About two weeks ago, we trekked down to Road 9, to do some last minute shopping for one of the kids. As usual we passed a VW parked on the street, so here's a few complimentary Bug photos since VB's been remiss at the Funkengroovin posts lately. (We had the whole family here for awhile, plus entertained another five people who are our neighbors back in Connecticut. So we've all been preoccupied.)
Below 3 photos: Different views of the same Beetle.
On our walk, we discovered the bakery at the Metro overpass had closed up shop. It always had full stands of bread and sweets. Then the bread riots came and VB heard they were baking bread for the government. As time went on, the amount of products they offered dwindled. And now this - nothing. So where to get freshly baked goods?
While we were shopping near the Metro Market area of Road 9, VB could smell some enticing odors coming from a dark alleyway. She looked up, saw a sign, and a man standing outside said, "bakery." It smelled so good, VB had to visit, even over the protests from the kids. So we went into the dark alleyway. Below: Wooden shelves containing some of the breads, and crackers, including bread sticks.
Looking beyond the the shelving a man was napping in an airy courtyard, where sheesha is served.
Below: Freshly baked rolls.
Below: The reason we ended up staying longer. They had a package of small pizzas made with puff pastry. The baker said he would have fresh ones coming out of the oven in a few minutes, and the kids wanted fresh, warm pizza. They didn't want to stop here to begin with, and now we have to wait so they can have it straight from the oven.
They also sell cookies exactly like Greek Koulourakia.
Below: These are called "S" and have an orange flavor. Others have anise, and some are slathered with sesame seeds (VB's favorite.)
Much of the cooking around the Middle East, southern and eastern Europe is so similar, probably due to the Ottomans who had control of the territories for ages. It's typically the first bits of a new language VB learns, since the words are so similar.
The bread below is called Tsorek, and tastes exactly like Greek Tsoureki, a bread usually baked for Easter.
Below: The shop sign. This has become one of VB's favorite food stops. Everything we've tasted is delicious, and disappears quickly. We left with two packages of small pizzas (about 2-3 dozen), one tsoureki, one batch of "S", two large fateers, and two packages chocolate filled eclairs and puff pastries, for less than 100LE (about $17.00). Quite a deal.
Most photos were taken with VB's iPhone, another one of her favorite things. (No this is not a copy of "Oprah's Favorite Things", but they "Good Things" too.)
Eating in The Capitol is not only impressive, but can also be expensive. VB enjoys eating out, when there's good food to be had. In her little town in Connecticut, every single restaurant offers bad pizza, bad grinders, bad gyros, and just bad food choices, and it's all the same - as if one family owned all the restaurants. (Okay, one has good pizza and another has very good Japanese food, but that's it.) VB enjoys variety, and so last week when we were in Washington, we ate at:
Eric Ripert's West End Bistro. (Below) VB had the Fish Burger with the Macaroni, ham and cheese for two (she shared.) The Fish Burger is like a massive crab cake on a bun. We took a doggie bag of mac and cheese back to the hotel. Coincidentally, as VB was editing this, Serious Eats posted the recipe for The Fish Burger. VB can verify it's incredibly good, and actually looks like it might be healthy, as well (VB has a habit of picking the most unhealthiest foods from menus.)
The next evening we ate at Grillfish. After the waiter annoyingly repeated several times that there was just one serving of wild halibut left, VB raised her hand and said, "I'll take it." Thus reserving it, as someone else mused aloud, "how old is it?" We had already eaten the Ginger Calamari and Fried Calamari at the bar during happy hours, when drinks and bar food are half price. The halibut was excellent. VB should add that she had massive amounts of gin that evening, so just about anything on a plate would've been "excellent".
Friday afternoon, after watching the crazies on Capitol Hill, we ran off to Founding Farmers for luncheon rendezvous. Just about every restaurant we called was booked solid from 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM that evening, so we decided to do a big lunch instead. VB ordered the House Salad with Buttermilk Ranch, but was instead served with Bleu Cheese (she didn't send it back). She also had the Slow-Simmered Sirloin Chili: "48-Hour Marinated and Simmered Sirloin Chili with Beans, Cheddar Crisps, Grated Onions, and Grated Cheese". It may have been marinated for 48 hours, but there's no way that meat was slow simmered. VB likes the sirloin in her chili to fall apart, melt in her mouth, and be meaty. This was tough, and loaded with gristle. We also ordered the Skillet Corn Bread, at which someone commented, "This is just like yours." Yep, VB makes that exact same freaking bread!
