Truly Love Egypt November 2015 Issue 18
Mallaha Gardens De Lesseps’ House Ismailia Museum Recipe: Belilah & Ashourah
PLEASE TURN ON YOUR SOUND
The song that’s playing is Kol Marrah by Tamer Hosny (Re-mix by Mohamed Atiea)
4
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
Cont
Pithom; the ancient Egyptian “the House of Atum” !
6
TRULY LOVE NATURE Al Mallaha Gardens and Timsah Lake; inviting destinations!
10 TRULY LOVE
6 Al Mallaha Gardens
DAY ACTIVITIES De Lesseps’ house, Virgin Mary Church, Abbasy Mosque, cultural events and fun-filled beaches!
14 SCRAPBOOK PAGE 16 TRULY LOVE HISTORY Ismailia Museum; artifacts of various eras over 5000 years! 2
10 Ferdinand de Lesseps’ house
tents
22 TRULY LOVE SHOPPING A well-rounded shopping spree!
26 TRULY LOVE NIGHTLIFE Peaceful nights and delicious seafood!
30 TRULY LOVE INVESTING An excellent location and a national project give Ismailia a major business advantage! 16 Ismailia Museum
32 TRULY LOVE CUISINES Belilah & ashourah; wheat based dishes with a long history!
34
FEATURED TRANSLATOR Eslam Shaaban
26 Nightlife!
36
UPCOMING ISSUE 3
Safaga
EDITOR’S MESSAGE Our mission is to deliver the most accurate, up-to-date information in order to show different kinds of visitors what may interest them. Although it has been named the “Small Paris of Egypt”, the “City of Gardens and Flowers” and one of the “Eastern Gates of Egypt”, Ismailia’s worth has been questioned throughout its history but the city has proved, without a doubt, that it holds a lot more than the average eye can see. Most texts will tell you that the city was founded in 1863 by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, as a base camp and that it was named after the ruling Egyptian khedive Ismail Pasha. Downtown Ismailia holds numerous 19 th Century colonial houses, both British and French, and the original Suez Canal head office buildings. Texts will also tell you of how, during World War I, the British had an air base there, that the Battle of Romani took place nearby, that Ismailia was where a key event took place that led to the overthrow of King Farouk I in 1952 and that the city was heavily involved in protecting Egypt’s eastern boarders against Israel for decades. However, when you read our history article, you will know that this is only the history of modern Ismailia. Ismailia’s real history started about 5000 years ago when it was named “Pithom”, ancient Egyptian for “the House of Atum”. Atum, the sun god, was one of the most important
deit ies in anc ie nt Egypt. Excavations have been on-going for decades to unearth every bit of history that Ismailia houses. So far, a multitude of various objects have been found; Pharaonic, Hyksos, Greek and Roman. It is clear that there is plenty more to discover. Ismalia also has a culture of its own. An annual festival, the Limbo Festival, when an effigy of the most hated individual was burned in the streets after dark -much like the British Guy Fawkes Night- and a beautiful girl was chosen as the annual queen, unfortunately stopped many years ago. However, it still remains in Ismailia’s history as the only city in Egypt with such a tradition. History has it that this festival started in the 19th Century when Limbo Bey, who was deeply hated, was the governor of Ismailia. To get there: by bus to/from Cairo, Hurghada, Sinai and Port Said. Trains are less frequent. Car and passenger ferries cross the Suez Canal. Bus termina l is in Downtown Ismailia. From Cairo, the bus terminal is in Almazah. Average temperatures: 30C May to October, 25C November to April Manager, Editor and Designer
Amani Adel Sarkiss
Manager, Editor and Designer Amani Adel Sarkiss Freelance Writers Aisha Abdelwahab Basma Amer Enas Elmohands Omar Ibrahim Amal Sarkiss Photography: Yasser El-Rasoul: cover, p3 bottom, p9, small pics p14 & 15, p36 Mohamed Saleh: p14 & 15 background Khalid Mahmoud Zidan: p 2 bottom, p8, p10, p12, p26, p27, p28 top, p30 Courtesy of FB page Ismailia Heya El7ayah: p3 top, p16 to p25, p28 bottom, p29, (by Khalid Zidan: p2 top, p6 & 7) (by Waleed Montasser p 11) (Tah Abou Malk: p13) Amal Sarkiss: p32 P34 & 35 : individuals Yahoo images: other pics
Ideas and content are copyright and property of Sarkiss Publicity and Advertising Registered in Egypt: 64958 truly-love-egypt@sarkiss.net 5
TRULY LOVE NATURE By Basma Amer
Ismailia, one of the eastern gates of Egypt and “The City of Gardens and Flowers,” lies on the western shores of Timsah Lake. The city was named after Khedive Ismail and established in the late 1800’s. Ismailia has a strategic location. It is nestled between Port Said and Suez and is about a two-hour drive from Cairo (128 km); the perfect getaway for many Egyptians. And like many places in Egypt, the beautiful city is known for having an impressive display of exotic gardens and rich waters. It is, without a doubt, a marvelous place for domestic and international travelers.
