I am not a journalist, I admit I don’t know much about politics and anyway I don’t mean to write about it. I just want to write about what happened a few minutes ago, because I am still shocked and I just need to share my thoughts.
Today, January 25th, is the National Police Day in Egypt and it’s therefore a holiday. Following Tunisia’s facts, Egyptians planned a “revolution” for today. Me and my flatmates live in Downtown Cairo, the center of the action… and so we went down to the street, I just needed to send a fax to Italy, and saw that this street was relatively quiet so decided to stop on a corner and see what was going on.
At the end of this street (Qasr el Einy) is the main square of Cairo, Midan Tahrir. We saw some movement from a distance, but it was far so I just snapped some pictures with my zoom.
Police started throwing tear gas and pushing away the crowd with water cannons.
Suddenly the police was running towards us, I lost some seconds taking photos, and as soon as I moved my eyes from the wayfinder I found myself in the middle of people running… and I ran too, turned back for a second and the police was there, and I was scared… I entered the door of a building and climbed the stairs to the first floor. Waited a few seconds and as soon as I felt like it was quiet again outside I left. I looked for a quiet area to send the fax… (yes it was urgent!) And saw police blocks all around.
It was scary, and sad. I love this Country and I do want things to change, but I feel so sorry for it right now. I felt like crying at some point. I am a chicken, and you know it, and this is the first time in my life that I actually had to run away from the police… and as far as I know Egyptian police is pretty violent. No I didn’t want to get hurt…
A friend of mine got his camera confiscated.
I am safe at home now, but I can hear a lot of noise from outside. We are following the news, me and my flatmates, and it looks like the protests are spreading all around the Country. I just read that even the Beduins from Northern Sinai are joining. The protest is everywhere.
On the internet though, getting info is very hard because of heavy censorship. They even blocked Twitter. Wtf.
Tear gas is in the air and my nose and throat are stinging. I might go to a friend’s rooftop to see the protests, but I don’t even know if the police will let me cross the square.
Good luck Egypt…
You might also like
Follow me on Instagram at 
23 Comments
Thank you my Italian Egyptian friend – good luck Egypt
Over 100,000 have taken to the streets today. It’s the biggest protest in 25 years. Depending on how good your Arabic is:
http://www.facebook.com/RNN.NEWS
Major western news websites are ignoring it, since they are all pro-Mubarak.
Here’s a tidbit from skynews:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Egypt-Protests-Egyptian-Police-Tackle-Cairo-Demonstration-With-Water-Cannon-And-Tear-Gas/Article/201101415910168?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15910168_Egypt_Protests:_Egyptian_Police_Tackle_Cairo_Demonstration_With_Water_Cannon_And_Tear_Gas
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Katie A, Giulia. Giulia said: **New Post: Jan 25th, 2011: Egypt's "Revolution Day" #jan25 #egypt http://fb.me/RD5w479A […]
wow, girl. That sounds really scary. I’m sorry that it happen when you were out trying to do a simple fax. Why are them protest do you know? I never relaly follow these type of news too. It’s sad to see this though especially tear gas and all sorta of other things are use. :T I’m glad you find a door to go in and you’re okay.
Hey Sarah, they protest against Mubarak’s regime in Egypt. Some ask for a minimum wage, or for some laws to be changed. But in general it’s a protest against the regime. I support it but at the same time I am a bit nervous about what will happen!
you are brave, if it was me i would have stayed home and avoided the whole affair
Hey chica,
I stopped by after reading your comment, and I’m glad I did since I’ve been wanting up close information on Egypt! Your pictures are amazing – but it makes me so nervous to see little kids out in the crowd! They could so easily be hurt.
Have you talked to any Egyptians about it so far. Are most people supporting the protests, or do they think it is just going to end in trouble for everyone?
Please stay safe!
Everybody is supporting the protest, they believe it’s the Egyptian revolution… Personally I hope so too but it’s hard to believe… we’ll see! People are getting hurt constantly, a massive use of tear gas is done and I just read people also threw tear gas in a hospital… plus they beat people and arrest anyone… A guy I know has been arrested and taken to Hurgada, and his phone is now off… no news… In a way I hope everything will be over soon but this would mean that the protests didn’t work, so I really don’t know what to think.
