CAIRO: Redecoration is always a burden, whether financially or the amount of time involved. Summer homes are even worse; once people have spent a winter of frequent traveling overlooking the decoration of their beachside house and spending a fortune in the process they don t even want to think about renovations. But giving the house …

An explosion has already been heard in Iran. Not the nuclear kind the world is dreading. This one is softer, curvier (some makes come with an unusually short fuse) and just as loud. The bang belongs to Iranian women who will now be allowed to attend major sporting events, soccer included, ending a ban that …

CAIRO: Shisha first found its way into the land of the Nile with the Ottoman conquest in the early 19th Century. It is the modern shisha, however, that is uniquely Egyptian. With the addition of molasses into the tobacco first taking place in the early days of the 20th Century in order to move away …

ALEXANDRIA: When walking in sports clubs in Alexandria and Cairo, where members of Egypt’s “high society usually take their children for fresh air and sun, it is not odd to see women and girls of all ages and nationalities wearing white coats tailing the young kids. These women are called nannies, in reference to their …

CAIRO: Believe it or not, shorts are the newest addition to a trendy wardrobe. I am not talking about beach shorts or Daizy Dukes; what’s “in today are shorts of all lengths that flatter all types of figures and work for almost any occasion. Last winter every ultra-fashionable woman in Cairo was wearing them, mostly …

CAIRO: There are many things Egyptians can look forward to with the onset of the spring season: ideal weather, outdoor cafes, a jump-start to the summer and an abundance of holidays. “Spring is one of the best seasons for travel, says Mohammed Al Rifai, director of sales at Eastmar Travel. “The weather is accommodating to …

ALEXANDRIA: When walking in sports clubs in Alexandria and Cairo, where members of Egypt’s “high society usually take their children for fresh air and sun, it is not odd to see women and girls of all ages and nationalities wearing white coats tailing the young kids. These women are called nannies, in reference to their …

CAIRO: Once upon a time, men were expected to appear rugged, even when looking their best. It was acceptable and almost anticipated for anyone with a Y-chromosome to remain stubble-faced, with dirty fingernails and monotonous attire. That was until the advent of what New Yorkers like to call the metrosexual. Metrosexuality is often confused with …

CAIRO: Many of today’s career-minded individuals are hampered by personal problems, such as worry over their job, relationships and life choices. Most likely, they are experiencing a problem in another aspect of life that is indirectly affecting either their career or relationship. A life coach can help you in locating the original problem. By asking …

CAIRO: Tuesday’s for the most part are not the busiest days for restaurants. Not so with Aqua, however, which is attracting more and more of Egypt’s sushi fans with it’s Tuesday all-you-can-eat Sushi buffet that requires diligent planning; in order to secure a table, book a week in advance. Located in the Four Seasons Nile …

A recent issue of the sports section of The Sunday Times devoted an entire page to Ahmed “Mido Hossam, Egypt’s most famous football export. As you can guess from the headline, “Jewel of the Nile, sports critic Joe Lovejoy does not dwell too long on Mido’s famous touchline bust-up with Egypt’s coach Hassan Shehata in …

CAIRO: In a world trend that finds mothers wrestling between staying home versus working and where the challenges women face in juggling the roles of the homemaker and the bread-earner has become a social movement, one perplexing question remains: Where have all the fathers gone? Quoting a question put forth by Nancy Gibbs in a …

CAIRO: Typically, it has always been women that have a preoccupation with staying in shape and getting fit. Traditionally, men have gone to the gym to “get a six-pack, “get big, and “bulk up. However, the world is changing, and fast. Trends such as getting personal trainers and joining group exercises are making their way …

CAIRO: For all its advantages, technology comes with plenty of malfunctions. When seven-year-olds prefer to sit at home and play games on their computers rather than be outdoors playing a game of basketball, the ugly side of technology rears its head. The fact of the matter is that the youth of today, while technologically savvy, …

