I would like to add a quick word in my blog about the BCA Mohandeseen. I finally got the chance to go and check out the new loction, which is now just few minutes away on the same road as IH Cairo ILI, because I was invited to go and see an Irish band in honour of St Patrick’s Day (Patron Saint of Ireland). To get to the place you turn right past the petrol station on Ahmed Orabi street (heading towards Sudan Street from Sphinx Square). The building is on the second block right opposite a fruit seller and a lot of trees. You really wouldn't notice this building unless you were looking for it as there are no signs outside to speak of. It is a white building, set back behind a gate. There are security on the door and asking them is the best way to make sure you have the right place!
Just to clarify: The BCA Mohandeseen is now in Ahmed Orabi and not near the Dokki Shooting Club. The website and the Facebook page have different and contradicting information on them. The BCA venue at the top of Mohandeseen closed before Christmas 2011 to relocate to the bottom of Gamet El Dowal, by Sphinx Square. For people new to Cairo I am pretty sure that, like us before Christmas, if they didn't know better and tried to check the website for information then they would never find it.
The BCA is the place to go for a taste of Britain and it is perfectly adequate for the purpose, although like I said to Rami, if you are not native then Britian's standards of pub and bar should not be determined by just this one experience.
I did not get to see the previous venue at the top of Mohandeseen but I was told the new one is not as nice. It is a little dark and small and it doesn't appear to have much potential for out door seating in the summer although I cannot confirm this as it may have garden. However on this particular night the music was fab and it was full of foreigners, primarily Brits, to make me feel a bit like I was back in a multicultural pub in London on a Thursday night.
We once again sampled the cuisine. It was a dish of Irish stew made especially for the evening. I feel it was a little overpriced for what it was -50LE each and it was certainly not the best stew I have ever had. In fact it didn't really resemble stew at all, more meaty soup. There were no hearty chucks of meat and vegetables and the soup wasn't well seasoned or warming like a stew should be. After the mashed potato experience of the BCA Maadi I have come to the conclusion that if the BCA are going to offer traditional British food they must employ a British chef, or at least a chef who has sampled authentic UK dishes and knows what they should look and taste like!
However, it was nice to relax with an alcoholic drink for a change, talk to nice people, and listen to good music played by very talented musicians. The alcohol selection was not great - they didn’t even have Guinness (a traditional Irish drink) but at least we could go and have a beer out, and pay the prices that were advertised with no added taxes!
Personal opinions of the BCA will differ greatly I am sure, and it entirely depends on who you are talking to. There are people who simply do not feel the need or desire to intergrate into the life of the country they are living in, who I imagine will feel like the BCA is a safe haven for them to go every week to socialise. Of course this is its primary purpose and I think it suits the job very well for those who need it.
Personally I would say a venue like this is great for a specific event (such as a band night or a party) and it is reassuring to know it exists so close to work, so if I ever feel very homesick I can go and get a taste of the UK. However I don’t think I will be a regular visitor at this one as I am quite enjoying my cafe and shisha Egyptian nights at the moment; sampling the vast selection of fantastic ahwa's (coffee shops) around Cairo on a weekend. I believe I will leave regular pub nights for when I am back in the country that does them best!
Showing posts with label BCA Cairo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BCA Cairo. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
BCA Mohandeseen Clubhouse New Location
Whilst you are waiting for me to pen this week's blog entry, I thought I would share with you updated information about the BCA Mohandiseen's new Clubhouse. As promise I have recieved news of its new location:
The physical address is No. 29 El Rashid Street, Agouza (Mohandiseen) – A four story building with a large white gated entrance, the new clubhouse is located on the corner of El Rashid Street and Abdel Moneim El Saned Street.
Traveling away from Zamalek and towards Sudan Street through Sphinx Square (Agouza), there is a large Omar Effendi Department Store on the left and a Shell petrol station on the right. El Rashid Street is the first turning to the right after the petrol station and the intersection with Abdel Moneim El Saned Street is the second junction on the left. (Parking is in abundance in this area).
Until the landline is reconnected call 01281158964 for help when you get close and ask for directions in English or Arabic. This belongs to the Vice Chairman Peer Thomson.
This information is accurate as of January 8th 2012.
The physical address is No. 29 El Rashid Street, Agouza (Mohandiseen) – A four story building with a large white gated entrance, the new clubhouse is located on the corner of El Rashid Street and Abdel Moneim El Saned Street.
Traveling away from Zamalek and towards Sudan Street through Sphinx Square (Agouza), there is a large Omar Effendi Department Store on the left and a Shell petrol station on the right. El Rashid Street is the first turning to the right after the petrol station and the intersection with Abdel Moneim El Saned Street is the second junction on the left. (Parking is in abundance in this area).
