Photos from Cairo on the 2nd Anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution.

“IN PHOTOS” is a series I use to share many of the hundreds of photos I have taken during my travels. It is a series I started after visiting Chefchaouen, Morocco and thought the best way to share my experience there was “IN PHOTOS”. This series will not have a set schedule like my “MUSIC MONDAY” or “PHOTO ROUND UP”. “IN PHOTOS” will be a post with several photos with no limit. The only restriction this series will have is that it must be about a certain subject or theme. I will write a brief description of the subject or theme of the photos and then post the photos. I will not caption the photos like I do on my “PHOTO ROUND UP” with my thoughts. I want to use “IN PHOTOS” to share my photos and let you come up with your own thoughts about the images and hope you share them with me. I have also numbered them in case you want to leave a comment about a specific photo.

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I was lucky to be in Egypt during the 1 year anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution and witness peaceful protest in anger of the situation in Egypt. At the time the S.C.A.F. was still in charge of the country and nothing was being done about the presidential elections. Since then they have had presidential elections and put a new man in charge from the Muslim Brotherhood. I was also lucky to be in Egypt while they did that and witnessed Egypt elect their first democratically elected leader (ever). I was then there when they announced the new President of Egypt. It’s crazy that I have been in Cairo during many key moments as the revolution of change continues in this amazing country.

At the moment the people of Egypt are still upset at how the situation is in their country and are still demanding change. I was here during the 2nd anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution and the tension was so different from the 1st. This time I felt scared of walking around Tahrir Sq. I’m not sure why, but just didn’t feel comfortable walking around. In the back of my mind I had the fear of riots and the police crashing in on us and being caught in the middle of a revolution that is not mine. That exactly happened moments after I decided to leave the Square. As I walked around though I just felt like the people are sick and tired of everything happening in their country and demanding change and well I don’t blame them for that. Sadly nothing is changing and what is changing is changing for the worse with a more conservative government in hand and most people don’t want that.

Last year I was able to capture many amazing moments, but this year feel like I couldn’t capture as many and not sure why. It didn’t help that I spent maybe in hour in Tahrir Sq. before walking away because of the fears I had. As we walked away from the Square though we came across more protest and even a building on fire. The truth is I’m happy I was able to witness another moment in Egypt’s history, but this time wasn’t left in AWE like last year… this time I was left sad, because I love Egypt and the people of Egypt and know they are not getting what they deserve. As for my thoughts on how it felt to be there it was a crazy day and night I heard tear gas guns being shot many times. Most of them I heard from my apartment I live a 25minute walk from Tahrir Sq. but honestly it wasn’t as crazy as the media showed it. Once again the made it seem like the entire city of Cairo was on fire and rioting, but it was just concentrated in a few areas… if you weren’t there you wouldn’t feel anything. Ironically you see the photo of the building on fire below… well yeah I had lunch like 2 blocks away from there and it is was just like any other day. At that note I leave you with my favorite images from Cairo on January 25, 2013 along with some commentary.

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—The crowd as I entered Tahrir Sq. from Mohammed Mahmoud St.—

—This man wanted me to take a photo of his broken arm. Not sure how it happened, but the flag on his forehead.—

—A man demanding equality of religions and holding the Quran and the Cross.—

—The famous Guy Fawkes mask from V for Vendetta being sold all over Tahrir Sq.—

—A man selling water, wanted me to take a photo of him waving the Egyptian flag.—

—For some along with protest it’s an enterprise to try and make money. This child is seen selling drinks to the crowds.—

— “Where are the women’s rights? Revolution thieves.”

“Women are half the society & is the heart and brain of it.”—

—FUCK YOU MOURSY—

—The Egyptian flag and the Syrian flag. The Egyptians have Syria and all the Arab countries demanding for change in their hearts.—

—The crowds of Tahrir Sq. and I at the same location I took this same photo last year.—

—The crowds of Tahrir Sq. from above.—

—I in the middle of Tahrir Sq.—

—Protester holding a sign. No translation needed.—

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—This child was standing waving his flag and when he saw me taking photos asked me to take his photo.—

—This women was so loud chanting for women rights in Egypt.—

—This flag the length of two blocks eventually made it’s way to Tahrir Sq.—

—Down the street from Tahrir Sq were protesters running from shots and fire of a building.—

—A  building on fire down the street from Tahrir Sq.—

—A close look at the building on fire.—

—View of the street with protesters everywhere.—

—Protester fully covered hiding his identity.—

I hope you share your thoughts below.

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