Egyptian Revolution - Continued

26^th of January 2011

After the big demonstration day yesterday, it was a normal working day for me. Observing the Facebook groups, it was announced that there will be a big demonstration on the 28^th of January.

27^th of January 2011

After work on Thursday evening, my roommate and I went to our friends nearby apartment. We were talking about what might happen tomorrow. Will the demonstration be strong enough to kick Mubarak out of the country? Will the military start shooting?

I actually decided earlier not going to the demonstrations, but as we were discussing about what is happening in Egypt right now I had to go. This could be a historical moment, what only happens once in a life time.

Just moments after we left the apartment, the internet was shut off. A friend of mine told me, that nearly every mosque and church was calling for demonstrations. I thought that this could be a huge day, as millions of people go to the Friday prayers. Film stars, Music stars, El Baradei, everyone will be at this demonstration.

28^th of January 2011

At 10:30 AM my roommate and I left our apartment to meet with our friends a few blocks away from us. We had a map enrolled on the table to organize where we should go to watch the event. But you never know where you will end up at the end of the day.

Like on Tuesday we were taking the local tram to Ramses square. As we approached there, we saw hundreds of police men getting ready for today’s protests. Walking down to Ramses street, we witnessed a small demonstration.

Getting ready

As we were coming near to the Ramses Hilton Hotel at the Nile River, we saw two security cars set on fire. A few hundred people were demonstration next to the hotel. The police responded with a lot of tear gas. People were trying to get into the hotel as the tear gas clouds were coming close to us, but the hotel security denied. Only families with their children were allowed to enter.

Tear gas

After the horrible experience of getting a lot of tear gas into your eyes and lungs we managed to go to the Nile River, the street where the National TV Station is located. We watched the ongoing battle on the bridges left and right to us. We thought that the demonstrations have failed as there were only small groups gathering around. It seemed that the police were successfully separating the groups.

On our way back home to Heliopolis some of our friends got a Taxi. My roommate and a friend of us and I searched for a Taxi too, to get out of Downtown, but we couldn`t find any. The only choice was continuing walking till we find one. We thought that we have to go home soon as possible, as the curfew would start soon.

A few minutes later, as we were walking in a poor area near to Downtown, we saw a few hundred people moving to the direction of Tahir square. There was no police anywhere, so we decided to follow them. And then we witnessed a symbolic moment.

Back on Ramses street we saw more than hundred thousand people gathering on the street. No police was in that area. Security trucks were burning. And then it happened. Next to the National Newspaper building was a gigantic poster of Hosni Mubarak. It was tired down by the people. People where happy, and shouted yaskut yaskut Hosni Mubarak (Down with Hosni Mubarak).

Standing in the middle of the demonstration at Ramses street, we realized that we were save. No police was around. Walking down with the crowed to Tahir square, we saw again a few security trucks on fire. We got into contact with some Egyptian people asking them what they think. Most of them were in a very happy mood. Some were happy, but at the same time worried about the violence of the police against them and the responds of the people. They were asking us, what we are doing in Egypt and why we are at the demonstration. Most of the people told me to tell their story and what is happening in Egypt to outside world.

Approaching Tahir square, we heard rumors that the army has arrived, so we went to our friend’s apartment near to Tahir square.

Watching the news

NDP building on fire

Tear gas 

That night we were watching the battles between the police and the demonstrators from the roof of the apartment building. The women who live on the roof were providing us with drinks and a TV to watch the news. We witnessed how the NDP headquarter was set on fire as well as how the police stole food and drinks from a nearby supermarket. 

As the military moved in, they called the police back and protected the demonstrators. At that time we went bed, to get some rest.

29^th of January 2011

The next day we went back on the streets early in the morning. We saw the leftovers of the fight between the police and the demonstrators. Hundreds of stones, empty teargas bottles and some smashed bottles, which were used as Molotov cocktails. Walking down to Tahir square we saw the tanks and military securing the area. People were friendly and happy that the military arrived as there is a strong connection between them. At the square some Egyptians offer us some cans of Stella, the famous local Beer.

NDP building

Military securing the National TV station

"Yaskut Mubarak" (Down with Mubarak)

After checking out the area we went back to Heliopolis, to get some rest after this very long and historic day. Our Landlord told us that the police got the order only protect their police station. In whole Cairo no police was on the street. A reason for the people to set up neighborhood watches as thousands of prisoners escaped. It seemed to be a tactic by the regime to scare the people and give them the only choice to choose between chaos and the regime. But people were not scared by this tactic and continued to protest at Tahir square.

30^th of January 2011

My roommate and I had no food at home anymore. Our Landlord came to us to take the rent of our apartment. He offered us to take us to a supermarket, which still had open as most of them were already closed. We had to wait in line to get into the supermarket. Inside we got as much as we can carry to have food for the next 2 weeks, as you do not know what will happen next.

Later at night I was outside with my neighbors, who set up a neighborhood watch. This shows the real character of the Egyptian people. People are helping each other. Although Cairo is a very big city, the people in their neighborhood know each other. If this kind of situation would happen in a big city in Germany, there would be anarchy. People were doing the job of the police. That night many criminals were captured or killed. In our area the situation was very calm, as there is a military checkpoint at Roxy square, the place where I live in Heliopolis.

31^st of January 2011

Watching the news all day long, the military announced, that it will not use any force against the great people of Egypt.

At night I was again outside with my new friends to protect our area against Plunderers. I have not witnessed any violence in our area so far. Same like last night, the situation was very calm, so we smoked Shisha inside of a traffic police house.

1^st of February 2011

Continuing watching TV instead of going out on the streets, I saw how the crowd on Tahir square got bigger and bigger. I would not go to Tahir square, because I promised it to my family and my closest Egyptian friends.

Yesterday it was announced that there will be a million man march to the presidential palace in Heliopolis. As this place is near to my home, I do not have the need to go to Tahir square. Watching Al Jazeera all day long again, I saw that the people will stay in Tahir square. For some time reporters said that there are two million people on Tahir square.

At around 11:15 PM local time, President Mubarak announced that he will not run for another term. Just before going to bed I saw 30 people on the street demonstrating in favor of Mubarak.

2^nd of February 2011

Early in the morning at around 3:30 AM my roommate and I went to Cornish Al Nile, near Tahir square as my roommate was giving an interview for CNN.

We ask our friends from the neighborhood watch to get us a Taxi. After we knew that the Taxi we had stopped early will not come, our friends asked the military to help us. They stopped a random car for us and asked them to give us a ride.

At the CNN studio we met Anderson Cooper. My roommate was giving his interview for his show Anderson Cooper 360. Later, they told us to stay in their apartment at the Ramses Hotel, till the curfew would end.

At 1:00 PM the internet was back.