In the summer of 2017, we spent two wonderful weeks in London. Once again, we stayed in an Airbnb and had the pleasure of visiting with three of our “surrogate” daughters from teaching in Egypt. All three were born and raised in England. Spending time with them and their families made the trip extra special.
When traveling, I highly recommend staying in an Airbnb unless it is a country you would not feel safe in. We rented a one-bedroom flat with a nice kitchen and good size living room. It was a quiet neighborhood and a short walk to the bus and train.
London has one of the largest and best transportation systems in the world. You can use tourist brochures or the internet to plan your day by connecting underground trains (the Tube) with the bus system. Both were very straightforward to follow.
The advantage of staying in a neighborhood vs. a luxury hotel is getting to know the people and seeing what life is really like living there. It was a short walk to a grocery store to get some staples and treats. There was also a nearby “Pub,” which is so “British.” Sitting and having a drink and lunch in a neighborhood is far more exciting than eating in a hotel restaurant. We’ve found people friendly and engaging while living in foreign areas.
London is an exciting large city like New York. They are both expensive, high fashion centers and have sizeable famous theatre districts. We were fortunate to see the musical Beautiful, the life of Carole King. It was outstanding!
We visited Harrods, Europe’s largest department store and one of the largest luxury department stores in the world. It has over one million square feet of retail space.
You can easily spend an afternoon in the store with the many departments and amenities common to a luxury department store. It includes an elaborate display/tribute to Princess Diana.
An enjoyable place to visit was M&M World. It was a store/museum for everything M&M! We were able to design and purchase M&M’s that had our grandchildren’s names on them. Of course, there were many different container choices and sizes.
A trip to London is not complete without a visit to the Queen. I can’t describe the vibe of excitement outside of Buckingham Palace, the City of Westminster, or waiting to see the changing of the guard.
At times the soldiers looked like toys. They didn’t seem real. It was an exciting and fun time.
London was an exciting city to visit. I was warned that you could experience three weather seasons in a day, which proved true. Our mornings were very chilly, and we needed jackets and long pants. By mid-afternoon, we were lucky to have sunny days. Most days, we had a late afternoon or evening shower. Then the evenings were cool again. So, as you plan your trip to London, make sure your wardrobe allows you to dress in layers. Also, bring along Big Smiles in case the sun is not shining.
We all have our favorite vacation spots. Honestly, any beach, anywhere on the ocean, is mine. Just listening to and watching the ocean waves crash against the rocks and collecting various seashells is my idea of a peaceful, relaxing vacation.
My first trip to the Bahamas was many years ago for my high school senior trip. It was my first “tropical” vacation, and I fell in love with the island. My second vacation there was for my honeymoon. We then returned many years later for a cruise ship vacation. My last trip to the Bahamas was in July 2021. So, as you can see, I do love the Bahamas!
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. It is a popular cruise-ship stop and destination. A flight from Miami, Florida, is just under an hour. It is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. It is also famous for diving and snorkeling.
Although Nassau has grown commercially, it has maintained its old, serene charm. Many of the buildings are still pastel-colored British colonial buildings.
There seems to be more cars and traffic on the island than I remembered from earlier years. Of course, that is probably due to the commercial growth on the island.
We were a little confused during our last visit because we had always stayed at the “big pink” hotel. It is a majestic-looking, historical landmark hotel on the island. It had changed its name to the British Colonial Hilton, and it was no longer pink! Fortunately, we did check into our honeymoon hotel without realizing the change until we arrived.
The British Colonial Hilton has a beautiful private beach, a separate exercise facility with floor-to-ceiling windows, A lovely pool area, and an outdoor bar with food service available. It also has a great indoor bar and casual or formal indoor dining options, with many lovely lounge areas and a gift shop.
My favorite things to do are watch the cargo ships go by and the cruise ships dock. It’s a very laid-back vacation spot.
For the first time, we visited the John Watling’s Distillery. It is an authentic distillery that was founded in 1789. It has tours, rum tasting, and an area for shopping. The entire process (from start to packaging) is completed in the building. Be sure to add this to your itinerary; it is very interesting and takes less than two hours.