Al Mallaha Gardens The gardens display an array of beauty throughout the city. The greenery mingles with the colorful pinks and reds to infuse Ismailia with utter amazement. The gardens were formerly known as the French Gardens and have a variety of rare palms and trees. This uniqueness is not uncommon in Egypt; Khedive Ismail was known to import exotic flora like the magnificent collage of trees in Zamalek. The gardens are vast; reaching 500 acres and creating a holistic feel between the different country clubs and sports facilities and extends along the waters of the Ismailia Cont.
7
Channel and Timsah Lake. Timsah Lake The translation of Lake Timsah is “Crocodile Lake,� but there are no crocodiles today. On the contrary, it is a safe place to swim and spend your leisurely time. The rich, clear lake has a surface area of 14 km2 and lies on the western bank of the Suez Canal. Due to the construction of the Suez Canal, the lake has experienced a change in its salinity. Although it is considered brackish waters, different species of fish such as tilapias, gastropods, bivalves and Pomatoleios kraussii can be
found there. Fishing is very important in Ismailia, so cleaning the lake is also very important. At one point, the lake experienced pollution from many drainage sources, such as agricultural drainage water, outflow from Ismailia Canal and treated wastewater. However, there have been reports that the lake underwent de-pollution and, according to recent visitors, it is safe to swim in. Timsah Lake and Al Mallah Gardens are only two of the many natural sites in Ismailia. They encompass all the simplicities that make this an inviting destination for so many people. 9
TRULY LOVE DAY ACTIVITIES
By Basma Amer
Only founded in the late 1800’s, Ismailia has a unique allure of intermingling cultures, which is the reason for its title “The Small Paris of Egypt.” The city is a historical masterpiece, highlighting one of Egypt’s multi-cultural collages. Ismailia’s culture is embroidered within its delicate displays of architecture. Take for example the house of the late contractor of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps. His home, which has been turned into a museum, displays a traditional French-style; there are two levels of hipped roofs extending down to the eaves. The soft cream-colored exterior, on the other hand, serves as a canvas for a simple brown design throughout the whole house. The historical character of this home extends to the street where you can view and photograph Ferdinand’s carriage. His home office, which is not to be confused with the
official Suez Canal offices one block away, is the building right next to his home. This annex contains many historical maps of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand’s tools and copies of the original invitations sent to different leaders around the world to attend the Suez Canal’s grand opening. Another amazing addition to Ismailia’s cultural finesse is the Virgin Mary Church. The French inspired church has aesthetic Romanesque features. The church, also known as “Guardian of the Canal” is similar to cathedrals in Italy. The Virgin Mary Church has smooth round arches, a single large tower and a sturdy appearance. The Church has a rustic rose tint and displays a masterful statue of the Virgin Mary and child on the roof to complete the church’s unique exquisiteness. The architectural beauty continues to echo within the city, penetrating the Abbasy Cont.
11
Mosque. The mosque was built during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmy II. Islamic architecture is emulated throughout the wooden roof and the delicate plant motifs. This Ottoman-style mosque has had some restoration work done to it and can now be visited again. And to top off the cultural ambiance of the city, Ismailia hosts a variety of festivals. These include the International Festival of Folk Art, the Ismailia International Festival for Documentary Short Films, the Ismailia International Film Festival celebrating Arab female directors, the Arab Camel Festival and the Spring Festival Carnival held during Sham El Naseem, which is an Egyptian national holiday marking the beginning of spring (a day after Eastern Christian Easter). In addition to the historical monuments and cultural events, Ismailia offers activities for
the sporty types. Its location on Lake Timsah makes Ismailia an excellent beach resort. Most beaches are regulated as private clubs but, for a small fee that often includes a lunch buffet, visitors can enjoy a day of swimming and an array of water activities. In conclusion, the cultural diversity of Ismailia permeates throughout the city. It is a timeless place full of a variety of histories and activities tailored into a single design. Tips: Ferdinand de Lesseps home: The house is, unfortunately, inaccessible to the public but open to private groups. Virgin Mary Church: The church is on Saad Zaghloul Street and is referred to as The Faransawy Church (The French Church). Festivals: For the schedule, check online or contact the hotel you intend to stay at. 13
Read our issues at our website www.sarkiss.net
Read our issues at our website www.sarkiss.net
Our upcoming December issue
To subscribe, read all our issues or contact us, please visit www.sarkiss.net