That evening we walked to Dupont Circle in search of a place for drinks and small dishes. We found Zorba's Cafe. We were lucky enough to find a seat outside. We had Zorba's combination Plate containing meats and dips and two wedges of pita, another appetizer plate containing numerous dips, and a full carafe of Retsina on tap. The gyros pieces were amazing and done right (not half raw - they grilled it again after shaving it, which is how it should be)!, The retsina awesome! You have to have a taste for retsina to appreciate it when it comes from a tap (most Greek restaurants don't even offer it. Not even those chichi pseudo Greek restaurants in New York City.) Sorry, no photos from Zorba's.
Below: Our last meal in The Capitol, was a Ben's Chili Bowl. Needless to say we had chili. The boys had Bill Cosby's Original Chili Half-Smoke. VB had a bowl of chili (meat) with cheese and onions. We all shared the Chili-Cheese Fries. And, we saw photos of Obama when he visited earlier this year. We sat in the same area. VB wonders, if she sat in the same seat as Obama, will some of that brilliance rub off on her?
As we strolled back to the car, VB then took photos of the neighborhood, and these are two of her favorites.
While driving home to Connecticut, south of New Brunswick, on the New Jersey Turnpike, we encountered some teenagers on their Yamahas (or whatever small bikes they were riding). They descended upon us, at first, one by one, then in twos. VB tried to put a video together (yet another photo album with music). She should have videotaped this on her new iPhone, but she's a camera gal, and grabbed that first. Watch it if you'd like to (1) see what may come upon you as you journey through The Garden State; (2) Identify the assholes who are participating in this. After the first cycle passed, The Boss Man sped up. VB wondered if he was chasing the guy. The Boss Man said, "I'm going 80." As another bike passed furiously he added, "what do you think they're going?" They were going well over 100 miles per hour, and refusing to use lanes (squeezing in between two side-by-side cars) while one was even wearing his team jacket with his name on it! The highway patrol needs to grab these guys and revoke their licenses to drive, even if it's for a tricycle.
For a real taste of what we experienced, look at: this video.
Our day started out great. The weather had cooled about ten degrees, with a threat of rain. We took our umbrellas. We were on our way to The Capitol Building. We walked from a Foggy Bottom hotel to the Ellipse, where we relieved ourselves (well, at least VB did) and sat while enjoying the sights, such as the one below. Segways can be rented to tour the Capitol. Something we didn't know, but became apparent after seeing numerous nerdy people on them, all over the place.
Below: A geek on a Segway taking a photo of the geese, no doubt, as there was really nothing else there. Would VB lie to you? Believe me you, things change from just plain strange to outrageous on this day.
VB wanted to walk to The Capitol Building for two reasons: (1) She had never seen it before, from the Mall view - close-up and personal; (2) We were informed by our Pakistani doorman that a major Jumaa pray-in event was scheduled, and 50,000 Muslims were to be there at 1:00 PM on Friday! VB performed her usual Google search and found Islam On Capitol Hill, with all the details. That's a got-to-see thing. A be-in for any Muslim worth their snuff. Sort of like a March On Washington for Muslims. Amazed, VB had settled on walking down there to view the event. And, as we all know, nothing goes as planned.
First there were the protesters. As we approached The Capitol, this is what we saw, below.
Question: When do they start burning the crosses?
As we got closer, the protesters were gathered at strategic points (of course) to annoy all who passed by, and particularly Muslims attending this event. The speaker below reminded VB of the protesters at the Republican National Convention, 2004, in New York City. All these people are comparable to the God Hates Fags group, from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas headed by Fred Phelps. Apparently God hates all those who don't agree with Mr. Phelps. All these protesters are more concerned with what happens after death, than how we conduct ourselves during our lifetime.
From The Washington Post, Muslim Prayers at Capitol Stir Protests: "The event, called "Islam on Capitol Hill," is designed to highlight how U.S. Muslims can coexist with their fellow Americans. Hassen Abdellah, the lead organizer of the event, called on people to come to the Capitol to "pray for peace and understanding between America and its Muslim community.""
"But this week, some conservative Christians have called the event a threat to Christian values."
Here (below) the megaphone for one of the protesting groups.
We crossed the street towards The Capitol, and it looked blocked off, so we turned around. This is the group with the above mentioned megaphone. What caught VB's attention was the "Jail To The Chief" banner. Yep! That's got religion (ahem, racism) written all over it!
Below - This is about twenty minutes before the Jumaa Prayers are to begin, and the attendance looks small.
We sit for awhile, as we've walked at least two miles from Foggy Bottom. Some of the attendees (below) gather at the Capitol Reflection Pool to dress (and possibly wash their feet?) Meanwhile, some Christian Indians (South Asian) decide to try to convert us from our fallen away lives to saving our souls - that's what matters the most you know - saving souls. They don't want us to get Left Behind.
Below - A few attendees, in bright dishdashas, cross the street towards The Capitol Building.
Below - Protesters on another corner - arguing.