It is fascinating to see an entire operation in action.
Many sightseeing tours are available: Food Tasting, Island Highlights, Blue Lagoon Segway Safari Tours, Jeep Adventure Tours, Swimming with Dolphins, Guided Bike Tours, and more!
I took the Guided Bike Tour in the rain, which was still fun. I forget how many miles of riding it was. But there were several breaks to buy soft drinks and snacks, go to the restroom, or have a quick bite to eat.
A trendy resort, as well as a day trip for tourists, is Atlantis.
It is beautiful and pricey. We have only visited; we have not stayed at the resort. It is located on Paradise Island.
As you might expect, the food and drinks in the Bahamas are delicious. Although there are many tropical drinks, the Miami Vice Pina Colada is outstanding and my favorite!
Well, it’s no secret that the Bahamas holds special memories for me for many reasons. However, give Nassau Bahamas a try if you want that peaceful, laid-back, less hectic vacation.
Two words to describe Mexico are colorful and welcoming!
Like many Americans, I had my preconceived notions of what Mexico City would be like. Of course, these notions came from the media and TV shows. I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised and had a wonderful, very safe vacation! Although we stayed in an Airbnb, we had the advantage of having “another surrogate daughter” who lives there to show us around. We taught school together in Egypt, and being much younger, she has moved on to another international teaching assignment in Mexico City. Since she worked during the day, we were left to explore the city as tourists. We then met her for dinner in the evenings the first week.
We booked an Airbnb in a lovely high-rise apartment building and an excellent area for restaurants and walking. The area also had a large ex-pat population. The downside was that the apartment was “presented” as a regular apartment and turned out to be a “Studio” apartment. This was the first time we were disappointed by an Airbnb while traveling. Although it was nice and modern, the pictures were taken at a misleading angle! So be sure to ask questions when booking an apartment.
As I’ve said before, I love international travel! You step outside your comfort zone to experience another culture completely different from yours.
A Fun On/Off Tour Bus
On tour, we visited many beautiful cathedrals and lovely outdoor landscapes.
Frida Kahlo Home/Museum
A highlight of our stay in Mexico City, Mexico, was visiting the home/museum of Frida Kahlo. You can google her history or watch the movie about her life starring Salma Hayek.
As a child, my mom was a regular shopper at the Sears department store. There are very few stores left across the USA today. There is an iconic Sears store in Mexico City, Mexico. It has multiple levels for each department, like the store I shopped at as a child. However, it also has a rooftop cafe with a beautiful view. A must-see when visiting
A view from the Sears department store rooftop café.
I’m sure that most people writing about Mexico City would write about the wonderful, spicy meals. The meals were colorful with excellent presentation. However, as a vegetarian, I did not personally taste the meats and the wide variety of cultural dishes available. I tend to stick to bland tortillas with beans, rice, and veggies. I did, however, enjoy an excellent breakfast at a unique waffle café one morning named Holland Waffles. The waffles were topped with eggs, mushrooms, meat, or cheese, etc., and maple syrup. Yum!
I can rave about the wonderful variety of Margaritas! Oh, the tequila!
San Juan Teotihuacan, Mexico
We visited Teotihuacan, the Mexican archaeological complex of the Aztec Pyramids. It holds the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun.
Week 2
Merida, on the Yucatan Peninsula
We traveled with our host to Merida, Mexico, for our second week in Mexico. The flight is approximately one hour and fifty minutes. Merida is the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatan. It is near the Gulf of Mexico and is a beautiful resort city.
Together we rented a beautiful villa for the week. With taxes, cleaning fees, and service charges, the amount was $100 US dollars a day. The villa was outstanding! It had two bedrooms, a large living room, a large dining room, two baths (one in each bedroom), Kitchen, and a lovely enclosed outdoor area with a wading pool and laundry area. This villa would have been so expensive in the States.
Bedroom #1
The bath shower had a skylight and planter box. It was beautiful!
