Revolution: Day 5. Hello Cell Phones, Good-Bye Security

Day 5- Saturday, January 29th, 2011

After pressure from the Western World, Mubarak was encouraged to return cell phone service to his country.  However, he remained in control by keeping text messaging and internet connection down.

When Leah stopped by my flat at 10am, we decided to enjoy the nice weather on my balcony with a coffee and Bailey's.  Throughout the morning, several colleagues walked by and stopped up to chat about the weekly events.  Within the hour, we had received word that school on Sunday was canceled and we were to get to safe location until further notice.  At that point, we knew the situation had been raised from a 2 to a 5.  Leah met Didem at the Maadi Grand Mall to accomplish two important things; remove as much money from their Egyptian bank account as possible and stock up on water and food in case of immediate shortage.  While they ran around I gathered things together at my flat and waited for their return.  Less than twenty minute later they were frantically pounding at my door.  Seems as though they were greeted by friendly protestors with sticks, flags and signs shouting at them to "Get the F* Home!"  The girls must have been pushed around a bit because by the time they reached my flat they were hysterical and almost to tears.  

The current situation just went from a 5 to an 8.

For the next three days I decided to stay at at the safest place I could think of, the top floor of an apartment building with five male American teachers all armed with bats (and enough beer and burgers to last a couple of weeks).

On Saturday evening, the Egyptian Police were ordered by the government to disappear, leaving the streets empty of civic order.  After the last "Call to Prayer" of the day, all men were beckoned to the streets to protect the neighborhood from rioters and looters.  Each man carrying their favorite weapon; sharpened sticks, metal poles and knives.  My friends and I were glued to the news (and our windows).  After a delicious dinner of homemade lentil soup, rice and fruity cocktails, we heard a journalist report the release of criminals from the Maadi prison, located just a few blocks from my flat.  Many believe this was a strategy of the government to cause anarchy in the midst of police absence.  

Later that night, our neighborhood police station was raided by local Egyptian neighbors (the good guys).  However comforting or frighting it was, our local militia was now armed with rifles and hand guns.  Throughout the night we listened to the sounds of gunfire, army tanks and helicopters until sunrise.  Both manual and automatic gunfire continued until the final minutes of curfew.

Overnight, the "freak-out meter" jumped from an 8 to a 10.