Day
5: Khan el Khalili - Leather Goods - Vintage Shop Hisham Djemba - Tea at Fishawy's
Cashed a travelers cheque at the Sheraton. In the gift shop we found the Akhenaten figure Ken had asked for, but didn't buy as Eman was sure we would find it cheaper in the Khan.
Back in the Khan. As we enter the guards allow each vehicle in and write down the nationality and number of the tourists, and the car registration. I am not sure if we get checked off as we leave, although the pick up point is the same.
The Entrance to the Khan is beside the El Hussein mosque and this morning an extraordinary piece of architecture is unfurled. There are three large sun shade umbrellas outside the entrance. They open upside down and look beautiful as well as functional.
Beautiful Umbrellas Shade El Hussein Mosque
The El Hussein mosque has a sacred relic and is the most sacred mosque in Cairo. I did not enter to see the inside. It seemed an intrusion during the Feast and although I was assured that we could go in when it wasn't time for prayers, I had heard that it was not encouraged. So we didn't go.
Egyptians are quite devout and most practice their religion actively. This accounts for the basic honesty and courteousness you will experience from most Egyptians, but the religious feelings of the Egyptins should also be honored by not actively offending anybody.
As we went into the Khan we stopped at a leather shop and I saw the variety of leather goods on offer. I bought a leather waist belt.
Eman took me up to the vacant dining room of the Hotel Hussein for some great pictures of the mosque and the surrounding buildings. Next trip I want to have a meal there, overlooking the mosque, at night.
View from Hotel Hussein
In the Khan, we went back to Edward Junior's store to pay for the wooden carved scene with the African Animals, and had lunch with him. Cairo Pizza is large flat bread with more or less traditonal toppings.
Lunch with Edward Junior
Then Eman and I went for tea at Fishawy's the famous coffee shop in the Khan.
Tea at Fishawy's
After tea we went to the oldest part of the Khan and visited an "antique" or vintage shop. This shop is stuffed with things out of old colonial buildings and leftovers from souvenir shops. Some things are damaged, but I bought a nice set of blue resin canopic jars and a few other bits and pieces.
Shopping in Egypt - Souvenirs in Khan el Khalili |
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Where: Khan el Khalili, Zhovernm Door - Salehia
Who: The Vendor is Hisham Djemba Products.
Contact: Mobile Phone in Egypt - 0121062289
Vendor Story: This shop is tucked in behind the Salehia Gate. It has a collection of vintage items collected from homes and shops and surplus stores. There is everything. Just come in and browse and bargain.
Souvenirs: I bought a set of blue resin conopic jars. An old copper box, some ushabti amulets, a blue resin camel. |
I am getting sunburned from my "boatnecked" necklines of my blouses, so I bought three cotton scarves to drape around my neck. This is a t uniform item for Egyptian women, and I agree it is quite practical.
The Final Transaction at Hisham Djemba
We stopped back at the leather shop and got three leather carry all bags for gifts to take back home. The leather is very soft and embossed with egyptian scenes.
Back to the Leather Shop for Souvenir Gift Bags
We have looked all over the Khan, and we can't find Akenaten! We found a black one, but not a colored one. The news is bad, Akhenaten is made in China (not what we are wanting to promote this trip!) and it is several years out of style. The souvenirs change every year! But we will still keep looking.
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