CAIRO: Tips to travel to Cairo

1. To go or not to go?

I traveled to Egypt this past June and honestly I had many doubts and fears about traveling alone, as a woman, in Cairo. The fact that most of my family and friends were terrified by the idea of me traveling “alone” to Egypt didn’t help at all. Many other friends and dancers had been there before and they all reassured me that it was safe, and I would be ok. However, still many of the details of “Where to stay? How to get here or there? What to bring? Where to go? How…?” among many other questions kept me wondering… To go or not to go?

It was my everlasting love for a culture that is not my own, yet I respect and study for many years now, and my passion for oriental dance that pushed me into saying YES, I WILL go to Cairo.

IT IS SAFE TO WALK THE STREETS. I wondered around many public areas without feeling “threatened” at any point. If I ever had any doubt what direction to follow, I would always find someone local willing to help me. People in Cairo, from my experience, want the tourists to feel as welcome as possible. They want you to feel at home. And they really do believe so. So don’t be surprise if when you walk into a store looking for some goods to buy, the owner will invite you some drinks at no cost, coffee, water, juice, with the hope that you feel comfortable.

IT IS SAFE TO TAKE TAXIS. You may want to avoid the black ones since from what I could see and from what many people have told me, are usually in bad conditions. There are plenty of white registered taxis all around, so there’s no trouble in finding one. You can either bargain the price (if you have an idea of the cost) or look for a taxi with a taximeter. Also, be aware that not all taxis have AC, so if you just can’t stand going on w/o AC make sure you ask the driver if he has it or not. I personally didn’t take a taxi alone, but many of my lady friends did, even at night, and they never felt “threatened” or uncomfortable at any point either.

YOU CAN USE YOUR NORMAL CLOTHES. I respect the culture, and the way people are raised in this country, and hence decided to avoid wearing mini skirts or tops when walking on the street. This doesn’t mean I had to go shopping a whole new set of clothes before going to Cairo. I just packed some long jeans, t-shirts, scarfs. It’s a different case scenario if you are inside a building you already know or you know the people attending. For example, during the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival I stayed in the Mena House and inside, I did use short dresses a couple of times. It is NOT mandatory to cover your head/hair/shoulders at all times, most tourists don’t. In many places (like when going to the pyramids) I did cover my shoulders from time to time in order to protect my skin from the heat. You will have to cover your shoulders when you go into the mosques. So make sure you bring a scarf or a cover-up if your shoulders are not covered when going to one.

So my answer is... TO GO. My days in Cairo were absolutely wonderful, so please, do consider visiting this amazing country if you have been, too, wondering around.


2. Airport “supplies”

I have to thank my wonderful friend and world-recognized photographer Denise Marino for most of these following tips. If it wasn’t for her, it would have taken me many visits to Cairo to figure them all out.

MOBILE WIFI. Many places have free wi-fi, but many other places charge for it as well. In my case, I stayed in the Mena House many days. In here, the wifi can get pretty expensive especially if you are in a budget. So I highly suggest getting to “Mobinil”, “Etisalat” (This is the one I used and was perfect) or “Vodafone” and asking for a mobile wifi device. These look like USBS and you can recharge them at any time. You have many options to choose from (different prices as well) and it works perfectly fine once you get it on going. Highly recommended!
* To get to these stores, go to your right after you picked up your luggage and crossed the security exit.

CELLPHONE CHIP. I did not get one this time, but next time I will for sure. They are very cheap from what I was told. It is very convenient especially if you are meeting with other friends or traveling in a group and you get separated.

SMALLER BILLS. For tips, taxi, small goods, etc, you always want to have smaller bills. It may be hard to find change if you are taking a taxi and there’s no one around with smaller bills. Save yourself this trouble. Also, make sure the bills you get (whether it’s at the airport or anywhere else) are not ripped or too old. Some places may not accept them.


3. Basic Arabic words

I learned them through experience, but I highly recommend learning these before you travel! Although basic, these words can go a long way in your attempt to communicate/shop around Cairo. Also, I suggest that when you take a taxi, you have the direction of destination written in Arabic. This will facilitate the experience (You can kindly ask any local that speak your language for this favor).

Hello = Marhaba
Min Fadlak (m)/Min Fadliki (f)= Please
Shukran = Thank you
Assif = Sorry
Ismee Rosa = My name is Rosa
Ana = Me, I
Enta = You

Why = Lain?
Who = Meen?
When = Mata?
Where is… = Wain?
How much is this? = Bikam hadha?
What is the discount? = Kam il khasem?

Naäam = Yes
Laa = No

Mabrook = Congratulations
Jalas = Finished
Meshi = Ok
Yallah = Go, let’s go

4. What else to keep in mind?

ICE. Many people repeated me time after time to avoid accepting ice cubes in any of my drinks. The water most places use to make ice cubs may not be completely clean or purified, and hence it may upset your stomach. I decided to just avoid ice completely.

