Cairo: The Practical Guide 2002

by Francy, Claire E.; Francy, Claire E.; McClure, Mandy

• ISBN13: 9789774246654
• ISBN10: 9774246659
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-01
• Publisher: Amer Univ in Cairo Pr

Summary

The guide described by the New York Times as "indispensable", revised and updated for 2002, fills a vital niche for expatriates and Cairenes alike who need a helping hand to organize -- and enjoy -- the challenges of a sojourn in Cairo. The basics of daily life -- finding a flat, transporting personal goods, investigating school options for children, navigating Egypt's famous bureaucracy, and the intricacies of feeding and clothing oneself and one's family from the local market -- are all detailed here. Advice gathered from a wide range of Cairo insiders, both native and foreign, gives the reader a cornucopia of current facts on prices, neighborhoods, product availability, work and business opportunities, and the dizzying range of cultural and leisure pursuits that Cairo is famous for.

The format of this edition addresses the needs of independently minded tourists as well as residents by the inclusion of: an A to Z directory of goods, services, and interests subdivided by neighborhood; a section on Cairene Arabic; and details on shopping and sight-seeing from

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
How This Book is Organized	xiv
Acknowledgments	xv
Charts	xvi
Books	xxi
Welcome to Cairo	1	(69)
Skimming the Surface of Egypt and Cairo	1	(7)
Basic Facts and Statistics	1	(1)
Peoples and Cultures	1	(1)
Religion	2	(1)
Modern Government and Political Parties	3	(1)
Economy	3	(1)
Geography and Topography	4	(1)
Egypt Past	5	(1)
Egypt Present	6	(1)
Egypt Future	7	(1)
Cairo Today	7	(1)
Practical Matters for all Visitors	8	(5)
Climate---and Aesthetics	8	(2)
Travel and Transport	10	(3)
Getting Around Cairo and Environs	13	(2)
Cairo for People with Physical Disabilities	15	(1)
Navigating by Landmarks	15	(1)
Getting Out of Twon	15	(2)
Staying Healthy	17	(6)
Basic Precautions	17	(1)
Seafood and Alcohol	18	(1)
Mosquitoes	19	(1)
Common and Uncommon Afflictions	19	(1)
Medical Care in Cairo	19	(1)
Access and Beeper Access to Doctors	20	(1)
Medical Fees and Insurance	21	(1)
Emergency Care	21	(1)
Plastic Surgery	22	(1)
Best Hospitals and Clinics	22	(1)
Brand Names for Common Drugs and Pharmaceuticals	22	(1)
Money Matters	23	(4)
Currency and Currency Exchange	23	(1)
A Few Current Salary Samples	24	(1)
Tips on Baksheesh	24	(1)
Beggars	25	(1)
Prices and Bargaining	25	(1)
Miscellaneous Pointers on Money	26	(1)
Banking in Cairo	26	(1)
Crime in Cairo	27	(2)
Terrorist Attacks	28	(1)
Communications	29	(5)
Mail Services	29	(1)
Courier Services	29	(1)
Telecommunications	29	(3)
The World-Wide Web, Internet, and E-Mail	32	(2)
Media	34	(2)
Newspapers and Magazines	34	(1)
Television and Radio	35	(1)
Manners, Morals, and Customs	36	(8)
Hospitality with a Capital H	36	(1)
Egyptian Family Life	37	(1)
Social Class and Mobility	38	(1)
The Birds and the Bees	38	(1)
Weddings and Funerals	39	(1)
Holidays and Holidays Customs	40	(2)
Yet More Holidays!	42	(1)
How to Dress, Drink, and Comport Oneself in General	42	(1)
Exceptions and Contradictions	43	(1)
A Few Specific Dos and Don'ts	43	(1)
Accommodations	44	(3)
The Main Five-Star Hotels	44	(2)
Other Choices around Town	46	(1)
Food and Drink	47	(6)
Egyptian Food	47	(3)
More Restaurants and Cafes	50	(3)
Sightseeing	53	(8)
Pyramids	53	(1)
The Camel Market	54	(1)
Some Major and a Few Minor Museums	55	(1)
Islamic Cairo	56	(2)
The Cities of the Dead	58	(1)
Green Cairo	59	(1)
A Completely Arbitrary Compendium of Favorite Places	60	(1)
Shopping	61	(9)
The Major Suqs or Markets	61	(1)
Other Shopping Streets and Areas	62	(1)
Shopping Items	62	(8)
Leisure and Learning in Cairo	70	(21)
Cairo for Kids (Of All Ages)	70	(2)
Hobbies, Interests, Pastimes, and Self-Indulgence	72	(6)
Alternative Medicine	73	(1)
Archaeology	73	(1)
Architecture	73	(1)
Art Classes	73	(1)
Aviation	74	(1)
Backgammon	74	(1)
Beauty Salons	74	(1)
Birdwatching	74	(1)
Bridge	74	(1)
Car and Motorcycle Rallies and Motorcross	74	(1)
Classic Cars	75	(1)
Church Activities	75	(1)
Computer Courses	75	(1)
Cooking Classes	75	(1)
Counseling	75	(1)
Creative Writing	75	(1)
Cultural Centers	75	(1)
Dancing	76	(1)
Dieting	76	(1)
Drama Groups	76	(1)
Fashion Shows	76	(1)
Flower Arranging	76	(1)