The Living room also had a sofa and chairs.
Once we were settled into the villa, we needed to shop for food. Where would you shop other than the closest Super Walmart! LOL! It never ceases to amaze me when I see our USA chain stores in other countries.
We spent our days and evenings exploring and eating at various restaurants. The atmosphere was very festive with Day of the Dead activities and colorful alter displays.
We ordered a car to take us to the beach for the day. It was about a forty-five-minute drive. It was so lovely and peaceful. It was the perfect family beach with children flying kites and families having picnics. We were offered food by the family set up next to us. Everyone was so friendly.
There were several small jazz clubs in Merida to walk to in the evenings. They served food as well as drinks. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the entertainment.
We took a day trip to Uxmal. It is a city of Mayan Pyramids.
After a wonderful week in Merida, we returned to Mexico City for a night before flying home to the States. It was a wonderful trip, and I highly recommend adding Merida to your itinerary when traveling to Mexico. Adios!
If you’re reading this article and did not read Living in Cairo, Egypt – Part 1, please scroll back. The first article introduces my life in Maadi, a suburb of Cairo, Egypt. It paints a “background” picture for the events that follow.
April 29- May 15, 2022
We just returned home from our second visit back to Egypt since living there. I will never feel like a tourist; Egypt feels like a second home.
The biggest surprise was the new freeway system. Many new bridges, exchanges, and newly paved, wider lanes. There is a vast difference in traffic flow from Maadi to New Cairo. I remember being very afraid of the traffic my first year in Maadi. It was bumper to bumper, with people constantly blowing car horns or changing lanes. People did not drive within the white lines, and it was very common for three lanes to turn into four. Another common occurrence was someone stopping and backing up on the freeway because they missed their exit! I was horrified and honestly rode to school for months with my curtains closed on the bus. My attitude was that Egyptians were the worst drivers ever for the longest time. Then I realized it was just their way, and they must be skilled because I never saw an accident in my three years there. In any case, the new freeways are a tremendous improvement to Cairo’s traffic.
When visiting Cairo, we have never stayed in hotels. Instead, we stayed in Airbnbs in the neighborhoods where we lived. For $60 US dollars or more a night, you can expect an entire, lovely, two-bedroom apartment (not a studio). You will have a kitchen, living room, dining room, and full-sized bath. Apartments will either have a balcony, courtyard garden, or screened-in porch. I do not recommend this option for first-time “tourists” to Egypt. It could be a real culture shock for many reasons. A “seasoned” traveler to developing countries would adjust better.
Cairo has all the major, upscale hotels you would expect any major city to have. You have your choice of hotels on the Nile or near the Pyramids. From the Five Star Four Seasons on the Nile to the elegant Marriot Mena House that overlooks the Pyramids with a golf course and spa. Many other lovely hotel options vary in price. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Citystars Cairo before moving into our apartment when we first arrived in Cairo. The hotel is attached to the Citystars Mall, which has many restaurants to choose from and a cinema! It was a great way to “ease” into the new culture that was to be our new home.
While living in Maadi, a lovely weekend get-away was the LeMeridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa below.
During this stay, we visited many friends and walked to all our favorite restaurants and shops. We only ordered a car when necessary. Walking is our exercise during vacations. Always travel with good walking shoes!
A favorite American eatery and a tiny, unique gift shop.
A neighborhood vintage clothing and gift shop. A favorite coffee and sandwich shop.
No visit is complete without returning to the Pyramids. The main reason was to take pictures wearing the t-shirt of a friend’s restaurant in Charlotte, NC.
The Grand Mall. As described in Part 1.
Our favorite restaurant and bar! Located on Road Ten in Maadi. The best drinks I’ve had in all of Egypt. Great food and friendly staff. It opens for dinner at 4:00, Italian cuisine.
