The Egyptian Way :: #Jan25 Protests Photo Essay

The Egyptian Way :: #Jan25 Protests Photo Essay

I've been living and working in Cairo for two years and I'd just returned to Cairo and specifically from a Nile Cruise when the #Jan25 protests broke out earlier this year.

Although I was in Cairo on Tuesday, January 25th, I didn't go to Tahrir Square until Friday, January 28th - the truth of the matter is I was having my apartment painted and the job had been rescheduled numerous times over a three month period; I had planned my entire holiday break around getting my apartment painted. So I sat at home and while the painters painted, I monitored the protest activity on my laptop, mostly via Twitter. But then ... from Friday, January 28th until Friday, February 11th, me and my friends went to Tahrir nearly every day and all day.

Despite being a former journalist and a professor teaching journalism, I haven't written much about my experience going to Tahrir. I have lots of mixed emotions, but I've finally pulled something together.

I'm thinking that this is just one version of this photo essay.  I have hundreds of images to sift through and I also have some sound and a few interviews.

But this is where I begin ...

You can also view a larger version of the #Jan25 Photo Essay.

VIDEO: Random Images from Egypt

Since moving to Egypt, there is rarely a moment when I don't have my camera. It's nothing fancy a Canon A570IS, but it's compact enough to fit in my purse and relatively quick to start up.

Though I've taken lots of photos while in Egypt, there are times when taking images is inappropriate. For example, I really want a pic of Muslims during prayer, but it just seems invasive. Also, in some of the more conservative parts of Cairo, sometimes they are not comfortable w/people taking pics and so I honor that.

Often when I am out and about, something weird and/or random happens. Nice to have a camera for those times.



Some of the images in this slide show are random images from Egypt. Most of the images were taken in Cairo, but some were taken in Alexandria as well as the White Desert. And there is one image that I did not actually take - it's the one of a group jumping in the sand. That was taken by Yehya Hafez. Thanks for looking.

Minarets and More: A Walking Tour of Cairo

Sharing a slideshow that I produced using Vuvox.

I went on a three hour walking tour in Cairo from Tahrir Square to the Citadel. Whew!

Images of Cairo

I've managed to get out and about in Cairo. I love seeing the people running their daily errands and just living their lives.

Here's the link to the Images in Cairo slideshow.

The Vatican Embassy in Cairo

I came across a slideshow program called Vuvox recently. It seems dynamic and easy to use. Isn't that what we all want? An extraordinary platform to display and share images w/o all the hassle. Think we've found it.

This is a very quick example of what is possible.

How to Embed a Picasa Web Album Into Your Blog

Created this short video tutorial using Screenjelly.

Just quickly reviewed the details of how to embed a Picasa Web Album slideshow into your blog.

I failed to mention that you have to add the embed code to the 'Edit Html' section of your Blogger page (or other blogging program).

My Visit to the Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt

So the site seeing in Cairo continues and it is wonderful.

On Saturday, August 8, we tried get up and out early - 8 a.m. - to head over to the Giza Pyramids. However, because of a pickup location snafu, we did not hit the road until around 9 a.m. We were trying to beat the heat and the crowds. The heat was not so bad ... but there were lots of folks there.

We also went to see the Sphinx. Incredible.

Just throwing out some highlights on this "Trip to the Giza Pyramids" slide show (click the link to see a full view of the slide show. The captions are in a larger font on the main slide show page).

Thanks for looking.

More Pics from Day One in Cairo

Just getting around to editing and downloading pics from last week. It was a whirlwind.

Went to:

• Step Pyramids
  
• Egyptian Museum
• The Bibliotheca Library of Alexandrina
• Fort Quaitbey
  
• The Catacombs of Alexandria
  
• Pompey's Pillar
  
• Giza Pyramids

Click here to see a full size view of the "Seeing the Sites in Cairo, Egypt" slide show.

We ate a numerous restaurants and every meal has been tasty. I've come to like a beverage called a lemon juice ... not quite lemonade and not quite just lemon and water; it's a little sweet and frothy. It is sometimes served w/fresh mint.

Well ... enjoy this set of pics, but know that there are more on the way.

Another Exciting Day in Cairo

I am posting a brief slide show ... I took waaay too many pics today: 155 and video too. Please note that the slideshow goes a bit fast. I can not adjust that. However, you can pause on each image to read the captions.

It was an early start by visiting the Step Pyramids and some others too. Climbing inside the one pyramid was exciting, but not so much once we got inside.

I think we tipped a thousand people today .. okay, maybe a hundred: our guide, the driver, the waitress at Euro Deli, the crazy smoking taxi driver, the woman manning the bathroom, and many more. Oh, well, such is life in Cairo.



We also went to the market. Very large, very dirty, but the architecture of some of the building is amazing. We managed to haggle w/a vendor and got a shirt for me for about $10. Oh, and I know my mom will not come to visit me here. There are cats in Cairo ... lots and lots of roaming cats and if you know me then you are wondering if I will be returning next week ...

The highlight of the day, for me at least, ended up being the traditional Egyptian dance performance: Al Tannoura. The music to accompany the dancers was very good ... upbeat and not just drums, but I'm not sure of the names of the instruments.

The dancers were fabulous and colorful! I plan to see more of that while I am here.

That is it for now ... though I did not post any pics from yesterday and I will definitely post some video because life in Cairo does not quite come across in a still image.

I will be M-I-A until Friday ... taking a day trip to Alexandria. It's about a two hour train ride north of Cairo on the coast of the Mediterranean. Going to hang out there and see the sites.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Kim Gets Her Hair Cut :: Slide Show

I recently got my hair cut. I did not take any before pics. But here is a slide show that I created using Sound Slides.

For a full screen view of the slide show:
Kim gets her hair cut



photographer: ericka robinson
music: Rik Cordero "Lucid Dreams" (free download)

Check out this short video

Just checking out a new program - nice.