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Cairo: The Practical Guide; New Revised Edition | 
 enlarge | Author: Claire E. Francy
Creator: Lesley Lababidi
Publisher: AUC Press
Category: Book
List Price: $17.95
Buy New: $17.59
You Save: $0.36 (2%)
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 567205
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.4
ISBN: 9774160177
Dewey Decimal Number: 915
EAN: 9789774160172
ASIN: 9774160177
Publication Date: October 19, 2006
Availability: In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
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Product Description
The guide described by The New York Times as 'indispensable', revised and updated for 2006, fills a vital niche for expatriates and Cairenes alike who need a helping hand to organize and enjoy the challenges of a sojourn in Cairo. The basics of daily life: finding a flat, transporting personal goods, investigating school options for children, navigating Egypt's famous bureaucracy, and the intricacies of feeding and clothing oneself and one's family from the local market are all detailed here. Advice gathered from a wide range of Cairo insiders, both native and foreign, gives the reader a cornucopia of current facts on prices, neighborhoods, product availability, work and business opportunities, and the dizzying range of cultural and leisure pursuits that Cairo is famous for. The format of this edition addresses the needs of independently minded tourists as well as residents by the inclusion of: an A to Z directory of goods, services, and interests subdivided by neighborhood; a language section on the basics of Cairene Arabic; and details on shopping and sightseeing from a resident s perspective. 'Cairo: The Practical Guide', now in its fifteenth edition, is the key to deciphering the complexities of living, working, and enjoying life in one of the world's most exciting and dauntingly complex mega-cities.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 The sine qua non for those living in Cairo July 31, 2008
Cresence (Gainesville, VA)
This has been the indispensable, indeed legendary, guide for the past three decades for anyone wishing to live successfully in Cairo. Tourists to Cairo have one experience, and resident expats have quite another. Surviving in style takes some assistance, and this book is the place to get it.
To my slight dismay, the book no longer includes some sections that, while very practical, were probably a bit politically incorrect. For instance, the chapter on how to manage your servants is no longer there.
Anyone who sets out to live in Cairo absolutely must get this volume. The map set (once included with the book, but now sold separately) should also be purchased. While I believe some other books are now trying to compete, this really is one book you cannot do without.
hilarious and insulting June 4, 2008
Freston (USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Insulting to the Egyptians, that is.
This is a "tell-it-like-it-is" guide to living in Cairo, so make sure it's what you want. It's not really geared for tourists so much as for Western expats who are going to be living there for a while and need advice on how to get a driver's license, pay their phone bill, get a residence permit, etc. It's geared toward long-term stays.
Sure, there are many guides out there about Egypt and Cairo, but this one is in a class of its own. It's recommended reading, in fact, for anybody interested in getting some straight talk on the culture of Arabs and the Middle East, even if you have no intentions of going to Cairo.
In fact, so blunt is this book that I'm surprised it's even countenanced by the American University in Cairo, from whose press it comes. Many passages many the Egyptians look downright backwards.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about, when the author, Clare Francy, is warning you about kissing in public:
"An Egyptian friend who gave her fiance a quick peck in the car when he told her he had finished his doctorate was spat on by the middle-aged couple in the car next to them!" (p. 139)
Actually, if you're in the market for hilarious and revealing passages like this and aren't particularly concerned about how up-to-date the information is, I advise you to see if you can get your hands on the first edition, i.e., not the "New Revised Edition." That one is much more bare-knuckled and unapologetic: they've toned things down quite a lot since then.
Expats in Cairo February 19, 2008
Mrs. J. J. Muhs (Cairo Egypt)
Easy to follow and a great reference book to return to time and time again. Before moving to Cairo I did a cross cultural 1 day course but I think this book has proved more useful. It is written in a pragmatic and logical way, with enough information to help you navigate your new life. the only thing that stops it being a 5 star product is that the arabic words would benefit from the phonetic version too so that you don't mistake a pigeon for a toilet!!
 "indespensable"????? January 21, 2007
Jerry Shover (Portland, Oregon USA)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
this book may be indispensable for expatriots or foreign workers living in cairo but is not valuable for tourism purposes. a general travel guide will provide much more vital info for the short term visitor.
All the Nuts & Bolts! November 3, 2006
S. Crane (Estonia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you're a tourist, this book may not be for you. HOWEVER, if you will be in Cairo for any time, for any reason, you will need this book! It is the best compilation of grassroots information - it covers things not covered by the usual travel guides. I just wish it had some city maps in it!
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