Just some more things around my neighborhood--and my bowab

Beeping and honking horns

Starting around 10 am, when the locals start their day, to late in the night when I am asleep, you hear horns beeping and honking for all kinds of reasons. I say beeping because there are short high-pitch beeps (one or two only) and honking, which is louder and usually sustained. I am certain there is a bunch of interesting rules  and reasons for honking and beeping your horn and I would love to learn about it. So far it seems to me that beeping and honking are signals to let you know that they are approaching (and maybe want to pass you)--they even beep when you're walking; to tell you to get out of the way; and to ask if you want a taxi. I have taxis beep at me nearly every time I'm trying to cross a street. Dave said they are the most fearless drivers on the road. They do whatever they want and never even look at you. Today there was a small traffic jam at the roundabout and EVERYONE was beeping and honking. It was a crowd mentality.

 

Dave went to the dentist

Dave has a crown that keeps falling out. It fell out the other day and the Maadi Dental Center was recommended. The visit was great and although we will never ever have a dentist as sweet and gentle as Dr. Wendy Swantowski in Houston, now we know where to go for dental work in Maadi. Dr. Amr Abdel Azim was so nice and his assistant was delightful. And it only cost $60.

 

Dogs

Because I am a lover of dogs I am interested in how they are treated and how they survive here. I was told that in general Muslims do not like dogs as they are considered dirty. You can google this and see all the different views. Here in Maadi I have noticed different kinds of dog situations and I don't understand them (yet).

• Street dogs. It will break your dog-loving heart to see the street dogs. Thin and parasite-ridden, they are mongrels of the best kind, sweet faces all of them. I am not afraid of them as they are slow and tired looking but I do not touch them. I believe that the government culls them when they get too numerous because of rabies and such. If you get bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, you will have to get rabies shots. A series of three but no longer in the stomach. 
• Pets. Many expat families have dogs from home and I love the surprise of a furry animal to pet even though I cry. And I would pet cats if they let me! I love animals. What I see on the street that I've been trying to figure out is the local men walking dogs. I think they are the bowabs walking the dogs for the people they work for. I always wonder how they feel about taking care of the dogs.
• Guard dogs. I've seen German Shepherd dogs on leashes stationed next to the bowab/guard buildings that are common outside of villas and apartment buildings. I suspect that this is quite possibly the most effective deterrent to crime available in Egypt as people seem to ignore the police and military. Dave and I saw a bowab/guard deliberately scare a small group of people, including children, as they walked down the street on a Saturday morning--and the dog was a golden retriever. The dog was leashed and barking and it was just strange.

This is Mohammad, our building boab (security guard). He is such a nice guy and can speak Russian and English. Today he shared photos of his vacation in Aswan and Sharm el-Sheikh. Boabs know everything going on around the building and along the street. Our building has a guard 24 hours a day. Boabs commonly sit in small huts that line the street. This little structure is much nicer than others. ‎

A cute little boab hut. I really need photography lessons...

Guess what the brown markings on this building are from. BATS! That is bat poop from huge bats!

 

A unusual building on Road 210. It is so beautiful. I need to work on my photography skills because I never seem to capture what I see. Maybe I should stand closer to things.

One of many public water stations around town, which seem to be very popular. I noticed water stations like this in Geneva and saw old stone fountains in Italy that people drink from.



I'm still trying to capture the craziness of the roads and roundabouts. It just amazes me. The lush foliage continues to amaze me as well. You would never know we live in a desert while in Maadi. Does this look like a desert?