You see, Khan el Khalili is already overcrowded every night. Thursdays in Ramadan are overwhelming; maybe not to me and you but to a 20-something North American who has barely been in Cairo for two months, it is. It's great that the tourists are amazed at how vendors can speak four languages fluently, and that they know that Germans like scarves and Brits like jewelry. It's also great that they stare at and admire the architecture. It's even more great that they go home with goodies and treasures from the market.
But there are things that are no so great.
Like when they start complaining the the crowds are too condensed. When they sit down at Fishawi and won't touch the relatively filthy cup with their drink. When they get irritated by the pedestrians bumping into their seats. The worst part is when they start getting the panicky i-wanna-go-home-to-maadi-where-its-not-chaotic look on their faces.
I am not blaming them or any other foreigners for slightly disliking it. It just saddens me that they do.
I know, Khan el Khalili can be rough on a Canadian (Canada Dry as the khan locals like to call them), but i can't help but to be a little bit ashamed thus frustrated. Khan el Khalili is a vital part of the Cairo tour. It is a significant heartbeat of this gorgeous town. How can anyone be even slightly bothered by it? It may be slightly overboard in its representation of Egyptian culture but it is in every way Egyptian. It carries the scents of Egypt, the warmth (or what's left of it) of Egyptians, the commonality of poverty, and most of all, the embrace of visitors and the showing off of everything we are.
Im still looking forward but this time i hope to become oblivious to the panic attacks.
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