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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 - 31 March 1999 Issue No. 422 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 - 31 March 1999 Issue No. 422
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Profile Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters 
Pack of Cards
By Madame Sosostris- This was one of those days when you think you will never be able to make it, dears, what with the traffic and the difficult choice one is called upon to make between various toilettes suitable for the occasion; but, to tell you the truth, I was determined to trample anything or anyone delaying my arrival at the inauguration of the Zeitoun branch of Mubarak Public Library. You all know, of course, how impressive the Giza Mubarak Public Library is, and I was absolutely sure that Zeitoun would be organised according to the same fabulous principles.
In her opening speech, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak emphasised that the Zeitoun branch has been a dream in the making for over five years, and that she hoped more branches would be spreading over the map of Egypt in the near future. Hosted by Chairman of the Board of the Mubarak Library Abdel-Raouf El-Ridi and Reinhard Mohn of the Bertelsmann Foundation, the reception which followed the inauguration was attended by Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, Chief of Presidential staff and MP for Zeitoun Zakariya Azmi as well as many distinguished ministers and personalities interested in the propagation and enhancement of culture.
Mrs Mubarak and Farouk Hosni at the Zeitun Mubarak Library
Famous Egyptian pianist Ramzi Yassa played for an enraptured audience during this exciting evening, at the end of which everyone was feeling particularly proud of this latest achievement, which goes a long way toward kindling in the young, and rekindling in the old, the fast-disappearing habit of reading good books.
- From Maadi to Giza I went, my darlings, still wearing my white capeline with the sprig of roses and the yellow butterfly, to grace the gardens of the French Embassy and, more specifically, to attend their annual bazaar hosted by the French ambassador and Madame de la Sablière. This year, the organisers had chosen a rather exciting motto: discovery and cooperation. Needless to tell you, I went for the former at once, launching myself on a real mission which entailed sampling perfumes, trying on scarves, leafing through books and treating myself to all the gourmet products on offer. By the time I was through with discovery, I thought I would leave the cooperation to more virtuous souls than mine, and there were plenty of those, who gave generously to the good causes that will benefit from the proceeds of the bazaar.
- And if you are still hungry for more artistic treats, why not take yourselves to the Museum of Modern Art at the Opera House, where an exhibition of self-portraits by famous artists, inaugurated by Ahmed Nawwar, head of the National Centre for Plastic Arts, is on show right now?
- Did you have any idea that every year, the Maadi Home Tour Committee selects a day near the end of March, to visit certain homes which have been deemed worthy of preserving and maintaining? Well, I did. In fact, I have been to several of these tours and I can tell you that they are getting better by the year. This time, Sally Acomb, the 1999 Home Selection Chairperson, excelled in her choices and, though I particularly missed the presence of Safeya Moine, who is visiting her daughter in England and could not take part in the event for the first time in years, I was particularly thrilled to walk into the South African ambassador's residence. I had to smile when I was informed by my dear friend Samia Zeitoun that this was originally the home of Emile (son of George, founder of Dar Al-Hilal) and Rose Zeidan and their son Nadim. You see, I attended many parties in this particular villa in my salad days, though I do not particularly want to tell you now how wild they were. Anyway, the tour was a regular walk down nostalgia lane and it did bring to mind images of the remote and charmingly bucolic village that Maadi once was.
Safeya Moine's house in Maadi
- My good friend George Bahgory has two exhibitions going on at the same time; the first, at the Arabesque Gallery, features his older work, the second, at the Mashrabiya, across the car park which was once the site of the Huda Sha'rawi residence, displays his more recent drawings and paintings. This is one -- or rather, two -- exhibitions it would be sinful to miss. See you there.