The owners of Bella Figure are lovely, and it is easy to reserve space for large groups. Since it was impossible to have individual, quality time with all our friends, we reserved a room for a dinner/social gathering before leaving. It was a wonderful time for all! May 2022
Although there are nice apartment buildings and beautiful homes/villas in Maadi, the streets are very dusty and need repair. The apartment buildings above, and villas below, are in the neighborhood we lived in.
The streets surrounding and leading up to the nicer neighborhoods were often dirty with trash. However, we did see some improvement in the amount of garbage that would sit on the streets for long periods. Another noticeable change was the number of dogs roaming the streets in small packs. I’m a dog lover, yet that was scary my first year. I soon realized the dogs were not pets; they just roamed the streets, not bothering anyone. I am not a cat lover, and many cats are still roaming the streets.
Many ex-pats are moving out of Maadi to New Cairo and beyond. As the name implies, the apartments and villas are new. They have beautiful gardens, and most are gated communities. They have sidewalks throughout, swimming pools, restaurants, and other amenities you would expect from gated communities in the States. The business district also has new, modern, high-rise buildings. We visited friends that lived in these communities. We both agreed that we would have lived in New Cairo if we had young children while living there.
Some of the gated communities in New Cairo are golf course communities. These courses have gorgeous, lush green landscapes. Because the locals do not golf, the courses are rarely crowded and populated by foreigners. They also have beautiful clubhouses with luxury spas. My favorite is the Katameya Dunes, which has a hotel and spa. I enjoyed the spa facilities during my visit.
Another lovely community is Madinaty. Approximately thirty miles from Maadi. A beautiful waterfall, gated entrance community. We visited one of our “surrogate” daughters there. Since our last visit, they have built a beautiful, huge mall named Open Airmall. It has lots of restaurants, shops, and trolleys to travel around the grounds.
In the article Living inCairo, Egypt – Part 1, I mentioned including a twelve-hour layover (when possible) as you travel internationally. It’s a great way to visit a country you’ve never traveled to. We planned a twelve-hour layover in Paris, France, on this return visit to Egypt. My husband had never been to France, and he reserved tickets for us to visit the Louvre Museum when we arrived. Next, we saw the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. We then ate at an outdoor café near the Eiffel Tower. It was a wonderful day!
Because we enjoy riding trains, we thought it was a good idea to take the train from the airport to the Louvre. Not! (Please take this advice.) If you are not fluent in French, take a taxi. We arrived at our destination and even figured out how to transfer trains on our return trip. However, it was a little frustrating, and it took time to navigate the train station and the walk to the Louvre. Don’t waste your time when cars are available as soon as you land. Also, make sure you are getting into a taxi, not a private vehicle, unless you ordered an Uber. My advice when traveling internationally is to contact a reputable car service or have your travel agency have a car available when you arrive. Most drivers will be holding a sign with your name as you exit the airport. At the end of my blog, I will be adding the name of a reputable car and travel service for Cairo.
The main reason for returning to Egypt this trip was to attend the Engagement Party of one of our “surrogate” daughters. It was held on a large party boat on the Nile. The boat sailed for two hours round trip. When the boat was filled with guests, it left the dock. The engaged couple stood on the pier waving to their guests. Of course, we were all baffled! Then, they stepped into a speed boat which circled our boat as they waved to all the guests before climbing aboard. It was sooo much fun! The party was just as festive. Lots of dancing and quality time with friends and relatives.
The Engagement Party on the Nile
While living in Egypt and returning to visit, the times I’ve cherished most were having meals with friends and relatives.
This was an authentic Egyptian meal prepared for us and my cousins (visiting from the USA) when we lived in Egypt.
This was an authentic Egyptian breakfast served to us at our friend’s home during our last visit, May 2022.
So Many Things to Do…
Old National Museum
There were many favorite places and activities during our three-year stay in Cairo. Visiting the old National Museum was my favorite. If you are a “museum person,” you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you enter the building. Many of the statues are bigger than life; all are intricately carved. The museum itself was enormous in size and filled with ancient artifacts. However, we were told that the old museum only displayed a fraction of the artifacts owned by the museum. That was hard to believe! The good news is that the new, more extensive museum is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2022. (Not to be confused with the new National Egyptian Museum of Civilization) in Old Cairo. Check the website for GEM’s opening.
