Day
9: Continued -- Statue Shops, Semi-Precious Stones, Cotton Street, Bab Zuwiela Tent Market, Whirling Dervishes
DAY 9 - PART 2 of 2
Shopping in Egypt - Khan el Khalili - Semi Precious Stones |
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Where: 1 El Salhia St. Khan El Khalili
Who: The Vendor is Mine Stones, Owner Essam Rashad.
Contact: Cairo Phone 588-1526 Mobile Phone in Egypt - 0121118080
Vendor Story: Mine Stones is a shop for any type of semi-precious or precious stone. You can buy the stones and take them around to the silver smiths.
Souvenirs: Looked, but didn't buy. |
Seyd, our guide for the evening, owns another shop in the Khan and we stopped by to take pictures.
Shopping in Egypt - Khan el Khalilli - Souvenir Statues |
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Click for More Pictures of Souvenirs. |
Where:
Melege Bazaar
5 Rabeh el Selhidar Kahn el Khalili
Who: The Vendor is Seyd Mahmoud Abd el Tawab .
Contact: 5 Rabeh el Selhidar Khan el Khalilli
Vendor Story: Directed and owned by Sayd Mahmoud Abd el Tawab this shop specialty is statues and the shop sells both wholesale to dealers and direct to customers.
Souvenirs: Looked but didn't buy. |
We saw some fridge magnets on the street, but they were very expensive at 15 EP. Seyd said it was because the government had recently put a 30% tarrif on Chinese made items. Most people just raised the price, which usually meant they didn't sell. I suppose that is what the government wanted.
Some shops are selling goods made in China, but mostly we found things Made In Egypt
This morning, when we finally gave up and bought the Akhenaten (made in China, I think) at the Sheraton where I cashed my travelers cheques, they discounted it by half as it was old stock and we were the first sale of the day, I guess, we were there pretty early. Shopkeepers here are just as superstitious as those in Singapore of Hong Kong. There first sale of the day is an important "luck" milestone and they will often give a further discount to get that sale.
Went out of the Khan and Crossed a busy street on a pedestrian bridge then walked down the street for needlework, near to el Ghouri mosque. The last maker of the red fez hats is located here. There were selling baked sweet potatoes on the street. Along the street were all the shops for childrens, women's and men's everyday clothing. I bought a house dress which is a decorated galabeah in egyptian cotton, a plaid weave with sewn decorative tape. Eman and I bought baby clothing for an Egyptian friend. This street continues down to another of the Gates in Saladin's wall, Bab Zuweila.
The street down to the Bab Zuweila contains the last Fez Workshop in Cairo, This is where you will have to go if you want one of those wonderful red hats!
Looking down the street to the Bab Zuweila, Part of Saladin's Wall. On the other side is the Tent Makers Market.
Down at the Bab Zuweila is the "tent makers market" where they sell canvas items and beautiful patch work in cotton. Mostly Islamic designs. I bought two pillow covers. I would have bought a canvas bag at the shop at the gate, but Eman thought 35 EP was too much! It was time for prayers and Sayd left us to attend prayers at one of oldest moques in Ciaro, Mosque of El Muaied Shiekh. Eman and I visited one of the shops in the Tent Makers Market, Pyramid Art.
When Seyd came out he walked us to the neddlework street to buy baby clothes and left us. He seemed a bit uncomfortable, I think we were well and truely in women's territory!
Shopping in Egypt - Tent Makers Market - Appliqued Handcrafts |
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Click for More Pictures of Souvenirs. |
Where: Bab Zuweila Tent Makers Market, 29 el khiamia St Cairo. Near the Mosque of El Muaied Shiekh.
Who: Pyramid Art for Hand Crafts (Khlamya Tent Arabic Decore), Hassan Kadri is the Manager
Contact: Mobile Phone in Egypt - 0121174802
Vendor Story: At the Pyramid Art for Hand Crafts (Khlamya Tent Arabic Decore) Hassan Kadri the manager of one shop invited us in to see all the different types of work. He had one worker making pillow cases. He had many beautiful things.
Souvenirs: I bought two red and green applique Cushion covers. |
Walked back to the street near the Whirling Dervishes show. Had a kabab and tea and waited for the show.
After dark, we went to see the Whirling Dervishes. It is quite a show, but many people will not realize that it is also a form of worship. The dervishes attain a state of religious trance by whirling. So the prolonged whirling portions were full of religious references and were accompanied by religious prayer calls. An elderly man sat next to me and I think he was there for the religious aspects. He was in traditional dress and walked with a cane and I wondered if he had once been a dervish himself. There are drums and wonderful drummers and a finger cymbal player who seems to guide the activities on the stage. The show is free and Eman says it is alway crowded.
Loved the show and really felt the spiritual quality. Afterwards, Eman and I got separated from Hossam and the driver. We did not have the driver's mobile number and Eman's phone went dead.
I assume that Hossam's phone went dead also, and the driver didn't have the number of my phone which was the only one still working, so Eman and I had to get a taxi home.
Mobile phones carried by all parties in a group are very useful, but only if you take the time to program in ALL the numbers of everyone in each phone. Dead batteries can be recharged in the car's cigarette lighter with an adaptor (while the car is running, please), and there are even little battery packs you can carry that give you instant recharge.
Long Day, tired and dirty, and no hot water at hotel! Had to call down and have them turn it on to my section of the hotel. Not sure I believe that, but it's possible.
Ken sent late text message to say that the Aussi Dollar was selling at 66cents to the USD. Was very glad that I brought traveler's checks instead of using ATM's and charging everything. Most of my cheques were bought at over 90 cents. Got to bed at 2:00 AM.
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