Egypt's capital has returned to the "bustling calm" of a large city after two weeks of unrest by protestors demanding President Hosni Mubarak resign, a RIA Novosti correspondent said on Monday.
Military barricades and check points have been removed from practically all of the city streets with the exception of streets surrounding Tahrir Square in the center of Cairo where more than 10,000 protestors remain during the day. Toward the evening, however, the square fills with some one million people.
Banks, stores, cafes, launderettes, and clothing stores among others were up and running on Monday, while the streets were jammed with the usual city traffic. The police have returned to duty controlling traffic and city clean-up crews began collecting garbage that has accumulated in the neighborhoods over the last two weeks. Neighborhood vigilantes have returned policing duties to the authorities.
On Cairo's main square protestors are in more of a festive mood than they have been. Food, tea, coffee, and flags are being sold by vendors on the square, Egyptian women dressed in traditional hijabs pass out dried figs, while young men are handing others yogurt. Scattered around the square are groups of people screaming out anti-government slogans and calling others to chime in with them, which they do with incredible enthusiasm and emotion.
Events on Tahrir Square are reminiscent of a national holiday in the center of the city, only without the parades and clowns.
People on the square and the city streets alike are friendly, smile and welcome you to Egypt practically every step of your way. They show particular excitement toward foreign journalists thanking them for showing the world what is truly happening in the country.
CAIRO, February 7 (RIA Novosti, David Burghardt)