I’m an American traveling to Egypt tomorrow. Is it safe? I arriving in Cairo, then traveling to Hurgahda for two days, then a MS Queen of Hansa, Nile cruise, then back to Cairo at the Safir hotel around the 5th. Do you think i will be safe? I’m going with an American tour. Any advice? I konw not to go to the demonstration areas, but what else can anyone advise????
I think you will be fine :)
Hurgada and the Nile Cruise will be ok… and in Cairo you’ll be with a tour so they’ll take you just to the Pyramids, Citadel etc.
Don’t worry :)
Grazie di essere passata dal mio blog. Il tuo è magnifico.
Wow! How scary! Hope you’re staying safe. Cairo is a beautiful city and I hope things will change for the better…
Wow – I can’t believe you are experiencing this first hand. Your post was great and I hope things are ok for you now.
I’m keeping you in my thoughts! Be safe!
This post sounds scary & I can only imagine how much scarier it got over the next few days. I’m so glad you made it back to Italy safely, though I know you would have liked to not have to leave. I’m really interested in your perspective on the events since you were there.
you are lucky not to be hurted. Egypt now is safe and it will be safe for ever.
It is not safe ya Nada, but it’ll be safe in the right time and after the right path of events. It is not easy to get over groups of people who have billions and billions of vested interests that they know they will eventually lose
ارفع راسك فوق انت مصرى وانا ديمن راسى فوق علشان انا مصرى والله يسمح اى حد ظالم مصر علشان دى اعظم بلد فى الدنيا التاريخ والزكريات الجميله فى مصر انا عشت احسن ايامى فى مصر و25 يناير ده ثوره شعب جميل شعب غظيم هيا دى ام الدنيا وانا شركت فى الثوره علشان انا من مصر ليها فضل عليه كفيه ان هيا مازكوره فى القران خطبى لرئس الجمهوريه محمد حسنى مبارك السابق كلت البلد بدرى كان نفسى تكمل معانا بس مافيش نصيب ونصيبك كده انا هقولك كلمه وحد بس كلمه حلوه على كل لسان الشعب المصرى الله يسمحاك على كل اللى انت عملتو فى الشعب ده شعبنا طيب وجداع اوى كفيه انو اعد 35 سنه سكت متكلمشى فى اى حاجه انت عرف الشعب كان عوز عيشه حلوه بس طيب قولى وحد شنق نفسو بسببك عرف ليه الشاب ده كان بيحب وحده وكان عوز يتجوز بس كان مرتبو على قدو كان سوق تاكسى وكان مرتبو 150 حنيه فى الشهر طيب قولى باالله عليك يعمل ايه الشاب ده لزم يعمل كده يتجوز ولاه ويجيب شقه ويجيب شبيكا وغيرو وغيرو ب 150 حينه اكيد لالا يبقه زبو فى رابتك صح انتا عرف انا نفسى فى ايه انا نفسى الحال يتعدل ولقى مصر بنسها احسن ويقولو احسنتى يا ام الدنيا واعلكى فى اعله مكان وطير بكى من زمان لزمان يا اغله عندى من امى ويمه زعلت انا امى وبتسمحى وبتلمى انا واخويا مسحى او مسلم هنبنى وهنعلى بس يريت الريس اللى هيجى مايغلى
[…] January 25th, 2011: Egypt’s Revolution Day – The first day of the protests, when I didn’t expect what was going to happen. […]
i read ur blog by chance ..now in 14 -10 and smiled i was one of this people & ask u now what do u think we went 25jan and we dreamed for better for Egypt then we did it .. it still long road.. but we still have a hope .. from ur comments i read that u wished to success but u don’t think that we can ..but we could ..hope to see u again in Egypt we protect our visitors..
Hi Sara, thanks for your comment! I still hope for Egypt to have a bright future and I will be back in a few days. I am constantly supporting your country!
Wonder how it felt every time you revisit this (and the other similar ones) post after how events developed here. Thanks Giulia for your accounts :-)
Hey Amr, thanks for stopping by. It’s strange to read these posts again, and compare what I felt back then to nowadays… But if nothing, these make great, unique memories. Time will tell what’s next…