Below - VB climbs onto the wall around the Reflection Pool for a better shot.
Below - The view behind VB. You can clearly see the Washington Monument straight ahead, with the National Book Fair tent in front, and the Smithsonian Castle protruding to the left. It's quite a sight.
Below - The two most annoying people in the universe this day. They persisted in standing at the corner where most prayer attendees were dropped off, screeching into a megaphone sins, should people not follow the one, the only, Jesus Christ. Pathetic that these people don't understand that Islam views Jesus as a prophet, as well. Oh, and that fornication sin with the special coloring - how in hell would we have any embryos or unborn babes to save if people didn't fornicate, and furthermore, perhaps this sad soul's parents should have had safe sex, or no sex at all!
Below - A video VB took with her new iPhone. She personally heard the guy with the megaphone declare, as he pointed across the street toward the prayer meeting, "This is a declaration of waaaar!" The video is rather boring, since he tamed his rhetoric down to mediocre religious punditry once he got on to his megaphone. Still, it was annoying - very, very annoying. At one point VB heard a police officer declare, "All those people (protesters), are ex-child offenders, wife abusers, alcoholics, and / or drug addicts." That was nice! No that was actually sweet!
Below - As we cross the street, this man is holding signs and declares, "I'm here in peace. You'll get no argument." Why does VB not trust him?
Then, just as we pass him, the toxic group appears - the ones that accost you, argue with you, and try to stop you, and eventually make you so angry you want to smite them (like with your umbrella)! We passed right by, while they were in the midst of arguments with other passers by, as you can see below.
We finally figured out (duh) that we could just walk right in to the prayer meeting ourselves - which we did. This photo below is from inside the lines, up close (but not too close) and personal (not really). The Boss Man was pushing VB to leave as we had another engagement. The prayer meeting was running late - very late - like forty-five minutes late.
Below - One of the Indian Christians predicted that he thought the crowd would swell to five thousand people for the meet. He said they had quite a good publicity show. Really? VB only knew of it a couple of days before, and no news agencies seemed to be covering it at all.
VB's last shot from the wall, before leaving, and there's no way this crowd will make fifty thousand, much less five thousand! Sad but true. According to the Washington Post, which has a great video at the link, and the only news outlet that seemed to care enough to even mention this event, At Capitol, a Day of Muslim Prayer and Unity: "Nearly 3,000 people gathered on the west lawn of the Capitol on Friday for a mass Muslim prayer service that was part religion and part pep rally for the beleaguered U.S. Muslim community.""We wanted to bring people out to show you don't need to fear America," said Imam Ali Jaaber of Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth N.J., the service's main organizer. At the same time, he said, he wanted to remind non-Muslims that "we are decent Muslims. We work; we pay taxes. We are Muslims who truly love this country.""
Across the street from the service, Christian protesters gathered with banners, crosses and anti-Islamic messages. One group, which stood next to a 10-foot-tall wooden cross and two giant wooden tablets depicting the Ten Commandments, was led by the Rev. Flip Benham of Concord, N.C.
"I would suggest you convert to Christ!" Benham shouted over a megaphone. Islam "forces its dogma down your throat." A few Christian protesters gathered at the rear of the Muslim crowd, holding Bibles and praying.
At one point, organizers asked them to tone it down.
"We would never come to a prayer meeting that you have to make a disturbance," Hamad Chebli, imam of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, said from the lectern. "Please show us some respect. This is a sacred moment. Just as your Sunday is sacred, our Friday is sacred.""
VB says, "Amen!"
Below: The belligerence doesn't end, as we try to leave.
We walked around the way we arrived. This is the view from the other side of the Capitol Building, as we depart.
There seems to be a contest going on at infowars.com to make a video of people posting these racist posters of President Obama where ever possible.
To quote them: "In order to awaken the people about Obama’s agenda, Alex is organizing a contest centered around the “Obama as Joker” poster that has Democrats and Obamanoids going ballistic."
Here's the local version below:
Fortunately others, who apparently have a surplus of the HealthCare '09 bumper stickers, thwarted them.
Weeks ago, when we heard Obama was coming to Cairo, The Boss Man asked Number One Son (who worked for the campaign a year and a half) of the possibility of being able to attend. As VB packed her bags, back in the States on Monday, she thought, "Should I take something nice to wear?" Then the thought occurred to her, that if it were to be, she would already know. Obama would be speaking three days later, and you'd think she'd know by now. So, no she did not pack anything nice.
Tuesday afternoon after being dropped off at Boston Logan and checking in, The Boss Man called and said, "We got in." Gee, that's nice - what to wear, what to wear! VB was so excited she couldn't sleep on the flight to Frankfurt. Normally, the combination of antihistamines for ear pain, and the alcohol at dinner make her pass out. Not on this flight. She was too psyched!