FRESH FRUIT/VEGETABLES. Now, this is a bit controversial. A lot of people told me they got sick after eating fresh fruit/vegetables served in restaurants or hotels (including the Mena House) just because these may not be completely clean. On the other hand, I did saw many people eating them too and not getting sick. So I guess it all depends on your stomach. I played safe at all times in that aspect, and hence just didn’t eat fruits I did not peeled myself or vegetables in public restaurants.

PRICES. When shopping don’t jump into the first option. Now, although this is pretty obvious, I say it still because I almost did it myself. The prices are considerably cheap to what you find in other countries and you may jump into the first option you see. I highly suggest walking around, and especially going inside stores. I was able to buy a darbuka for a great price after looking into many places. The first prices they gave me were good, but I was able to find better. Do not be afraid to bargain, the sellers will always ask you what price you are willing to give for the good. And they mean it, they want to find a fair balance for both parties.

TRAFFIC. Be patient. There are about 3 stop lights in Cairo, and one of them doesn’t work (or so I was told). The local drivers know their ways, and although you may not be familiarized with this type of driving and/or traffic, you just have to be patient. Also, don’t be afraid/concerned if your taxi driver will stop many times (mine stopped around 10 times the first time) on the way to your destination. Not all the streets are well known and many do not use GPS. So they just ask along the way to make sure they take you where you want to go.

SUN. June is a very hot month in Cairo. I am not really familiarized with the weather the rest of the months but if you happen to travel around this time as well, make sure you bring sun protection. Also, I recommend bringing a cap or a scarf (to protect your head) when going to the Pyramids or when walking under the Sun in general.

LANGUAGE. When going to shop, don’t be surprise to find sellers speaking many languages. The moment I walked into Khan El Khalili, I was surprised by how many people talked to me first in Arabic, then Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian… ! I don’t believe the language to be a huge barrier in this country. Even if you don’t speak Arabic at all and the person you are trying to interact with doesn’t speak your language, body signs can go a long way. Remember that.

*These advices are based on my personal experience and do not intend to offend anybody. If you have any suggestion about what to include here, or want to point out anything that may not quite stick to the truth, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Upcoming post:  Where to stay in Cairo? (Includes a great interview) Stay tuned!

Khan El Khalili

Baile: Cómo ser más creativo

* English version below

Es fácil confundirse entre estos dos conceptos: Sólo la gente de talento natural es creativa y uno sólo puede ser creativo cuando está inspirado.

Para empezar, el dominar una habilidad o arte no es resultado de talento natural, sino la combinación de entrenamiento, ánimo, motivación, oportunidad y PRÁCTICA. Segundo, la inspiración no es fiable. Si esperamos a que la inspiración nos llegue para lograr crear algo, nunca llegaríamos tan lejos. En un nivel personal, esta fue una de las cosas más difíciles para mí de aprender y superar.

¿Cómo podría crear si estaba inspirada? ¿Cómo podría ser creativa si no estaba en el ánimo de crear? o si no tenía el ambiente ideal? ¿Qué es la creatividad? ¿Puedo entrenarme a mí misma a ser más creativa?

1. Continúa aprendiendo y entrenando

Sé más curioso acerca de tu propio entrenamiento y lo que realmente significa para ti. Si te entiendes a ti mismo mejor en relación a tu arte, lograrás profundizar más tu práctica creativa. Sé humilde y eso te permitirá empezar tantas veces sean necesarias con ojos más abiertos y siendo más compasivo cada vez.

"Pocos mostraron señales prematuras de promesa previa a la motivación que dieron los padres." Nadie ha alcanzado altos niveles de éxito en su área sin dedicar miles de horas a entrenamiento serio. Mozart entrenó 16 años antes de producir alguna obra maestra. Asimismo muchos artistas ahora alcanzan niveles de excelencia hoy que se comparan a las capacidades de Mozart, o de algún Medalla de Oro. (The Vancouver Sun, September 12, 1998)

2. Adopta una perspectiva Cubista

Photoshoot con Denise Marino

El Cubismo fue inventado por Picasso y Braque quienes lograron reducir la materia a sus elementos más básicos logrando capturar su esencia. Nosotros no percibimos el mundo desde un solo punto de vista, razón por la cual ellos decidieron pintar a sus personajes desde perspectivas múltiples (en tiempo y espacio). Ellos buscaban crear una realidad 3D en un espacio 2D.

