CILANTRO-ROLEX-ZAMALEK

Yesterday was Cilantro's day for me. I stopped by twice, once early morning before heading to the office, and later in the afternoon to have lunch before heading to my hotshot snobbish client . This past month I have been working and consulting like crazy and have been seeing lots of interesting situations. Very challenging too. The great part is that I feel on top of all that. I think the before bed remeberance I started since the begining of Rajab has had some good effect.

So, Cilantro 730 am. I entered, casually dressed in a white long sleeves shirt and a black skirt. The coffee rich aroma was the first thing that welcomed me. Apart from the rich aroma, the place was rather empty except of 2 men in their early 50's.

The first man looked so decent in his white long sleeves shirt closely captured by a nice red and yellow cuffs, nice classical tie and a Gold & Silver Rolex. He looked so familiar but not sure where did I see him. I sat opposite to him, exchanged looks and semi greetings. I got my newspaper and ordered my coffee and half concentrated on my paper while sneaking a look or two to the decent guy. I was actually trying to figure out who was he, when he received a call on his cell. The minute he said, 'Aloo' I knew who he was. He talked in such a decent, diplomatic, polite, humble, you name it way on the phone. I liked the decency and politeness to whoever he was talking to. After he finished his call, getting ready to leave, I looked up to him and asked, 'Are you Monsieur X. ?' He smiled and nodded. I said, 'Couldnt miss the sound.' I introduced myself and we exchanged couple of sentences before he had to leave. How funny I thought to myself.

The other guy, also mid 50's but he looked like a business man. He was dressed in a pinkish polo shirt and a jeans, and a Rolex, an older model though. He looks very friendly, smiling and exchanging jokes with the waiters. I knew that he must be some big shot rich guy. He was talking on the phone about this deal he got with Caterpillar and Exxon Mobil; he sold his apartment for 1.2; his wife doesnt want the old furniture and didnt want it to even be transferred to Sukhna, a statment to which I couldnt hold myself from smiling when I heard it. He looked to me and said, 'What can I do!?'

Back to the newspaper again, when I felt a knock on my shoulder. There stood my simonds buddy. I dont know his name, but we knew each other from AUC, regularly met at Simonds, and now at Cilantro. He said Hello and sat infront of me. He as well was wearing a Sports Rolex, the black one, James Bond's style. He sat for 10 minutes, drank his coffee, read the newspaper and left.

I was alone, finally able to concentrate on my paper when I heard the polo shirt rich man saying, 'Can I ask you a question? Why did you change it and removed the metal to leather?' I looked up and said, 'What?' Looking to my watch and repeating the question. 'Ah, my rolex you mean? Aha, I want it to look a little feminine.' He gave me a blaming look and said, 'Naha... You ruined the Rolex's look, H.' I answered, 'Oh well, actually I like the sports Rolex.' He replied almost immediately, 'Like the other's guy watch.', 'Wow, everyone is really looking at the other's watches.', I replied. 'Oh yea, ma'am. They are beautiful.' He was right. Good watches really are beautiful.

Apart from everything, what's up with people living in Zamalek, do they all dress and talk the same? Do they all buy the same stuff, and live in the same standard? I mean is there a stereotype of who the Cilantro Zamalek people are, especially those who come early meaning they live inbound and not a morning comers? Do they all recognize one another? Do they all talk in millions like this polo man? Park a Jagguar with a Chauffeur in the no parking area outside Cilantro? Order the semi-handicapped driver to bring him the newspaper instead of him just hopping there to get it for himself? Wanting to throw expensive furniture in a 1.2 apartment because his wife doesnt want it, and doesnt want him to even think about shipping it to Sukhna? Can he just give it to Mustafa Mahmoud mosque to help tens of couples to get married? I wish I could have told him that.

I would like to think that decent people, not particularly rich ones, live in Zamalek. There is a big difference actually between 'decency' and 'richness'. The later doesnt in particular inculde the former. Our apartment building for instance, is far from being fancy. No Jaguar or Hammar parking in its garage, rather moderate cars which are cheaper than a Rolex. Apartments itself are simply furnished with no fancy statues or expensive accessories. Old ones maybe. Good taste maybe but for sure nothing fancy like the ones we see on this 'Dream TV program, houses and gardens.' But I see that some parts of the society seeks to separate and distinguish themselves from other ones. I maybe really exaggerating, but how odd it is for me to find 4 out of 4 customers wearing 4 different Rolex models. What is more important is that 2 out of the 4 (myself and the polo) had at least noticed the others watchs and actually talked about it. Does this happen usually!