If you have never visited Egypt, it would be worth the wait. The new museum, called the Grand Egyptian Museum or GEM, is in Giza and overlooks the Pyramids. We saw the outside of the museum, and it looks spectacular and massive in size. I can’t wait to travel back and have a tour.
Old National Museum
Felucca Boat Ride
There were also many favorite boat rides on the Nile. Most weekends, we would take a one-to-two-hour Felucca boat ride. The cost was the equivalent of ten US dollars an hour, total, not per person. (plus excellent tips, of course!)
The boats were large, old, wooden sailboats without motors. They could accommodate up to sixteen people comfortably. We usually took boat rides in the evenings to watch the sunset with friends while having a picnic dinner.
When we lived there, TGIF Friday’s, the American restaurant chain, had a restaurant with a large deck overlooking the Nile. The inside looked like any chain in the States. Unfortunately, it has closed. We always came earlier than our date with friends to order food for the boat ride. Each Felucca had benches on the side and a table in the center. It was perfect for a picnic dinner while cruising the Nile.
A Felucca ride with friends during our visit a few weeks ago, May 2022.
There are a variety of boats available to rent. From small, catered dinner party boats to large, reception/birthday-sized party boats. Although each will increase in price, they are all very affordable compared to boat rentals in the States.
Traveling Throughout Egypt …
Nile Cruise
Of course, the ultimate Nile experience is the Nile Cruise. A very large riverboat with sleeper cabins. It is a mini version of a cruise ship. It has fewer amenities, of course, but still classy. Our cruise was in 2015. We flew from Cairo to Aswan, then cruised to Luxor. From Luxor, we flew back to Cairo. I can’t begin to describe the beauty of the temples in Luxor. You stand in awe in front of the bigger-than-life statues and the tomb of King Tut.
Below are photos that were taken of our riverboat.
There are many Day Trip options from Cairo
Ain Sokhna
With a group of ten, we rented a tour van to Ain Sokhna for the day. It is approximately one and a half hours from Cairo. We spent the day on the water. Very relaxing. May ’22
Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria has a lot of history, but it was just beautiful for me!
We would take a train and spend the day there.
The restaurants overlook the Mediterranean Sea, and the view is breathtaking. There is a long walkway along the sea and smaller beachfront restaurants for light snacks and soft drinks. This was one of my favorite getaways when we lived in Egypt.
Fayoum
Fayoum
A peaceful Desert Oasis south of Cairo with a natural waterfall in the middle of the desert! It is incredible and beautiful to see. You can picnic, ride horses, and relax for a day.
Dahab
We would probably name Dahab the most relaxing place ever. It is a world-class scuba diving destination. You meet people from around the world there. When you arrive, you feel like time has stood still. There are no high-rise hotels, no chain stores, or restaurants. Just local vendors selling their goods, lots of Scuba Diving shops offering lessons and snorkeling adventures. There are local restaurants of every kind, from seafood to Mexican to Asian cuisine. Our favorite hotel was the Coral Coast Hotel. We spent so many school vacations there with friends. It is an hour plane ride to Sharm, then approximately another hour or so drive by car to Dahab.
The Box Meal
A tiny favorite restaurant in Dahab was the Box Meal. Some of the best Asian cuisine I’ve tasted. It takes a while to get your food as they cook everything from scratch while you wait. My favorite ice cream place was called Ice Bubbles.
Keep in mind that all these adventures are done on a teacher’s Salary. From other international travels, I can honestly say that Egypt gives you the most adventure for your money.
Lastly, it is essential to be in good hands while traveling…
This tour company and car service are co-owned by Samir and his brother Ayman. Samir (above) has provided us with local car service since we moved to Cairo in 2015. His drivers are polite, accommodating, and drive nice cars. Two other things that impress me are that you always text the owner directly with your car service needs. They also handle day trips to tourist sites or trips to the mall. You are always told the amount of your trip in advance. The picture above is our recent trip to the airport as we were leaving Cairo. Samir’s local phone number for car service is +20 127 120 1330. The website has beautiful pictures of their packaged tours.
