I agreed to meet a woman named Caroline yesterday to discuss whether we might want to live together and to look at some flats.  She e-mailed me back after the message I sent out on the Cairo Scholars list, just saying she’ll be here for six mo...

I went to look at two apartments yesterday with my real estate agent.  We were supposed to meet around 3 but something kept her and we couldn’t meet until 5.  With iftaar, the celebratory fast-breaking meal at sunset, just around the corn...

The hotel where I’m staying, the Longchamps, is run by a wonderful woman of indeterminate age named Madame Hebba.  She is stylish and competent, overseeing the refurbishments to her hotel while managing the remaining open rooms with flair.&nbs...