Amazing Street Festivals

Street festivals in Egypt are really incredible. The below pictures were both taken from the Korba district in Heliopolis. The street gets super-packed with youth, music-makers, face-painters, food n' drink vendors, book-sellers, craftspeople, parents with kids, sidewalk artists, drummers and booty shakers. As the day progresses and the sun wanes, the crowds spill in overflowing in a jittery chattery loud but peace-loving rabble, standing room only.

The dancing horse

Egypt has amazing horses, but this is a horse of a different kind. At celebrations where dance troupes come to perform, the dancing horse is a signature part of such evenings, a delight to all of the children in the audience, and drawing laughter and giggles as the mischievous horse goes around kissing people, tapping them on the head, cradling babies, and dancing with the other dancers and sometimes audience members.

Rockin' Christmas Parties

Since it is currently Ramadan, and I've made quite a lot of Ramadan posts, I wanted to balance the blog with a post about Christmas which is also a major time of celebration here in Egypt. The below pic is from a Christmas party hosted at a club just after New Years. As with every fabulous Egyptian party - loud music and lots of dance are involved.