This has been a lot of information to take in. However, if you ever had thoughts of traveling to Egypt, I hope I have opened your eyes to the exciting adventures that await you!
I can’t think of anything more exciting than international travel. “Part One” has been added to the title Living in Cairo, Egypt because I could not imagine sharing my three-year journey through Egypt in just one piece. My interest in international travel began many years ago as a junior at Michigan State University. I student taught at the International School of Brussels in Brussels, Belgium. Many years later, I had the privilege of teaching at a private day school in Charlotte, NC, and earning their Global Educator’s Certification. By doing so, I traveled to several countries and learned about the customs and cultures firsthand. In two countries, we lived with families to be immersed in the culture. Those experiences gave me the desire to live and work abroad. So, as I was nearing retirement age, I did not want to retire before having an International Teaching experience. After applying for a leave of absence, and with help from my head of school, I landed a teaching position in Cairo, Egypt. I taught at the school for three years, between August 2014 and June 2018.
It was as exciting as it was scary to pick up and move to a country across the ocean and so far from home. My husband joined me on this journey, making it easier to be away from our daughters and grandchildren. Although the trip was long, it was smooth and uneventful. There are many options for traveling to Egypt, as we’ve learned. To make a long journey more exciting and fun-filled, plan a twelve-hour layover in a country you have never visited. Not only does it beat two additional layovers where you sit in the airport, but it’s a bonus trip on your journey. New Year’s Eve 2016, we returned to Egypt from the Christmas holiday in the States with a planned twelve-hour layover in Rome, Italy. So, we spent New Year’s Eve in Rome! Our driver took us to the Roman Coliseum, where we walked around for a bit, and then drove us to other points of interest. In the summer of 2020, we drove to Washington, DC, and took our first direct flight to Egypt in less than twelve hours total. Our shortest journey ever to Egypt! As you plan your trip to Egypt or another country, know your tolerance for air travel time and airport layovers. Let that drive your travel planning and itinerary.
The life of an ex-pat (a person who lives outside their native country) can be fascinating if you have done the proper research. In most cases, like mine, you automatically have a co-worker community in place when you arrive. These people quickly become your family away from home. In my case, I became friends instantly with many co-workers at the school because we rode the “teacher bus” to and from school together each day. In addition, you end up working alongside these people and living nearby. The bonding was quick and natural. I now have many international friends, several “surrogate” daughters, and I consider Egypt my second home.
Should you decide individually or with a spouse or partner to live abroad, many resources (Internet, books, and magazines) are available to guide you to ex-pat communities in countries of interest. One resource that I highly recommend is the magazine – International Living.
Each month, the magazine highlights safe, affordable, and exciting countries to move to as a foreigner. In addition, they report information on the cost of living, how taxes are handled, healthcare benefits, and other articles of interest for living abroad. They also sponsor trips to visit certain countries to learn about the environment firsthand. So, spending a few months, a year or two, or retiring abroad can be easier with these resources.
Upon arriving in Egypt, we were met by school officials and received an excellent week-long introduction to Cairo, and Maadi, a suburb of Cairo where we lived for three years. The first task was seeing the apartment we had preselected via the Internet before arriving. Next was shopping for groceries and everyday household supplies. We dined at different restaurants and did other activities that gave us a feel of the culture and city. Learning keywords needed for daily life is helpful, as we soon learned. We eventually found a great tutor and felt comfortable using many common Arabic words and phrases. It was surprising how appreciative the people in our neighborhood were of our attempt to communicate in Arabic. It was a pleasant surprise to see the number of people who spoke at least broken English. They were just as excited to communicate with us in our language.