VB arrived in Cairo Wednesday afternoon, with a few short naps on both legs of the flight. Just a note, she had to fill out a card with name, address and phone number in Cairo, and then get photographed with a thermal device, before she could get her bags, to make sure she didn't have H1N1. (Isn't that panic passe' by now?)
VB promised herself a good night's sleep, as it was planned to leave at 8:00 AM to avoid traffic and the mad rush to get in to the hall. According to the invite, "Doors open at 10am." And on a typed note enclosed, "For security reason, please arrive by 10:30 a.m. Late arrivals are not guaranteed entry." Hmm - a half an hour to admit everyone, and in Cairo. Who TF are they kidding!?
We arrived around 8:30 AM to much emptiness. Our driver dropped us off in front of the gate to Cairo University. Below, the rotunda (that's what VB's calling it), as we enter. There was security at the gate, just like airport security. At the door of the rotunda, more security. Invite and IDs were checked and double checked. Since the idiot who filled out our invite used our nicknames, and proceeded to spell our last name wrong, the Egyptian guard had us wait to confirm our nicknames were really short names for what our passports had. Then inside, another security clearance, just like the first. This time we had to turn on our cameras to show they worked. Fortunately VB had the photo below as proof, and convinced The Boss Man to take a photo, as well. Security was uber high.
We heard the speech would be given at 12:10 PM. We were in the hall just a bit after 8:30 AM. Bored we started to take photos of just about anything. This is the dome, which is beautiful.
(Below): You can see how empty the place is. All those suits are security. We were told to sit on the left. VB picked the first row, back left, and began to sit on the aisle, when she was told that was for security. They immediately hustled one of the dudes from the front to sit there. The man behind him, also security, gave VB the stink eye every time she took a photo.
(Below): Just a bit after 9:00 AM the center starts to fill. Not sure how they designated seating, but eventually a few late comers got left out (and pissed.)
(Below): The back first level balcony was filled with the pros. We just kept an eye on them to tell where the action would be taking place.
(Below): After hours of waiting, the Presidential Seal arrives, and is put in place - perfectly. (Anal retentiveness pays off - sometimes.)
(Below): 1:00 PM, Robert Gibbs, Obama's Press Secretary peeks out from the side stage. We were sitting next to two other Americans (most likely we were the only white faces on the ground floor), and speculated that Obama would enter from the side stage, and walk to the main stage - you know, for a much grander entrance. Besides, Gibbs is pointing. You have to wonder, is he talking to Obama and showing him the path from the side stage to the main stage.
(Below): A few minutes later the White House Staff shows up, and just after Hillary makes her entrance. As VB took the photos, she noticed that no one in the audience noticed what was taking place. Of course, we know who Gibbs, Axelrod, and Rahm are. Most of the audience members - probably not.
(Below): While everyone gave Hillary a standing ovation, Obama enters. Here's he's into his speech. Unfortunately, at this point, VB was pretty wiped out. The excitement, lack of breakfast, and jet lag begin to st in. Yes, she heard the speech, and tried desperately not to fall over sideways into The Boss Man, from jet lag induced sleep. How can this happen? One of the most important speeches ever, and VB is almost comatose?
(Below): After the speech, a standing ovation, waves, and the "Obama" mantra got a start, but never really got going.
(Below): The limos stretched long and wide, line up for those worthy. Diplomats had to line up near the gate for their cars.
(Below): Protesters outside the gates.
(Below): Since the road rules changed from pre-speech to post-speech, chaos ensues. No cars are admitted into the area. The road we planned on taking on our walk to meet our driver was closed to pedestrians, as well. We were not the only ones left without a ride.
(Below): The police barricade. VB is starting to think that every young Egyptian man dreams of one day becoming an officer. There seemed to be more police, and security personnel than attendees.
(Below): As we begin our trek to meet our driver, VB takes another shot of the rotunda.
(Below): Buses of all sizes line up to gather their passengers.
This is not the end of our trek. VB will try to compile a slide show of the end - Inshallah. And, no, VB will not provide opinions or commentary on the speech. Unless you're living in outer space you have either heard, seen, or read it for yourself, and can make up your own minds. VB is just thankful that we now have a president who can speak proper English, is intelligent, understands complex matters, and believes diplomacy trumps military might. BTW, for more photos, go to VB's flickr set.
Expat currently living in Egypt. I'm not really a vagabond, but I would like to be. I do own an '87 VW Vanagon Camper (Weekender) and a 1965 VW Beetle Convertible.
I'm more of a rider on the corporate vagabond trail.
Views expressed here are mine and mine alone. If anyone feels insulted by this, or any other posts, don't worry I am a equal opportunity lampooner.
