Antonio Capriotti in Cairo
Capriotti Who is Antonio?
tireless traveler of landscapes, characters and the depths of the soul. Journalist, writer and interviewer unrivaled. Goes here some of their reviews from a trip to the route of Oedipus.
is September, and it's hot in Cairo.
people Cairo is Egypt. Migrants from the south, with its customs and traditions, and peoples of the world that are mixed in Cairo. At the airport too. When the wait is longer, is easier to get into conversation with strangers on the verge of ceasing to be because they will share 4-hour flight.
"I live in Cairo and live as a Muslim. I'm English "- had not been necessary to clarify - in Seville, and I fell in love with an Egyptian. And here I am, at his side. "
accent unmistakable Andalusian stature, is dressed to the West and is seen exultant: "I take a short break in Europe with some friends," he says.
And your husband?
"It is a business deal," while that theirs is an appliance business with 10 employees.
family And you accepted it?
The answer lies behind a smile, "And ... yeah."
Cairo is crossed by many cultures ...
The line to enter the flight to Athens with a mellow moves slowly. Leaving Cairo after Egypt tour part requires an extra effort, remember. And the traveler is mixed and confused the names of pharaohs, temples, kings and conquerors, more jerky names.
Cairo is a city suffering. And puzzling. All in Cairo seems antiquated. So what has not yet been opened, is already old. Is it because the prevailing color of the sand rough. There is something irritating in Cairo. People who talk to the shouting, who live from tourism surrounding the persistent traveler who knows what is going to get away with it.
As air strips, highways cross the border to Cairo with disdain and urgency. Chaotic traffic. Vertigo. All slides in a hurry there because it takes too long to move from one place to another. And be carried away by these tapes giant is getting into the bowels of the city, and, there is shown naked, the harshness of life of its inhabitants. You can not ask for miracles, income of the majority do not exceed $ 200 per month. On both sides of the highway rise buildings that are under permanent construction. Crowded housing. A shortage of land, land prices climb to the clouds and families cling to their own, on which they build their children as wedding goes, flat on floor. There are no time or desire, let alone money, to give an end to the building with self-confidence showing the bars of the crib like whiskers in the wind, and the raw bricks without plaster.
In Cairo, most of it is incomprehensible. Yes we understand the word of the pharaohs.
Morad is a guide and accompany your group to the airport to bid him farewell. It is a responsible and committed professional. Lives in Cairo, where he was born. "I love Cairo, I love it," "I'm in love with this city," Morad was passionate as she talks to consume all of the oral cavity rounded vowels and consonants as if before leaving your mouth full turn to give a full and emerge easy to understand. "Sure, for you, Cairo is a different city and must give the account that you spend all the time around the monumental sites, but have not been to Cairo. "
We had not seen.
"I believe that Cairo has changed a lot," Morad said, adding: "We must understand that modern Egypt has been a monarchy for a long time from 1805 to 1952, nearly 150 years of monarchy. At that time Cairo was another character, another style, Egyptian monarchy had thirty million people, now has 80 of whom 20 million live in Cairo. Since the 50 has changed, "says Morad.
And note, especially when crossing the dam, a country before and after Aswan. Monumental work.
Cairo has been modernized. Yes, but what is Cairo? Is the old neighborhood where old mosques? "Islamic Cairo where ancient Christian churches of the fourth century? Does the pharaonic pyramids Cairo? Or Westernized modern Cairo richly glazed buildings downtown and 7 star hotels? Or Heliopolis Cairo, residential and elegant, shows immoral injustice? Maybe Cairo neighborhood Coptic?
Cairo is crossed by many cultures and unjust inequalities. It is a mega city that is in a state of commotion. Feverish. Sleepless.
Why did you choose as the English language?,
"I chose this language in the year 85 a year before starting college. At that time it was rare in my country to study English. My father said 'Please Morad you are choosing a language that nobody knows anything. Are you crazy or what? Everybody is studying English and French. " "No, I said, I like having a language he has nothing. There were 15 students in English and English, 300; in French, 500. " Morad, pauses and says: "I've also read a lot about the Castilian-speaking countries: there are 22 countries. Since childhood I wanted to work in tourism. What I chose English because there are many countries who speak it. Besides being a few guides that I can choose the job talk. "The Egyptian, who is close to 50 years routinely use present tense as if afraid of losing something, as if lurking danger of forgetting.
A Cairo leaves him with some sadness, is a relic, the thin suspect that something was in the bottom of everything, have not been able to fully understand. Perhaps what the Arab proverb says, read a book by Lawrence Durrell: "If you want to hide it hide a thing in the eyes of the sun and the sun in Cairo and at all hours of the day, is a powerful adversary and civilized, strains but not annihilated.
What do you feel to leave this town and your husband?
"I feel relief. But in a few days make you want to return, "says the Muslim Andalusian seatmate on a flight of 4 hours.
