Fried Viagra?

Today, I walked by a sign in a restaurant window advertising “Grilled Chicken” and “Grilled Viagra”. 

The letter “V” doesn’t even exist in Arabic; this can't just be a case of poor transliteration. Meaning... Fried Viagra is something in the same food category as Fried Shrimps?

Honestly, I wouldn't be all that shocked to see prescription Viagra on a food menu in Cairo. The food industry could stand to tighten its regulations to say the least. My roommate once pulled a huge, rusty nail out of her plastic-sealed granola bar. Not to mention pharmaceuticals: Viagra and steroids are advertised in pharmacy windows. You don't even need a prescription to wander into a pharmacy and grab some human growth hormones! You may as well fry up some viagra while you're at it. Yum.

Let's hope that something was just lost in translation.

One good reason to improve my Arabic! I'm going back to my old school, Drayah, for a placement test tomorrow. Meanwhile, I've been roaming my neighborhood trying to buy decently priced oranges and wondering about buildings and graffiti.

(Mosque, right?)

My neighborhood is covered in the most exquisite graffiti.


Today, I also wandered down the street a bit and spied the only Cairo "bar" I've ever stepped foot in. Most places that I've been to in Cairo I can never find again. Even the taxi drivers don't know where things are in this huge, crowded city full of unmarked roads.

"El Horryia" means "freedom"; ironic since this place is stiflingly hot and full of cigarette smoke and bright lights. It feels like a sweaty summer prison.

This "bar" is called "freedom cafe" and as I passed by I noticed old men sitting and drinking tea. At night, it fills with smoke and people drinking beer and a "fake beer" option that's really just pineapple soda. (It's delicious, actually). I don't drink and my roommate is allergic to wheat, so we probably won't be frequenting El Horryia this summer.

Other news: I met this lovely group of Egyptians last week at the Opera House for a language exchange. There happen to be plenty of Egyptians who are eager to practice their English and teach a strange foreigner colloquial phrases. The Opera House is beautiful and well air-conditioned.

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Unfortunately, the group didn't meet this week because of a workers' strike at the Opera House. In a nutshell: the new Minister of Culture, appointed by President Morsi, fired the head of the Opera House (the Ministry of Culture here funds many arts initiatives, including the Opera) and has fired several other important figures. Perhaps to replace them with pro-Morsi figures or in an attempt at controlling Cairo's cultural realm. If you're interested

I support the protest. But no language exchange, what a shame! Khusara.

Anyway, I'll make an effort to update this weekly. It's tough to break out my humongous, expensive-looking camera in the streets of Cairo alone. Building up the courage.

Ma-salama!
Ariel