Yogurt

It seems like a really trite thing to mention, but it's something I love and so I am giving it a whole post: Yogurt. Before living in Egypt, I used to eat yogurt, but more out of health considerations than out of pure love. But in Egypt, it is a love affair. The yogurt here is the best I've eaten.

On another note - one of my favorite drinks here is Zibedi wa asal (yogurt with honey), its a great healthy alternative to a milkshake, terribly refreshing, served in almost any restaurant and cafe, and absolutely delicious.

Taxi Rides

In Egypt, riding in a taxi can be a real adventure. Taxis drivers are the ears and eyes of the city and talking to them (usually they are quite gregarious and talkative) can reveal tons of stories and insight.

Petit Fours

Personally, I love petit fours. You have a nice taste of sweetness, without the guilt or temptation of eating a full cake. In Egypt all the major bakeries make a large variety of petit fours. Mostly, they are just fabulous. (These pictures come from my favorite bakery - no names! - in Heliopolis - can you guess which one?).

The sun'll come out tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar...
In Egypt you've got a 99.999 percent chance of sunshine the next day.
Fabulous weather. Great sunshine to lift the spirits year round.

source: onthegotours.com

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Youth Power

I moved to Egypt after living in Europe for over half a decade. One of the most striking differences (and indeed, there were many) was in the age difference. In Egypt, I think a baby is born every 2 seconds or something incredible like this. Young people abound, energetic, hopeful, full of change, and very different from their parent's generation. That was how I felt when I first came here 10 years ago, and that feeling just grows with time. There is incredible talent and brain power in this region, let us hope the youth will have a chance to put it to good use and improve their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Umm Khultum as a Cultural Bridge?

As I was writing my previous blog post, I came across the following fantastic article about Umm Khultum on the Huffington post, wherein the author describes the richness of Umm Kulthum's contribution to Arab (and world) culture. The "Nightingale of the East", Umm Kulthum gave the world "magic", "ecstasy", "feminine consciousness", and was a paradigmatic example of "the central artistic reality that has animated the Arab world for many centuries".

The author argues that her music can serve as a launchpad for dialogue between Arabs and Israelis - with emphasis on the common cultural traditions of Sephardic Jewry who originated from the Arab world. He goes so far as to suggest that anyone seriously interested in the middle east peace process is not seeing the full picture unless they familiarize themselves better with the rich cultural landscape of which Umm Khultum was invariably a magical and magnificent ingredient.

Read the article here:
Huffington Post: The Voice of Um Kulthum: A Place to Start the Dialogue

Enta Omri performed by Umm Khultum

There is too much to say about Umm Khultum to limit her to a single post in the Fabulous things about Egypt, so I will just start here with Enta Omri, one of her most famous songs and the first she performed written by Abdel Wahab.

There is something so emotional that just resonates so deeply with the listener, as if a piece of your own heart is being unfolded in front of you. But enough talk... let's listen,