There are so many wonderful things to say about Cairo, Egypt (Maadi in particular, where we lived) that getting started was hard! My very first impression was how kind and welcoming the people were. Maadi is a popular suburb to live in and a gathering spot for ex-pats. I never feared walking through the neighborhood or taking daily walks to Road 9 (approximately one mile away from my home), an area filled with restaurants, shops, and services. Everything you need is there, from optometrists to ice cream shops. It is an amazing area that comes alive each evening. I quickly learned that Egyptians are night owls. It is relatively quiet during the day, and the hustle and bustle begins after dark.
I also love the mixture of older Egyptian architecture with modern buildings and the mix of commercial and residential. All the modern conveniences are available and not far away. ATMs were centrally located and usually available in the local grocery stores. There were several ways to buy groceries which also added to the excitement. Monthly, we would take a car to a large food chain, “Carrefour,” which was the equivalent of Super Walmart and usually connected to a mall. We would stock up on staples, meats, cheeses, toiletries, etc. We would walk to our neighborhood grocery store every week, just a block or two away. They were small to medium-sized and filled with everything you needed. In addition, there were local “open-air” stands that sold candy, juices, and fresh fruit daily. However, my favorite was the man with the cart, common in most neighborhoods. As we walked home from the bus every day, he would have his mule-drawn cart filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, and usually his daughters and other children. I loved picking the fresh fruits and interacting with him as a vendor. He lived what seemed like a simple, happy life, and it will always be one of my fondest memories.
Traditional Egyptian Architecture
Rental housing for an ex-pat was inexpensive. The last apartment we rented was 11,000 LE per month (LE represents Egyptian Pounds). That is the equivalent of $611.00 US dollars.
The exchange rate at the time was strong in our favor, 18LE to one US dollar. So, our money went a long way there.
Our last apartment was the largest of the three apartments we rented (at almost 3,000 square feet), with two levels. This was not the typical size of apartments. However, nice, large apartments, fully furnished, were not hard to find for reasonable prices. You usually had a choice of modern buildings or the more traditional architecture. We always chose traditional housing options. We also selected to stay in Maddi versus the newer high-rise neighborhoods in New Cairo, where I taught school. The variety of housing options was excellent. It was unnecessary to spend a thousand dollars a month to live in a lovely apartment in a nice neighborhood. Our second apartment was in an area with several diplomatic embassies. We lived across the street from an ambassador’s home that looked like a smaller version of the White House in Washington, DC.
The icing on the cake (all three years) was having a weekly housekeeper—something I never could afford in the States. Like most housekeepers, she cleaned from three to four hours each week, and the apartment was spotless. She would also wash and iron if needed. The unfortunate part was her pay. We were not allowed to pay her more than what other maids (that’s what they were called) were paid—the equivalent of $25.00 US. Of course, we gave lots of gifts and bonuses for each holiday.
Although somewhat homesick because of the sheer distance from family and the seven-hour time difference, I quickly settled into the good, simple lifestyle. Thank goodness for FaceTime! It made a big difference being able to see my daughters and grandchildren live. We could share our days, and I knew the younger ones would not forget us. One thing I never adjusted to was the five-day workweek, Sunday – Thursday. At first, I thought we worked the first few Sundays because of Workshops, training, etc. I didn’t realize until I arrived that Sunday was an official workday. I can honestly say I complained for three years about that. Lol! Working on Sunday didn’t feel right to me.
The workweek aside, I can’t explain how exciting it is to immerse yourself in another culture. And Egypt was the perfect culture to do that. When I arrived, I knew very little about Egypt or the culture. I now have such an appreciation for learning about developing countries firsthand. I also quickly realized that the media/press could generalize and paint an ugly picture of a nation and its people based on a few events or the acts of a few people. This keeps Americans wanting to stay “safe” in their homeland and not see the world. Honestly, there was so much racial violence going on in the States that I was thrilled to be in Egypt at that time. Of course, we would get an occasional phone call from family or friends who heard something on the news about a violent protest of some kind. We usually had no idea what was going on and were safe and enjoying ourselves in another part of the city.
Note: When living in another country, you should connect with the American Embassy when you arrive. You will then receive news updates on emergencies, a need to avoid a particular area, or an advisory not to travel outside of the country.