Until the landline is reconnected call 01281158964 for help when you get close and ask for directions in English or Arabic. This belongs to the Vice Chairman Peer Thomson.
This information is accurate as of January 8th 2012.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The British Community Association of Cairo
As promised, here is a short filler blog to bridge the slightly longer time gap than usual before my next blog which will be after the Western Christmas.
Last weekend I spent time exploring the city with my boyfriend. Specifically, we were on a mission to find out where all the resident Brits are hiding!
Our journey took us to City Stars Shopping Mall in Nasr City, where we met up with my boyfriend’s British friend, who was staying in the Intercontinental Hotel. This blog cannot do justice to the splendor of either the shopping centre or the hotel, so I will save this for another week. Suffice to say both places are worth checking out if you have some cash to spare!
With that in mind I will turn my focus to the British Community Association of Cairo or the BCA. The idea behind this organisation is to provide a social network for expatriates of all nationalities, although primarily British, and give them somewhere to meet up and socialise. Of course, seasoned travellers who doth protest that reverting to spending time with those of your own nationality (or at least those fluent in your language) when in new country defeats the object of moving abroad, may find the BCA a little too much like home. I,however, utterly believe that the two ways of living when abroad can be enjoyed simultaneously.
Anyone who has moved away from where they were brought up and tried to start a new life elsewhere can testify that it is often an emotional process and it can be quite daunting and quite lonely. Couple this with a move abroad to a foreign land where the culture and language are very different and one soon realises the need for home comforts and a few friends who speak your lingo.
Studying and interning at IH Cairo ILI, a primarily British company, has helped me settle in tremendously as the whole place is a hub of diversity and I can talk to English speakers on a daily basis. This provides a healthy balance with my social life outside of work because it allows me to happily spend time with my boyfriend’s circle of friends who are all Egyptian with varying levels of English fluency. However, I am fully aware that not everyone has the privilege of instant contact with other foreigners and so I figured it was time to set out and try to make a few friends of my own outside of work so I can blog about how easy it is to do!
There are three main venues for the BCA. El Mohadeseen, Helipolis and El Maadi. Over the weekend we set out to try El Mohadeseen and El Maadi.
El Mohadeseen was, unfortunately, a let-down. After almost an hour of trudging around the back-streets of the area and after many failed attempts to call the telephone number that was on the website, we had to admit defeat and leave before we even found the building, as it was simply nowhere to be seen and even the locals had never heard of it. I had read online that it was hard to find and in a quiet area, but this was simply ludicrous! What we were expecting I am not sure- possibly at the very least a Union Jack hanging outside, but there was nothing. On further enquiry (we ended up calling the El Maadi branch for help) we found out that the Mohandiseen clubhouse was relocating and within two months the current building will no longer be used. I will try the new venue when it is open and keep you all updated on its progress.
The BCA El Maadi was totally opposite. It was full of life and the atmosphere resembled that of an English pub garden on a sunny afternoon. We were able to talk to the senior barman, an Egyptian by the name of Simon, who welcomed us and explained everything we needed to know. There is a bar and a restaurant which serves all the British favourites. I treated my boyfriend to his first ever roast dinner. The food was tasty, with the exception of the ‘mash’ which could definitely not be defined by its name – resembling more a porridge - like slop than the fluffy and light consistency that mashed potato should have!
The venue has darts, a pool table and a big TV. Although a little far from my current residence in El Harram, I will probably become a member there because if you join El Maadi you automatically gain free membership to the other two places as well. All nationalities, including Egyptians and Brits, need a passport to enter. The club costs 800 LE (about £80) per annum to join and all the forms can be found online www.bcaegypt.com. The address is 18 Port Said Street, El Maadi. Do not expect the taxi driver to know the way, he will more than likely stop to ask directions a number of times! The club is not immediately obvious from the road but it is a terracotta mansion house on a corner of the street in a residential area, with a black gate that has a security guard by it. Directions are online and you can also give them a call +20 2 23580889.
For a little piece of home I would really recommend this club. In continuation it is used by all sorts of different groups and organisations as a meeting point and there are flyers for everything you may need from dentists to dance classes so you should never be lost for contacts. Whilst we were there, there was a charity bazaar raising money for children’s charities and encouraging people to donate or get involved. There was also a church barbeque taking place, which suggests that there is an active Christian community in El Maadi. Of course for those who are this way inclined a perfect way to meet new people who will ensure your comfort and happiness is to visit a church and get to know the congregation – a visit to the BCA and a chat to some the staff or the other punters can ensure you are pointed in the right direction.
So all in all this was a useful investigation of a centre-point for anyone who, like me, sometimes feel lost and a little daunted in their new, exotic environment!
