A conferência anual da IAMCR está ainda a começar. Por isso, neste primeiro post egípcio transcrevemos apenas uns alertas da folha informativa de ontem da American University in Cairo: «RED LIGHT: they?re virtually non-existent and no one stops for them. Take care whether you?re in a taxi or walking. Look both ways before crossing a street and then look again. Traffic moves backward in Cairo nearly as often as it moves forward. Look carefully at cars you think are parked. They are frequently still moving or are being moved. Parking is a fluid process in Cairo; never stand between parked cars, even if there is room. NEVER cross the street in front of a city bus or, especially, a mini-bus. Many have no brakes, which is why they don?t stop to let passengers on or off. Watch out for horse- or mule-drawn carts, breadsellers on bicycles, death-wish delivery motorcyclists, pushcart vendors collection scraps or selling fruit and even the zabaleen (garbage cleaners) sweeping the streets. It?s their street too. Remember that most cars will at least slow down to let you cross if you turn the palm of the hand facing traffic toward them. It?s a universal Cairo signal to let someone cross. If a driver flashes the headlights at you, he?s telling you he won?t slow down to let you cross. Back off and try again. Pay no attention to traffic lights or signs. Do what the Egyptians around you are doing.» Isto diz muito de uma cidade onde vivem 16 milhões de pessoas e onde se vive de noite com a mesma intensidade que de dia!