COSMOPOLITAN CAIRO

It has been little more than a year now that I have been in Cairo and the quality of this city that has impressed me the most is it being a cosmopolitan city. What is so impressive about being like many other cities across the world? The fact that Cairo is a city in what we call “Middle East” and an Islamic nation too makes it a challenging task for this city to retain its cosmopolitan flavour

The church, the mosque and the synagogue form part of the skyline of Cairo. The Eid celebrations are stupendous, no doubt, but the city also gears up for Christmas and New Year. Fir trees adorn the sidewalks, Christmas ornaments do brisk sales and Santa Claus caps and stockings are on every child’s wish-list in Cairo. Come March and the city will also celebrate the Pharonic festival of Sham-el-Nessim.

Italian, Indian, Mexican, Korean, Thai, Chinese-all kinds of cuisines can be enjoyed in Cairo in addition to the Egyptian cuisine. If you are a movie buff, Cairo affords you opportunities galore to see some brilliant films from all over the world. At the Cairo International Film Festival held annually, films from countries such as France, Spain, India, China, Japan, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon etc are screened. You want to get a peek into the Columbian society without traveling there? You had your chance in Cairo when four Columbian films with English subtitles were screened at the Columbian film festival held a fortnight back Opera, ballet, jazz music, blues, reggae, hip-hop form part of the cultural scene in Cairo. Night clubs are packed on week-ends. At the same time, the tannura dance performances and traditional music also see a full house.

Learning to belly dance in Cairo?-the expected thing!. Learning foxtrot, jive, salsa?-possible in cosmopolitan Cairo. Again whatever language you want to learn, Cairo is your destination with classes being conducted for Italian, French, English etc. You are feeling homesick?-you can bond with other members from your country through the various clubs operating here. Again, these clubs welcome members from all countries. In addition to the locals, Cairo boasts of a very large and vibrant expat community that gives Cairo its flavour as a world capital. The latest in designer wear and global trends can be found and bought here.

I am not writing here about the differential rates charged to foreigners at the tourist sites, the rip-offs by the taxi drivers, the inflated prices demanded by the “Khan” vendors, the higher rates charged by the hotels, maids etc to expats etc…This post is about all good things:-)