Language Classes	76	(1)
Libraries	77	(1)
Music and Singing	77	(1)
Meditation	77	(1)
Needlework	77	(1)
Photography	77	(1)
Pottery	78	(1)
Reflexology	78	(1)
Women's Groups	78	(1)
Volunteer Work	78	(1)
Arts, Entertainment, and Night Life	78	(5)
Art Galleries and the Arts in Cairo	78	(1)
Balls	79	(1)
Bars	79	(1)
Belly-Dancing	80	(1)
Cafes and Shisha	80	(1)
Classical Music---Arabic and Western	81	(1)
Cultural Centers	81	(1)
Dance Performances (Ballet, Classical, Modern, Folk)	81	(1)
Discotheques	81	(1)
Felucca Rides	81	(1)
Films and Film Festivals	81	(1)
Jazz and Live Music	82	(1)
Museums	82	(1)
Nile Dinner Cruises	83	(1)
Opera	83	(1)
Theater	83	(1)
Video	83	(1)
Walking Tours	83	(1)
Sports and Fitness	83	(6)
Aerobics	84	(1)
Badminton	84	(1)
Baseball	84	(1)
Basketball	84	(1)
Belly-Dancing	84	(1)
Boating (Sail and Motor)	84	(1)
Bodybuilding and Weight Training	85	(1)
Chess	85	(1)
Croquet	85	(1)
Cycling	85	(1)
Darts	85	(1)
Diving	85	(1)
Fishing and Hunting	86	(1)
Golf	86	(1)
Health Clubs	86	(1)
Horseback Riding	86	(1)
Gymnastics	87	(1)
Martial Arts	87	(1)
Pool and Snooker	87	(1)
Rowing	87	(1)
Rugby	87	(1)
Running	87	(1)
Shooting	88	(1)
Snorkeling and SCUBA	88	(1)
Soccer aka Football	88	(1)
Squash	88	(1)
Swimming, Diving, and Water-skiing	88	(1)
Tennis	88	(1)
Walking	89	(1)
Windsurfing	89	(1)
Sporting and Country Clubs	89	(2)
Living in Cairo	91	(48)
Basic Decisions	91	(1)
Pre-Departure Chores and Choices	91	(2)
Bring and Don't-Bring Lists	92	(1)
The Shipping News in Cairo	93	(1)
As Soon as You Arrive	94	(1)
Housing Decisions	94	(6)
Buying vs. Renting and What You Will Pay Each Way	94	(2)
Old vs. New, Furnished vs. Unfurnished	96	(1)
Choosing a Neighborhood	97	(1)
What to Look For and What to Look Out For	98	(1)
Lease Negotiations	99	(1)
Finding a Local Mover	99	(1)
Houseboat Living	99	(1)
School Decisions	100	(3)
Elementary and Secondary Schools	101	(1)
Nursery Schools	102	(1)
Cars in Cairo	103	(4)
Where to Buy New Cars	104	(1)
Used Cars	104	(1)
Long-Term Rental	104	(1)
Registration	104	(1)
Insurance	105	(1)
Licenses	105	(1)
Fines	105	(1)
Accidents	105	(1)
Driving a Car	105	(1)
Alternatives to Driving	106	(1)
Household Help and Services	107	(3)
Maintenance and Repairs	107	(1)
Domestic Help	107	(1)
Finding and Paying Household Help	108	(1)
Building Services and Personnel	109	(1)
Other Services and Cheap Thrills	109	(1)
Making Your House a Home	110	(9)
Air Conditioners	110	(1)
Appliances	110	(1)
Bathrooms	110	(1)
Beds and Bedding	111	(1)
Carpentry and Cabinets	111	(1)
Christmas Trees and Ornaments	111	(1)
Clothing	111	(2)
Computers	113	(1)
Designers and Decorators	113	(1)
Fabrics	113	(1)
Floor Coverings (Carpets)	113	(1)
Flowers	114	(1)
Furniture	114	(1)
Gardens---Large and Small, Indoors and Out	115	(1)
Garden Supplies, Shade, Furniture, and Decor	116	(2)
Hardware	118	(1)
Kitchens	118	(1)
Lighting	118	(1)
Mirrors and Windows	118	(1)
Housekeeping	119	(6)
Cleaning	119	(1)
Food and Food Shopping	120	(5)
Psychological Adjustments	125	(1)
Shopping and Other Lists	126	(13)
Food	126	(7)
Beverages	133	(1)
Clothing	133	(1)
Colors	134	(1)
Fabrics	134	(1)
Very Important People	135	(1)
Furnishings and Furniture	135	(1)
Handy Household Terms and Items	136	(1)
Cars and Car Trouble	137	(2)
Work and Research in Cairo	139	(10)
Changes in the Economic Climate	139	(1)
Work Permits and Other Paperwork	140	(1)
Taxation for Individuals and Businesses	140	(1)
Tax on Your Shipment	140	(1)
Individual Taxes	141	(1)
Company Taxation	141	(1)
Entrepreneurship: Starting Your Own Business	141	(3)
Joint Stock Company (JSC)	141	(1)
Limited Liability Company (LLC)	142	(1)
Premises	142	(1)
Privatization: The Current Climate	143	(1)
Networking and Finding More Information	144	(1)
Scholarly Research	144	(1)
Teaching	145	(1)
Working for Egyptian Companies	146	(1)
Volunteer Work	147	(2)
Cairo Arabic: The Basics	149	(10)
``From the Arabic...''	149	(1)
Pronunciation and Very Limited Grammar	149	(2)
Consonants	149	(1)
Vowels	150	(1)
Minimalist's Grammar	150	(1)
Vocabulary	151	(8)
Courtesy	151	(1)
Questions	151	(1)
Urgencies and Emergencies	151	(1)
Common Expressions	152	(1)
Directions	152	(1)
Places	153	(1)
Money	153	(1)
Family, Friends and Other People	154	(1)
Time	154	(1)
Personal Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives	155	(1)
Adjectives	155	(1)
Adverbs	156	(1)
Prepositions	156	(1)
Deterrents	157	(2)
Directory	159	(51)
Index	210