Comments on: Suq al-’Ala ~ The Friday Market http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:25:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Patricia Jerome http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-47 Patricia Jerome Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:25:25 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-47 Wonderful! Thank you for sharing all these fantastic photos. My husband and I just finished a course on Egyptology. The course was really more about history and culture, though, including present day Egypt. We discussed the Alepp Suq and other places not in Egypt, and travelled to San Francisco to see the King Tut Exhibit. We also enjoyed an evening at a fantastic Egyptian restaurant, also in San Francisco. Again, thank you. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing all these fantastic photos. My husband and I just finished a course on Egyptology. The course was really more about history and culture, though, including present day Egypt. We discussed the Alepp Suq and other places not in Egypt, and travelled to San Francisco to see the King Tut Exhibit. We also enjoyed an evening at a fantastic Egyptian restaurant, also in San Francisco.

Again, thank you.

]]> By: sarahstil http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-38 sarahstil Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:54:10 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-38 Anina, If you read my post about this market, you would have seen that I specifically noted that it is not a tourist destination, and that I, a non-Muslim, covered my hair before I went to the market as a sign of respect and understanding that I was in a local area. Just because there are no "tourists" does not mean that the market is dangerous. People may have looked at you strangely because they are not used to seeing foreigners at the market, not because they wanted to hurt you. I am a tall, skinny, white girl who definitely did not blend in and I got lots of looks, but I had a great time and no one was rude or unkind to me at all. I seriously doubt that anyone in the market that day had any intention of doing you or your friend bodily harm, and I think that man who told you it was dangerous probably just didn't want you to see how dirty the market was and then go tell your friends that Egypt is a dirty country. Cairenes are often sensitive to how outsiders perceive their home, and tourists are generally kept to the more "picturesque" parts of Cairo. If you want a pretty, easy, touristy experience of Cairo, then go to the Khan al-Khalili or the Pyramids Sound and Light show. If you want to see what some actual Cairenes do on their Friday mornings, go to the Suq al 'Ala. Of course it is not for everyone, so be prepared. Dress discreetly, don't carry an obvious camera, and just wander around taking it all in. And smile. Anina,

If you read my post about this market, you would have seen that I specifically noted that it is not a tourist destination, and that I, a non-Muslim, covered my hair before I went to the market as a sign of respect and understanding that I was in a local area.

Just because there are no “tourists” does not mean that the market is dangerous. People may have looked at you strangely because they are not used to seeing foreigners at the market, not because they wanted to hurt you. I am a tall, skinny, white girl who definitely did not blend in and I got lots of looks, but I had a great time and no one was rude or unkind to me at all.

I seriously doubt that anyone in the market that day had any intention of doing you or your friend bodily harm, and I think that man who told you it was dangerous probably just didn’t want you to see how dirty the market was and then go tell your friends that Egypt is a dirty country. Cairenes are often sensitive to how outsiders perceive their home, and tourists are generally kept to the more “picturesque” parts of Cairo.

If you want a pretty, easy, touristy experience of Cairo, then go to the Khan al-Khalili or the Pyramids Sound and Light show. If you want to see what some actual Cairenes do on their Friday mornings, go to the Suq al ‘Ala. Of course it is not for everyone, so be prepared. Dress discreetly, don’t carry an obvious camera, and just wander around taking it all in. And smile.

]]> By: anina http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-37 anina Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:00:49 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-37 hello again, two weeks ago, when i was in cairo i went with my friend to the market. from the first minute we had a strange feeling, not only because we were the only tourists around, but also because of the way people where looking at us. after about 5 minutes a friendly guy told us to go, because this area is very dangerous for tourists. so we went up the flyover and watched the market from up there. this was my expierience with the market and would nobody recommend to visit this place as a tourist! cheers, anina hello again,
two weeks ago, when i was in cairo i went with my friend to the market. from the first minute we had a strange feeling, not only because we were the only tourists around, but also because of the way people where looking at us. after about 5 minutes a friendly guy told us to go, because this area is very dangerous for tourists. so we went up the flyover and watched the market from up there.
this was my expierience with the market and would nobody recommend to visit this place as a tourist!
cheers, anina

]]> By: anina http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-34 anina Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:05:38 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-34 thanks a lot! thanks a lot!

]]> By: sarahstil http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-33 sarahstil Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:45:34 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-33 Hi, the market is also known as Suq il-Goma'a (Friday market) and yes it is only on Friday. You will find it under Al-Tonsi flyover (the Autostrade), between the Southern Cemeteries and the Khalifa district, south of the Citadel (il 'Ala). You can take a taxi there as it is pretty well known. Hi, the market is also known as Suq il-Goma’a (Friday market) and yes it is only on Friday. You will find it under Al-Tonsi flyover (the Autostrade), between the Southern Cemeteries and the Khalifa district, south of the Citadel (il ‘Ala). You can take a taxi there as it is pretty well known.

]]> By: anina http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-32 anina Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:17:44 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-32 hey, where exactly is this market? is it only on friday? thanks! hey, where exactly is this market? is it only on friday? thanks!

]]> By: Mary K http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-5 Mary K Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:30:20 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-5 Fascinating photos of the market...I kept comparing it to the ones I know--in London, Rome, Paris--all so reflective of their respective cultures. Which brought me to thinking of the one atop the Ashby BART station on the weekends---so representative of multi-cultural Berkeley (except, of course, for our hill dwellers--not many of them represented there!) Please keep your photos coming...you have such a good eye! Fascinating photos of the market…I kept comparing it to the ones I know–in London, Rome, Paris–all so reflective of their respective cultures. Which brought me to thinking of the one atop the Ashby BART station on the weekends—so representative of multi-cultural Berkeley (except, of course, for our hill dwellers–not many of them represented there!)
Please keep your photos coming…you have such a good eye!

]]> By: MOM http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/suq-al-ala/#comment-4 MOM Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:14:44 +0000 http://sarahstil.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-4 I was thrilled to get your new posting and quickly made a copy of it so I can read it on the bus to work. You are such a fantastic writer and you always make it so interesting. I hope sarah@hungry.com is working so you can receive e-mails for your birthday. this is the time of year I feel soooo far away from you. I'll keep sending you notes in the hope that you get them. I love you and am so proud of you! Big Hugs and Kisses. MOM I was thrilled to get your new posting and quickly made a copy of it so I can read it on the bus to work. You are such a fantastic writer and you always make it so interesting.
I hope sarah@hungry.com is working so you can receive e-mails for your birthday. this is the time of year I feel soooo far away from you. I’ll keep sending you notes in the hope that you get them.

I love you and am so proud of you!

Big Hugs and Kisses. MOM

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