Adopta nuevas perspectivas en el espacio probando todos los ángulos posibles (aplicando esto al baile, imagina que quieres incluir un movimiento en particular en tu coreografía pero no se siente totalmente correcto... prueba el mismo movimiento desde, literalmente, un nuevo ángulo). Adopta también nuevas perspectivas en el tiempo. Observa a gente que admiras y a sus mejores creaciones (por ejemplo, si también haces belly dance y admiras a Dina o Aziza, ve a YouTube y mira sus videos, te dará nuevas perspectivas). 

3. Presencia creatividad

Mariangel Martinez, bailarina de ballet

Observa a artistas que admiras así como a nuevos artistas también. Ve a teatros, exhibiciones, shows, open stages, cines... Aprende a observar. Encuentrra conexiones ocultas y nuevas percepciones en diferentes presentaciones te ayudará a encontrear nuevos caminos en tu proceso creativo. No podemos esperar crear cosas nuevas si nos resistimos a aprender cosas nuevas. Toma notas, habla con otros acerca de lo que acabas de presenciar y aprender, sueña. 

4. Acuérdate de hacer preguntas

Adultos tienden a hacer 4 preguntas al día, mientras que niños hacen alrededor de 100 preguntas o más al día. Independientemente de la experiencia que tengas, o de la cantidad de tiempo que has dedicado a tu arte hasta ahora, adopta la mente de un "principiante". Haz preguntas y aprender a escuchar a las preguntas de otros también. Entender las emociones y pensamientos de otros artistas mientras crean te ayudará a comprender mejor tu propio proceso creativo. Esto ayudará a nutrir tu camino de creación. Cuando tengas la oportunidad de hablar con un artista que admiras, no tengas miedo de hacer preguntas.  

  
5. Alimenta tu diversidad

Pintando en Florencia

Entrena en diversas áreas. Ya seas un músico, pintor, bailarín... aprende nuevos estilos. Sé curioso. Te dediques o no enteramente a este nuevo estilo, el proceso de aprendizaje te proveerá con una mina de ideas. Combina ideas y encuentra nuevas conexiones. Esto ayudará a alimentar tu stock de creatividad. Si nos quedamos estancados con el mismo repertorio creativo, será más difícil alcanzar nuevas ideas. Quizá se convierta en un bloqueo creativo. Sé alerta y aprende a nutrirte tu propio mente creativa. Usa la técnica de rotación de campos. Si eres un bailarín, aprende un nuevo estilo de baile, o considera tomar una clase de pintura por ejemplo. Esto te dará un break y alimentará tu propia creatividad desde una nueva perspectiva.

6. El punto de partida tradicional no significa necesariamente tu punto de partida 

En el libro "El hábito creativo: Apréndelo y úsalo de por vida", Twyla Tharp, autora y coreógrafa reconocida, dice claramente que muchos artistas tienen problemas desarrollando su práctica creativa ya que tienden a pensar que todos debemos empezar desde el "comienzo". Como bailarín o bailarina quizá creas que TIENES que empezar a crear una coreografía desde el minuto 0.00 de la canción. Esto quizá funcione para algunos, pero sé que no funciona para mí siempre. La estructura que la sociedad nos enseña es comienzo-mitad-final. Sin embargo, no tengas miedo de empezar a crear desde la mitad o desde el final, desde donde quieras. Muchos escritores famosos empiezan sus libros narrando el final. La creatividad implica romper barreras.

7. Las 3 D: Dedicación, Determinación y Disciplina

Sé dedicado y aprende acerca de tu proceso creativo y nútrelo. Sé determinado e intenta siempre una vez más y termina siempre lo que empiezas.

Sé disciplinado para crear aún así cuando no quieras crear. Como Picasso decía, "la inspiración existe, pero tiene que encontrarte trabajando". Haz un horario y esto te ayudará a desarrollar hábitos de entrenamiento. La autora de "Come, Reza, Ama" cuenta cómo muchos artistas se sienten agobiados por la idea de que el "genio de la inspiración" vive dentro de uno mismo. Esto crea un sentido de responsabilidad tan grande que actúa a veces como un bloqueo creativo. Ella sugiere que debemos observar a la creatividad como una entidad separada. Tú eres el artista, y la inspiración quizá venga o no. Cuando la inspiración llegue y te encuentre trabajando en tu arte, te llegarás a sorprender a ti mismo por tus creaciones. Sin embargo, cuando la inspiración llega y te encuentra flojo, no trabajando, ¿cómo esperas crear tu mejor trabajo?

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius

"Todos tienen habilidades creativas. Mientras más entrenas y más diverso es el entrenamiento, tendrás mayor potencial para resultados creativos. En la creatividad, cantidad significa calidad. Más larga la lista de ideas, más alta la calidad de la solución final. Muchas veces, las mejores ideas aparecen al final de la lista." (Creativityatwork.com)  

Dance: How to be more creative

We are often misled by two concepts: Only talented-born people are creative and one can only be creative when inspired. 

