Expat move to Cairo

The only problem we found as tourists is every one is out to sell you some thing. Even the most respectable people have a "scam" or at least some way of relieving you of some folding.
Cairo is a mad and busy place,the traffic is sheer lunacy (I'm not sure I'd even drive there), it makes Naples look organised.
Downside the poverty is appalling,shanty buildings along side less than pure looking canals and rubbish every where.
Saying that every one seems happy with their lot and you soon realise when you start to haggle you are actually quibbling about pence really.
I'm sure if foreign businesses are they are going to house their people in a good area.

Enjoy it's a fascinating country with historical places on practically every corner.

Howard

Dev,

What would you like to know?

I know Cairo pretty well. I was there as an expat from 1989 to 1995 (based in Zamalek), travelled there 7/8 times per year from 1997 to 1999, moved back there on a posting (based in Maadi / Digla) in late 1999 through to 2002 and then used it as a base of operations for my own business through to about 2005.

I think I can offer some thoughts on what it is like to live there as opposed to merely visiting as a tourist. I can definitely give some views on such things as general day-to-day living, schools, good/bad places to visit / eat / shop, etc.

Do you want to do this here or take it offline?

Dan

Dev,

Have fun, I just hope the driving is not as life threatening as it was when I was living out there! I lived in Heliopolis for about a year, which is handy for the airport, but that was over 20 years ago so I have no idea what it is like now. It was considered to be quite a good area at the time. My daily commute was across Cairo past the pyramids and down to the Nile Delta, it was terrifying.

Our office and sleeping accomodation was adjacent to a mosque, and many of the surrounding buildings kept hens and chickens on the roofs. Between the two types of "alarm clocks", it was not difficult to get up with the lark!

Good luck

Nic

quote:

Originally posted by Traveling Dan:
Dev,

What would you like to know?

I know Cairo pretty well. I was there as an expat from 1989 to 1995 (based in Zamalek), travelled there 7/8 times per year from 1997 to 1999, moved back there on a posting (based in Maadi / Digla) in late 1999 through to 2002 and then used it as a base of operations for my own business through to about 2005.

I think I can offer some thoughts on what it is like to live there as opposed to merely visiting as a tourist. I can definitely give some views on such things as general day-to-day living, schools, good/bad places to visit / eat / shop, etc.

Do you want to do this here or take it offline?

Dan

Dan and all,

Thanks for your comments. I will be moving to the Maadi/Digla area as it seems to be very nice and green, I'm staying at the Four Seasons downtown now which is a nice place although the traffic is totally mad.

Dan - if you wouldn't mind getting in touch my email is devraj .banerji @bp . com. I look forward to hearing from you.

thanks,

Dev


Remove gaps from e-mail.

Adam

dev

my girlfriend lived in Cairo for more than three years... i have been there many many times.
for living i preferred Zamalek to all the other quarters.

tell me if you need some restaurant tips

regards,
BF

Dev,

Message sent to your e-mail - not sure if it got through. Please check.

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by Traveling Dan:
Dev,

Message sent to your e-mail - not sure if it got through. Please check.

Dan

Hi dan, just got it today, thanks. Am tied up for the rest of this afternoon but I will get back to you tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Cairo is a mad and busy place,the traffic is sheer lunacy (I'm not sure I'd even drive there), it makes Naples look organised.

I've never been to Cairo but a friend of mine who has can vouch for the above. He told me that his experience of travelling in a taxi in Cairo was of speeding through red traffic lights and being told by the cab driver, by way of explanation:-

"Red light - go.

Green light - go FASTER!"

That plus he the constant cacophony of horns blaring by through-going traffic made overnight stays 'interesting'.

In a taxi in Cairo you never get told the price...apparently the protocol is to pay what it is worth. After one particularly hairy ride into town for a meeting last week (in a S class Mercedes) I refused to pay more than 10 Egyytian pounds (a quid in real money) and the bloke proceeded to offer to make up for the awful journey by waiting for me so he could take me back to the hotel and repeat the experience! No thanks!

Dev - good for you! Cultivate that sense of adventure, I say. Expat life is good for you. Will drop you an email - haven't been in touch in ages.

best

Rico