Viva Egypt

Day by Day

Orlando A

I love national pride. I remember when we went to Memphis and saw the open air museum there. Talk about a very memorable place. However, what I remember the most is the guard at the back of the museum. He was guarding the museum and typically backsheesh is always welcome. So his attempt to gather backsheesh was with the comment, "America, number one." I am thinking to myself, what type of comment is this for a man in uniform, from Egypt. Seems to me Egypt should be number one if you are getting paid by the Egyptian government, and when I feel really uncomfortable with this, I know where the airport is. Not to say I ain't proud of America insofar as the things we have done as a people to make a great country, but every national should be proud of his or her own nationality, particularly in his own country. I am surely proud of our accomplishments as Africans in America, despite the negatives that have been present in our treatment in America.

So anyway, we were out today and I forgot that today Egypt was playing Algeria for a place in the world cup, and soccer is really big here. Soccer is like football and baseball combined. So this is like the Superbowl or something. Everyone had been talking about it all week. So we went out to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately without a camera. So first stop is a restaurant right down the street from where we live. A, had recommended this restaurant from a few more, because it doesn't typically cater to tourists, it is more geared towards locals, the Egyptian House. So we went in and the cook, who didn't speak much English went out to gather the owner, who spoke a fair deal of English. He had been watching the game before we came in.

We order and look at the menu. The prices are a bit high. But I order anyway, hearing A, in my ear telling me that it is a good deal. So we order and leave while they prepare the food. On the way to find a cab a man sees us and speaks, "viva Egypt!" "Viva Egypt," I reply.

We hop in a taxi and head downtown to look at another restaurant we heard about via travel guides and such. It is a British establishment, the Jewel of the Nile. The owner hears us telling our cabbie to come back and rushes to speak with us. The Nubian waiter seats us and before we can begin to look at the menu the owner asks if we are going to eat in. I explain that we are going to look at the menu and maybe order a few things, but we were just curious. I see pigeon on the menu and see that it takes a day to prepare. I laugh, I have a score to settle. I tell her we are going to call ahead for stuffed pigeon in a day or so and head back out to look around and find a cab back to the Egyptian House.

We start walking down Television street and wind up in front of Omar's Supermarket, which is a souk that has food and such. A young boy is in front and asks for a small donation saying he will bless us for the donation. I don't have change, but tell him I will go get change in Omar's. He looks at us go in, down the aisle and comments, pointing to the register that change is over there. I tell him that I am going to buy something for change and to relax. Young upstart!

We buy some olive oil, and pringles. Once you pop... So, then we head back out and I hand him 1.50 Egyptian and he hands me a small baggie of incense. He has a small basket filled with coals and I hand Candice the incense. She pours some on the charcoal and he prays for her and incenses. It is aromatic. I place incense on the charcoal and he does the same for me. It is energizing, aromatic and sublime. I thank him and hand him back the incense. He refuses it, and tells us to keep it. As we walk away, he asks for a 5 Egyptian so that he can buy a falafel. Part of me is like, what, I just gave you 1.50 EGP, then the other part is like, 5 Egyptian is like 90 cents US. I look at him, at his dusty face and see that he probably is hungry. I hand him the change and he thanks me again and is about his way.

We walk down Television street and it is getting dark. Somehow we veer down a wrong way, although we never leave the huge street. We wind down a street with only locals present. They are celebrating with only Egyptian flags everywhere. The game is on every TV. Egypt scores and the crowds go wild. We are starting to wonder which turn took us the wrong way. There are shops with butchers and nuts. No English signs. No cabbies. Still, I know I am safe and there is joy in the air.

A few seconds later we make it back to Television street. Somehow we took a detour. Back on Television street which is a main street that is only teen years or so from being farmland the crowds are out and about. The red white and black Egyptian flag is everywhere. People are starting to go wild celebrating. We find a cab and head back to pick up our order from Egyptian House.

When we get back, I hand the cab driver 15 Egyptian, less than three US dollars, counting a nice tip and head in to pick up our food. The cook is in the front waiting for us. He hands me the order, which is for seven. He tells me the order is going to be reduced because he knows we are from in the neighborhood. The price of carry out for seven which included two different soups, flatbread, roasted chicken, Egyptian salad, hummus and rice would be 75 Egyptian which equals about 14 US dollars. I hand him 100 Egyptian and thank him for his hospitality.

Later we found Egypt had indeed beat Algeria and are headed to the world cup. Viva Egypt.

Egypt beats Algeria 2-0 in World Cup qualifier‎