First, mastering one skill or craft is not the result of natural talent, but the combination of training, encouragement, motivation, opportunities and PRACTICE. Second, inspiration is not reliable. If we wait for inspiration to strike us in order to create something, we will never go far. At a personal level, this was one of the hardest things for me to learn and overcome.

How could I create when I was not inspired? How could I be creative when I wasn't in the mood to create? or when I didn't have my perfect setting? What is creativity in the first place? Can I train myself to be more creative?

1. Keep learning and training

Become more curious about your own training and what it truly means to you. The better you understand yourself in relation to your craft, the more you will be able to deepen your creative practice. Be humble in order to begin as many times as needed with wider eyes and being more compassionate each time.

"Few showed early signs of promise prior to parental encouragement." No one reached high levels of achievement in their field without devoting thousands of hours of serious training. Mozart trained 16 years before he produced an acknowledged master work. Moreover many high performers achieve levels of excellence today that match the capabilities of a Mozart, or a Gold Medalist from the turn of the century" (The Vancouver Sun, September 12, 1998)

2. Adopt a Cubist perspective

Photoshoot with Denise Marino

Cubism was invented by Picasso and Braque who were able to reduce matter - into its most basic elements - in order to capture its essence. We don't perceive the world from one focus only, which is why they decided to paint their subjects from multiple perspectives (in both time and space). They wanted to create a 3D reality in a 2D space. 

Adopt new perspectives in space by trying all possible angles (applying this to dance, imagine you want to include one particular move in your choreography but it doesn't feel as a fit... try the same move from, literally, a new angle). Adopt also new perspectives in time. Look at the people you admire and their best creations (for example, if you are also a bellydancer and admire Dina or Aziza, go on YouTube and look at their dances, it will give you new perspectives).

3. Witness creativity

Mariangel Martinez, Peruvian ballerina

Watch artists you admire as well as new rising artists. Go to theaters, exhibits, shows, open stages, cinemas... Learn to see. Finding new hidden connections and insights within a performance will help you find new ways within your own creation process. We cannot expect to create something new if we resist to learn new things. Make notes, talk to other people about what you just saw or learned, wonder.

4. Remember to ask questions

Adults tend to ask 4 questions a day, while children ask around 100 or more questions a day. Regardless the amount of experience you have obtained or the amount of time you have dedicated to your craft so far, embrace the mind of a "beginner". Ask questions and learn to listen to other people's questions as well. Understanding the emotions and thoughts of another artist while creating will help you comprehend better their creative process. This will nurture your own creative path. When you get the chance to talk to an artist you admire, don't feel afraid to ask questions.

5. Feed your diversity

Painting in Florence

Train in diverse areas. Whether you are a musician, a painter, a dancer... learn new styles. Be curious. Regardless or not you dedicate yourself fully to that new style, the learning process will provide you with a goldmine of ideas. Combine ideas, find new connections. This will replenish your creative stock. If we get stuck with the same creative repertoire, it will be harder to come up with new ideas. We may even become blocked. Become alert and learn to self-nourish your creative mind. Replenish your own process with field rotation. If you are a dancer, learn a new dance style, or consider to take a painting lesson for example. This will give you a break and feed your own creativity from a new perspective.

6. The traditional start point doesn't necessarily mean your own start point

In the book "The creative habit: Learn it and use if for life", Twyla Tharp, the author and a world-known choreographer, states clearly how many artists have problems developing their creative practice because they tend to think we all must start creating from the "start". As a dancer, you may think you HAVE to start creating your choreography from the 0.00 minute of the song. This may work for some, but I know it doesn't always work for me. The structure society teaches us to follow is start-middle-end. However, don't be afraid to start creating from the middle point, from the end, from wherever you want. Many famous writers start their books by narrating the end. Creativity comes along with breaking barriers.

7. The 3 Ds: Dedication, Determination and Discipline

Be dedicated enough to learn about your own creative process and feed it. Be determined enough to always try one more time and to finish what you started. 

 

Be disciplined enough to create even when you don't want to create. As Picasso said, "Inspiration exists, but it must find you working". Give yourself a time schedule, it will help you develop training habits. The author of "Eat, Pray, Love" tells us how many artists feel overwhelmed by the idea that the "genius of inspiration" lives inside of us. This creates a sense of responsibility so big that sometimes can act as a creative block. She suggests to look at it as a separate entity instead. You are the artist, and inspiration may or may not come. When inspiration comes and finds you working on your craft, you will surprise yourself by your own creation. However, when it arrives and finds you slacking, not working, then, how do you expect to create your best work?

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius

"Everyone has creative abilities. The more training you have and the more diverse the training, the greater potential for creative output. In creativity, quantity equals quality. The longer the list of ideas, the higher the quality of the final solution. Quite often, the highest quality ideas appear at the end of the list." (Creativityatwork.com)