CAIRO: My colleagues tell me I’m not exactly what you’d call a biker babe. I don’t wear leather, I don’t like loud noise and I can be a bit of a wimp. Until recently, I was far too petrified to even attempt getting on a motorcycle. Cairo isn’t exactly what I’d characterize as ideal for …

CAIRO: “The atmosphere is of a very feminine club … It’s very seductive, says Tahir Sultan, as he explains the essence of London’s high-end club M1NT. “You walk in and you see eclectic turner prize artworks on the lush purple walls, suede couches with velvet cushions, fish tanks and the lights get dimmer and dimmer …

CAIRO: It’s customary to go out for lunch or dinner; those favoring late night meals also have their preferred locales. The breakfast market, meanwhile, has long been cornered by the numerous fuul and taamiya outlets available on almost every street in the city. That, however, seems to no longer be the case, as many restaurants …

CAIRO: So, you’re fresh out of university. You’ve got a lifetime of excitement ahead of you; paying bills, buying a house or apartment, starting a family with expenses, expenses and expenses. The first step is to find a job, not a job in daddy’s company, a job that you earned and genuinely want to do. …

CAIRO: The rich, smooth taste that melts in your mouth and the feeling of euphoria that comes after a couple of bites. This makes chocolate an indulgence that many enjoy and crave time and again. The guilt however, will usually set in. Now there’s good news for chocoholics. There have been reports that chocolate may …

CAIRO: Martial arts date back more than 2000 years; pictures were painted on tombs, showing people fighting. Today, the different types of martial arts have evolved and developed into a form of fitness that is accessible for everyone and not only to hardcore enthusiasts. Egypt has always promoted participation in the martial arts, including Karate, …

CAIRO: In a first, Egypt has its own online gallery of original contemporary and modern art, a retail website launched by some of Egypt’s most talented artists. Egy-Art.com offers worldwide shipping of Egyptian artwork, a step that founders of the website believe is essential to market Egyptian taste in fine art. Browsing through the online …

CAIRO: Regularly experiencing hot flushes, a bit of insomnia, nervousness, more facial wrinkles, dryer skin and weaker vertebrae are some of the common signs of menopause – coupled, of course, with the menstrual irregularity that leads to cessation. Nonetheless, many women are still surprised with such physical symptoms, not to mention even less aware when …

CAIRO: Contrary to popular belief, today’s youth understand the value of money. They understand that a luxurious car costs more than half a million pounds, that renting a tiny flat in an upscale neighborhood costs around LE 7,000 a month, that a not-so-casual dinner date will end up costing a minimum of LE 200; speaking …

CAIRO: I’m a city girl, born and bred. Needless to say, I have not had much chance, or inclination, to commune with nature. My interaction is limited to the domesticated house pets I come upon, and the much-feared encounter with insects. I have taken note of the pesky pigeons that roost on the air conditioner …

CAIRO: The first time you enter Shogun, the eccentric fish tank at the center will likely draw most of your attention. But gradually the teppenyaki corners and the Asian-style decorations will pull you in. Sit for a minute and the sound of hand clapping (as people applaud the almost-acrobatic moves of their cooks), combined with …

CAIRO: El Gouna,commonly referred to as the Red Sea’s premier leisure destination,is home to the new Abu Tig marina, one of the premier marina locations in Egypt. Located in the Northern Red Sea of Egypt, 200 NM south of Suez,the marina is designed by Italian architect Alfredo Freda. Facilities include a number of hotels, restaurants, …

As you can probably guess from the name, Fayruz is a Lebanese restaurant, and it is also the pride and joy of the InterContinental Hotel CityStars. The architecture is defined by its arches and high ceilings. Fayruz is a spacious dining area with a stage for oriental live music and belly dancing which starts as …

The offside law is one of the game s hardest to comprehend, especially after it was changed. The law says that offside occurs when there are fewer than two defenders between an attacker and the goal line. Once, players were judged offside the moment the ball was passed forward by their team. Now they must …