Most of the Egyptian population is Muslim, with a small minority of people of the Jewish and Christian faith. We had many Egyptian friends that were Muslim and some who were Christians. I attended the Maddi Community Church and enjoyed fellowship with other ex-pats representing over forty faith denominations. Like most churches, it had outreach programs and all the different programs and groups you would come to expect from an American church. There was a traditional indoor church service at the time. The website now only shows the Friday evening outdoor service under a large tent. I continue to receive weekly emails and enjoy keeping up with community events.
Becoming friends with people of the Islamic faith is exciting when you are invited to learn about and take part in their religious celebrations. Before arriving in Egypt, I had no idea how Ramadan was celebrated or what an “Iftar” or “Eid” was. I now have a better understanding of the cultural celebration.
Ramadan is Islam’s holiest month. In 2022, it began at sundown Saturday, April 2nd, and ends with Eid on Monday, May 2nd. It is observed by fasting, reflection, and prayer. Fasting takes place between dawn and sunset. Fasting is a way of showing God gratitude for his blessings. There is a pre-dawn meal before fasting begins. After an evening prayer at dusk, Muslims celebrate with a dinner called “Iftar.” We had the pleasure of attending Iftar meals. The word Iftar means “breaking the fast.” It is a beautiful celebration shared with family and friends. Eid marks the end of Ramadan and the month of fasting. I felt honored to learn firsthand by participating in these celebrations with our Muslim friends.
An Iftar Meal with Friends and Family
We traveled home to the States each year for Christmas. However, we started our own Thanksgiving tradition in Egypt. We had friends from six or more countries join us for dinner in our first year. Most of the food was catered. However, we both cooked some of our favorite foods. Several had never attended a real Thanksgiving feast. It was so much fun sharing one of our cultural celebrations that others had only read about. We continued the tradition for the three years we were there.
Our Thanksgiving Feast with International Friends
Oh, the malls! The biggest surprise was the large, very modern malls! Once inside, you felt like you were in any sizeable American mall. There was always a Starbucks and a food court that usually had McDonald’s, KFC, Baskin Robbins, and other familiar eateries. These eateries were side by side with traditional Egyptian foods. The same was true for western stores like Nike. They were also side-by-side with traditional Egyptian stores. The women were very stylish, and there was no shortage of places to shop, from casual to high-end clothing, handbags, and shoe stores. A favorite, however, was The Grand Mall. An old, larger building in Maadi with seven or more floors of shopping. Most of the stores sold more traditional Egyptian clothing. However, there were several stores with modern western apparel too. There is an escalator in the center of the mall. I loved riding to the top and visiting each floor. It reminded me of department stores from my childhood. I also loved being surrounded by the Egyptian community there. In the basement, there were several sporting goods stores and tailors. You could have detailed alterations done for less than ten dollars in a day or two. This mall also had many bakeries and restaurants that served traditional Egyptian food. No Starbucks or other western food chains. A must-see if you visit Maddi!
Lastly, Majestic! That is the only way to describe the Pyramids, which I have now had the pleasure to visit many times. I can say firsthand that pictures will never do justice to the Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. When you stand before the Pyramids and look up, your first thought is, how is this possible? They did not have cranes, heavy machinery, or today’s technology. The stones are massive; many are larger and taller than the average person. You feel like you are witnessing a miracle and history right before your eyes. On one occasion only, I entered the Pyramid that visitors are allowed in. It is a very narrow (claustrophobic) crawl space that a taller or larger person would have difficulty entering. You crawl a few yards and step up into a burial chamber. It was exciting to see such a historic site. However, I am cautious in recommending this experience. I only did this once in all my visits to the Pyramids.
Look at the size of the Pyramid stones!
The Sphinx
There is so much more to share about my experience of living in Cairo for three years. As stated earlier, I will publish this article in two parts; Part two will highlight my favorite things to do in and around Cairo and our travels throughout Egypt.
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
Patricia's Passport Adventures 