First Carriage, Women Only
AHA!
I've found it. The female passengers' dream come true! In Cairo, the underground subway system is cheap, clean, efficient, predictable and goes far. AND the first carriage of every train is exclusively for women and small children. Stunning, and for reasons unexpected as well.
Of course, it is nice not to be glared at. It is pleasant to feel less likely to be robbed. And it is a relief not to be touched in inappropriate places. But the women's carriage is better than that!
The colours. Women generally dress more colourfully than men. So in a crowded carriage full of women, dresses, headscarves, blouses, skirts, dresses, and bags of very imaginable colour make waves like overlapping rainbows, up and down, from the tallest to the shortest of the ladies. It is literally a sea of colours that sways like flowers in the wind.
The sounds. Women generally have softer voices than men. So without the husky, grinding, hoarse, deep tones in masculine voices, a women's carriage sounds light and harmonious, like a dream, a song, a lullaby.
The smells. (Like it or not) Women generally smell nicer than men. The scent of perfumes, sprays, powders, deodorants, conditioners, clean laundry and other secret smells waft through the air, cancelling the foul and embracing the fresh.
The smiles. I've always found it easiest to communicate without words with other women, children and old people. Maybe it is all in my head or maybe it is just more simple between women or maybe there is an implicit agreement between us or maybe ... I don't know. But I am certain that it feels safe and sweet and serene to be in the company of women, and only women. There, we have an understanding of common ground, a freedom to do what we like and an pact to keep it to ourselves. So we smile - openly, deeply and for real.
At 50 piastres a journey, I've found the best way to travel.
I've found it. The female passengers' dream come true! In Cairo, the underground subway system is cheap, clean, efficient, predictable and goes far. AND the first carriage of every train is exclusively for women and small children. Stunning, and for reasons unexpected as well.
Of course, it is nice not to be glared at. It is pleasant to feel less likely to be robbed. And it is a relief not to be touched in inappropriate places. But the women's carriage is better than that!
The colours. Women generally dress more colourfully than men. So in a crowded carriage full of women, dresses, headscarves, blouses, skirts, dresses, and bags of very imaginable colour make waves like overlapping rainbows, up and down, from the tallest to the shortest of the ladies. It is literally a sea of colours that sways like flowers in the wind.
The sounds. Women generally have softer voices than men. So without the husky, grinding, hoarse, deep tones in masculine voices, a women's carriage sounds light and harmonious, like a dream, a song, a lullaby.
The smells. (Like it or not) Women generally smell nicer than men. The scent of perfumes, sprays, powders, deodorants, conditioners, clean laundry and other secret smells waft through the air, cancelling the foul and embracing the fresh.
The smiles. I've always found it easiest to communicate without words with other women, children and old people. Maybe it is all in my head or maybe it is just more simple between women or maybe there is an implicit agreement between us or maybe ... I don't know. But I am certain that it feels safe and sweet and serene to be in the company of women, and only women. There, we have an understanding of common ground, a freedom to do what we like and an pact to keep it to ourselves. So we smile - openly, deeply and for real.
At 50 piastres a journey, I've found the best way to travel.
posted by mg nightingale at 9:36 AM
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