This just leaves me time to once again wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Eat well and be healthy and happy, and may all your Christmas wishes come true.
Inside the BCA El Maadi
Last weekend I spent time exploring the city with my boyfriend. Specifically, we were on a mission to find out where all the resident Brits are hiding!
Our journey took us to City Stars Shopping Mall in Nasr City, where we met up with my boyfriend’s British friend, who was staying in the Intercontinental Hotel. This blog cannot do justice to the splendor of either the shopping centre or the hotel, so I will save this for another week. Suffice to say both places are worth checking out if you have some cash to spare!
With that in mind I will turn my focus to the British Community Association of Cairo or the BCA. The idea behind this organisation is to provide a social network for expatriates of all nationalities, although primarily British, and give them somewhere to meet up and socialise. Of course, seasoned travellers who doth protest that reverting to spending time with those of your own nationality (or at least those fluent in your language) when in new country defeats the object of moving abroad, may find the BCA a little too much like home. I,however, utterly believe that the two ways of living when abroad can be enjoyed simultaneously.
Anyone who has moved away from where they were brought up and tried to start a new life elsewhere can testify that it is often an emotional process and it can be quite daunting and quite lonely. Couple this with a move abroad to a foreign land where the culture and language are very different and one soon realises the need for home comforts and a few friends who speak your lingo.
Studying and interning at IH Cairo ILI, a primarily British company, has helped me settle in tremendously as the whole place is a hub of diversity and I can talk to English speakers on a daily basis. This provides a healthy balance with my social life outside of work because it allows me to happily spend time with my boyfriend’s circle of friends who are all Egyptian with varying levels of English fluency. However, I am fully aware that not everyone has the privilege of instant contact with other foreigners and so I figured it was time to set out and try to make a few friends of my own outside of work so I can blog about how easy it is to do!
There are three main venues for the BCA. El Mohadeseen, Helipolis and El Maadi. Over the weekend we set out to try El Mohadeseen and El Maadi.
El Mohadeseen was, unfortunately, a let-down. After almost an hour of trudging around the back-streets of the area and after many failed attempts to call the telephone number that was on the website, we had to admit defeat and leave before we even found the building, as it was simply nowhere to be seen and even the locals had never heard of it. I had read online that it was hard to find and in a quiet area, but this was simply ludicrous! What we were expecting I am not sure- possibly at the very least a Union Jack hanging outside, but there was nothing. On further enquiry (we ended up calling the El Maadi branch for help) we found out that the Mohandiseen clubhouse was relocating and within two months the current building will no longer be used. I will try the new venue when it is open and keep you all updated on its progress.
The BCA El Maadi was totally opposite. It was full of life and the atmosphere resembled that of an English pub garden on a sunny afternoon. We were able to talk to the senior barman, an Egyptian by the name of Simon, who welcomed us and explained everything we needed to know. There is a bar and a restaurant which serves all the British favourites. I treated my boyfriend to his first ever roast dinner. The food was tasty, with the exception of the ‘mash’ which could definitely not be defined by its name – resembling more a porridge - like slop than the fluffy and light consistency that mashed potato should have!
The venue has darts, a pool table and a big TV. Although a little far from my current residence in El Harram, I will probably become a member there because if you join El Maadi you automatically gain free membership to the other two places as well. All nationalities, including Egyptians and Brits, need a passport to enter. The club costs 800 LE (about £80) per annum to join and all the forms can be found online www.bcaegypt.com. The address is 18 Port Said Street, El Maadi. Do not expect the taxi driver to know the way, he will more than likely stop to ask directions a number of times! The club is not immediately obvious from the road but it is a terracotta mansion house on a corner of the street in a residential area, with a black gate that has a security guard by it. Directions are online and you can also give them a call +20 2 23580889.
For a little piece of home I would really recommend this club. In continuation it is used by all sorts of different groups and organisations as a meeting point and there are flyers for everything you may need from dentists to dance classes so you should never be lost for contacts. Whilst we were there, there was a charity bazaar raising money for children’s charities and encouraging people to donate or get involved. There was also a church barbeque taking place, which suggests that there is an active Christian community in El Maadi. Of course for those who are this way inclined a perfect way to meet new people who will ensure your comfort and happiness is to visit a church and get to know the congregation – a visit to the BCA and a chat to some the staff or the other punters can ensure you are pointed in the right direction.
So all in all this was a useful investigation of a centre-point for anyone who, like me, sometimes feel lost and a little daunted in their new, exotic environment!
This just leaves me time to once again wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Eat well and be healthy and happy, and may all your Christmas wishes come true.
The BCA El Maadi from the front
The BCA in Al Maadi at night
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