10 Things That Occupy My Time During the Cairo Curfew

There are millions of people in Egypt that are not in the streets fighting and destroying this country. Since 14 August 2013 and Egypt's most horrifying violent day since the 2011 revolution, the military declared curfew for the major cities in Egypt. The curfew is from 6 am to 7 pm. Today, the government declared an extra few hours for us in the evening until 9 pm. I realized that I have been unintentionally documenting activities that occupy my friends and my time during this last week.

It's been 11 days since the Egypt military declared curfew on the major cities in the country. Today we were told that the government would allow us a few more hours on the street. Our evening curfew now starts at 9 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. The exception is on Fridays, the first day of the weekend in Egypt and when protests typically start up after Friday prayer.

Over the last 11 days, I realized that I've been unintentionally documenting the time spent during the days of intense fighting, as well evenings when cooped up at home. The first five days, we were in Alexandria with friends. On Sunday, we drove back home to Cairo to even more quiet, barbed wire, and tanks.

Inspired by the article 10 Things To Do During the Curfew from Egyptian Streets
http://egyptianstreets.com/2013/08/19/10-things-to-do-during-the-curfew/

Here are the top 10 Things Repeated by Me and My Friends' During the Alexandria and Cairo Curfew 

#1 Cook. Eat. Repeat. This was breakfast on Thursday.

#1 (continued) Cook. Eat.
Mulukhiyah, mloukhiya, molokhia, molohiya,
mulukhiyya, malukhiyah, or moroheiya. However you spell it, it is comforting.

#2 Order delivery before 5 PM. (Actually, we don't eat McDonalds.
 I just happened to walk by the McDonalds delivery bikes during the day.)

#2 (continued) Otlob.com : Order delivery before everyone closes for the evening.

#3 Drink copious amounts of coffee, when not drinking tea.

#3 (continued) Drink copious amounts of tea, when not drinking coffee.

#4 Coffee tasseography! Learn Turkish coffee reading from my Auntie.

#5 When chants and gun shots come near, watch from window and
glue to Twitter and Facebook feeds.

#6 Sleep

#7 Meditate or Pray or do Yoga whenever possible.

#8 Tune into State Channels for depressing doses of depression.

#8 When conflicts intensifies, watch military helicopters circle.

#9 Be grateful that our friends had a flat with a view that
we could all stand on the balcony and look longingly into the quiet city,
 wishing to be walking along the cornish soon.

#10 During the day, do errands, work, or get out of flat. Count the tanks along the way.

#10 (continued) During the day, do errands, work, or get out of the flat and enjoy empty traffic.