The Good Holiday.

 

So, you still want more? Here you go. Together with a host of other contributors, I now share responsible tourism stories from around the world on THE GOOD HOLIDAY. Here's how Daréll Lourens, the passionate film-maker behind the blog, describes the project:

TGH produces films in places that make an extra effort to involve and empower local communities. Our photographers take pictures in parts around the world that amaze with natural beauty and our writers string together sentences about destinations that inspire an inner knowledge that living well creates more abundance than living rich.

Do I need to say more?

Tunis Pottery.

It still strikes us as somewhat odd that pottery village Ezbet Tunis in Fayoum isn't a more popular weekend destination with Cairenes, especially since you can find at least a few pieces of beautiful pottery made in Tunis in every self-respecting Cairo household. Well, at least in families that take an interest in Egyptian crafts and prefer authentic, local interiors over the internationalized sameness of today's design world. We especially love the bowls and plates by Tunis pioneer Rawya and her team, but each of the workshops and small outlets around the village deserves a visit. You'll always find a few unique pieces to take home. That is, if you travel all the way to Tunis to buy them - which you should. But if you don't, there's a number of shops in Cairo that also stock the ornate yet simple crockery from this most charming place, one of them being Oum El Dunia in Talaat Harb St, Downtown.

Cairo Kitchen.

There's people who think that it's outright crazy to pay double or triple the price for something that can easily be had at a much lower cost a few block down the street. But then, these are probably people for whom food is all about affordability and taste. For us who also value attentive and friendly service, a homey atmosphere, beautiful design and clean tables, some savvy entrepreneurs invented Cairo Kitchen, the contemporary (and yes, somewhat posh) answer to Cairo's food carts that can be seen around town selling tamia, fool and grilled vegetables. Around town, four outlets welcome hungry guests with their signature mix of white-against-colour interiors and Mondrian-esque facades. Colourful light bulbs add to the quirky look and feel and you can easily pretend you've stepped into a never-ending summertime street festival. Charming! At the food counter you can choose between warm meals from molokheya to koshary and an array of salads, dips and appetizers, all served in rustic enamelware and oh-so delicious. Don't forget to try their great, bottomless juices and cordials! They also do deliveries (of course, this is Cairo!) and cater for smaller and larger functions.

Tired of eating out or ordering in? Thankfully, the guys behind Cairo Kitchen recently also developed a cookery book of the same name, wrapping Egypt's most beloved recipes into a gorgeous layout with pictures so heartbreakingly beautiful in its description of profane daily life in the city you might forget Cairo tends to look like a grey, Soviet-era nightmare way too often.

http://www.cairokitchen.com

Diwan Bookstore.

How would we survive without the wonderful bookstore chain Diwan! At several locations around Cairo and Egypt, Diwan provides a sanctuary of peace and quiet amidst all the hustle and bustle. It's a definite fixture in our weekend excursions around Zamalek and we always find a good read or beautiful cookery book and of course the latest issue of the Guardian Weekly. It's mostly Arabic and English titles but Diwan also has a decent French section and the occasional German read. Plus, the stationery department is great if you need a last-minute gift (think sketch books, cards, folders and coasters with Arabesque patterns) when invited for dinner around the corner. They also serve good coffee, cake and some snacks in case you don't feel like returning to the real world just yet.

www.diwanegypt.com

AUC Downtown Campus & Bookstore.

Amidst all the faded glamour and crumbling facades in its neighbourhood the American University's downtown campus has long been a thriving beacon of beauty and excellence. That, however, was before the headquarters of the Middle East's premier educational institution were moved to new, shiny premises in New Cairo. Fortunately, the old campus with its moorish arches and mashrabiya panels is still open to the public and remains an oasis of green and calm in central Cairo, literally on the doorstep of the urban blight that is Tahrir Square. Come here on a Saturday morning for a leisurely stroll through the lush gardens and deserted hallways, take a peek at the splendid Oriental Hall and marvel at the many intricate details of this architectural masterpiece. Then, head to the AUC bookstore at the back of the building and browse to your heart's content through thousands of books spanning several languages and sections. It's easily one of the best and well-stocked bookstores in the country. Plus, the sleek wood and glass interior gives it a refreshing feel that is in stark contrast to the ornate decor of the rest of the campus. Let's hope it will still be open for a while. Entrance from Mohammed Mahmoud.

http://www.aucpress.com/t-aucbookstores.aspx

Lehnert & Landrock.

One of the advantages and indeed charms of downtown Cairo is the fact that you find century-old family businesses here that have long disappeared elsewhere. One such household name in the Egyptian art and retail scene is Lehnert & Landrock, the famous photography and publishing house in Sherif St, smack-bang in the heart of the city. It's on the ground floor of an unassuming building so you might be forgiven for haven mistaken it for a random bookstore. And while the selection of heavy art tomes and coffee table books in the front store seems a bit outdated, the real treasure is the back store with dozens of reprints of Lehnert's long-forgotten images of early 20th-century Egypt, which were only rediscovered in the 1980s. His oeuvre also includes beautiful photographs, especially portraits and rural scenes, from Tunisia and Algeria. Printed in either black-and-white or sepia and presented in simple wooden frames, these stills are a must-have for any Cairo apartment and go a long way to counter the awful furniture that your landlord in all likelihood has burdened you with.

http://lehnertandlandrock.net/