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Soccer is one of the most popular in Egypt. Many people attend matches
or watch their favourite teams on television. But you would be surprised
to know that apart from soccer an even bigge form of recreation
in both cities and villages is socializing with members of one's
own sex.
Men sit in street cafes with their male friends drinking tea or
coffee and sometimes smoking a sheesha (water pipe) and playing
tawlaa (backgammon).
Although foreign women sometimes visit cafes, Egyptian women do
not. Instead, they meet their female friends in their homes. City
women often meet each other in pastry shops or at picnics in public
parks.
Egyptians enjoy going to the bazaar (outdoor market place) to buy
things and meet their friends. Egyptian market traders and shop
owners respect customers who bargain.
The trader quotes a price that is usually about double what the
item he is selling is really worth.
The customer offers to pay about a quarter of the asking price.
The trader then lowers his price and the customer raises his offer
until they agree on a figure. Customers cannot bargain for food
items.
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