looked like you can even smoke??

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It is one of Cairo’s most popular and trendy nightspots visited by Egyptians as well as expats.  A large restaurant, a lounge area, and a tiny, cozy bar,  with dimmed lights, and elegant décor, are inviting choices. I picked the bar and while sipping my drink and talking to an expat living in Cairo for many years, I found out that  LA BODEGA is a busy place any day of the week, and he warned, “This being a classy place it is best to dress up.” I had not dressed up, but my black dress made me fit in.

The next time you are in Cairo don’t miss LA BODEGA – to see the nightlife scene, eat Mediterranean food, or just to have a drink in the bar where the glasses are hanging
up-side down waiting to serve you. Cheers!

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More from Egypt soon

GEESE

Brigitte

Posted in Cairo, Egypt, HABIBTI YA MASR, Restaurants. Dining | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

PHOTO OF THE WEEK – CAIRO SHOPPING OR FIFTH AVENUE?

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

No, not every Egyptian woman wears an ABAYA. Many women in Cairo dress just like woman in Western Countries—–

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and boutiques like this one in Zamalek, an upscale part of Cairo are witness to it.

More from Egypt soon

GEESE

Brigitte

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CAIRO’S GARBAGE CITY – THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

The last time I wrote about the Garbage City in Cairo – and today I want to tell you what is hidden behind Cairo’s waste.
It is The Monastery of St. Simon the Cobbler, who lived towards the end of the tenth Century. He was a Coptic Christian and legend has it that in 979 he was chosen to do the miracle of moving Mokattam Mountain.IMG_2224-2

The Monastery was erected and dedicated to him a thousand years after his miracle and his death. It was named the Cave Church of Samaan El Kharraz, of St. Simon the Cobbler, at Mohattam.  Finished in 1970, it was dedicated by the late Pope Shenouda III.IMG_2225-2

Passing through narrow, garbage filled streets, either by car or on foot, is the only way to reach the Monastery. We were in a car and after driving through an especially narrow opening in the rock, the mountain HAD moved and there was the Monastery with its churches, and the beautiful carvings all over the mountain representing stories from the Bible.IMG_2226-2

STATUE OF ST. SIMON

STATUE OF ST. SIMON

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The main Cathedral is named after the Virgin Mary and St. Simon. Its amphitheater with an overhang of the cliff seats 10,000 people. Looking down on the endless rows of seats I tried to imagine what it is like when they are all filled with worshipers.3455097496_384b58c066_z[1]

The Monastery is not on every tourist’s itinerary, and if it is not on yours, make special arrangements to come and experience this place – yes, it is an experience not just another sight to see.

More from Egypt soon

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Brigitte

Posted in Ancient Stones, Cairo, Egypt, Garbage city, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

EGYPT’S PAST – IT IS A MATTER OF SIZE

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

Once upon a time – here stood – at the Ramessuem on the West Bank in Luxor – a statue of Ramses II.
When the 69 feet statue, weighing more than 1,000 tons, yes 1000 tons,  fell, it broke into many pieces. The only part left here, at the Ramessuem, is the head and the torso. The other pieces of this granite colossus are in museums all over the world.

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It is hard to imagine how big a 1000 tons statue is, but the man standing next to it, who is by no means short, gives us an idea of the scale of Egypt’s Past.

More from Egypt soon

1017049_10151713599110535_2062641693_n[1]                              Brigitte

Posted in Ancient Stones, Egypt, HABIBTI YA MASR, Luxor, Pharaohs, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

RECYCLING – NOT A NEW IDEA IN CAIRO

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Brigitte Nioche

…but a way of life.

I am talking about Manshiyat Naser also known as the Garbage city. It is not on the itinerary of places to visit by tourist. But on my third visit to Cairo it was on mine. The tour guide the hotel had hired for me, first pretended that he did not know what I was talking about. The hotel receptionist helped me out, and reluctantly he agreed to take me there.

“But you can’t get out of the car” he warned and I didn’t. I understand that while sorting through garbage one does not want to be observed, and even less, be photographed,
the reason I don’t have many pictures. I took them through the car window or when I was sure the person wasn’t looking my way.

The garbage city is on the base of Mokattam Hill on the outskirts of Cairo. Its people make their living by collecting and recycling Cairo’s garbage. The city has streets and shops and apartments, but it lacks infrastructure and often has no running water.

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Garbage is brought to Manhshiyat Naser by Zabbalin (garbage collectors) and stored in large rooms where men, women and children sort through it, separating it into sellable or unsellable items. IMG_2209-2

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Many  families have lived here for generations and have made their living by recycling —

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– RECYCLING a word that has taken on a new meaning in our Western World – it is to help keep our planet, and not to be wasteful with our natural resources. This, of course, is not the reason for the people living in the Garbage City. For a long time their struggle for existence has done what we are just waking up to. Hopefully the wave of RECYCLING that has started will carry them into a better life one day.

More from Egypt soon

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Brigitte

Posted in Cairo, Egypt, Garbage city | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment