10 reasons why I love ‘Assalah Square’
I live in the vicinity of Assalah Square, about a 200m walk to the shops and a two minute taxi drive away from Red C Villas, on the other side of Assalah. I love living here and thought I’d share with you my top 10 reasons why. So, in no particular order, here they are!
10. Ibrahims Fruit Shop
Ibrahim heads up the fruit and vegetable mafia in Assalah square. His shop is hidden away down an alleyway and has a roof made of the Katameya tentmakers fabric. It’s always jammed packed with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and offers loads of variety including: plenty of fresh herbs like rocket, dill, parsley and coriander. Ibrahim himself is a slightly surly man with a penchant for shifting prices, this just makes me like him more. On days when I can’t be bothered weighing and he can’t be bothered counting, I just hold up a bag stuffed full and he comes up with an arbitrary figure far less than what the bag is actually worth! Or occasionally, far more…..
9. The Bike Shop
Got a puncture? No problems, drop your bike off and come back an hour later after lunch at Ralphs German bakery in the square. Your bike will be as good as new for a fiver – 5LE that is or 50p Sterling! Tyres need pumping up? Take the bike along, ask for Hawa (Arabic for wind/air) and your tires will be filled from a compressor or sometimes a scuba tank for 1LE each wheel. Not that pumping up tires is hard but who would with this service available!
8. The Sugar Cane Juice Shop
There’s nothing like a fresh sugar cane juice spiked with lime after a ‘hectic’ shopping trip round the square. You’ll find the juice shop by seeing the cane itself stacked outside. You can also buy fresh OJ and Guava juice by the litre.
7. The German Bakery
A few years back, local expat favourite ‘The German Bakery’ opened an outlet in Assalah square. On offer is freshly made loaves, baguettes, croissants and cakes. Espresso coffee can be had at the tables outside while watching the square go by.
6. Ghazalah Market
A Dahab institution and everybody’s favourite supermarket. Assalah boasts two outlets, one of which is a bit more modern and even has a scanner for barcodes. Ghazalah market was first opened in the 80’s by Hamdi Gahazala and was one of the first ever supermarkets in Dahab. In those days it was just a shack near the beach!
5. ‘Russalah’
My Bedouin friend Hameed has dubbed Assalah, ‘Russalah’ (Russian-Assalah) owing to the sheer volume of Russian mothers and children shopping here on any given day. Though this is obviously not a special place, I thought I’d share as it always makes me smile!
4. The ‘Chicken Shop’ Restaurant
Next to what we refer to as ‘Posh Ghazalah’ or ‘Tesco’ (the Ghalazala market with a scanner) is a little restaurant that has a name but everyone just calls it the ‘chicken shop’. Dine in or take away, on offer is rotisserie chicken, rice, tahina, salad, bread and soup. Take a chicken with everything and the cost is just 50LE! Egyptian fast food is great!
3. The chicken, rabbit and duck shop
Want to make sure that your food is fresh? This is the way to do it. Head to the shop and let them know which of the live animals on offer you’d like. Go have a coffee if you’re a bit squeamish! Come back and you’ll find your animal of choice plucked/skinned and prepared as you specified!
2. Abu Abdoo Falafel shop
You’ll find this small restaurant next to ‘old Ghazalah’. It’s always jam packed in the morning and for good reason. The falafel and sides here are great. You’ll easily be able to pick up enough food for everybody in your family for 10 – 20LE. Choose from Falafel, foul, shakshouka, potato fries, moussaka, pickled veges, curried cauliflower, tahina and anything else that’s currently on offer. Or pick up a mixed sandwich for just 2.5LE!
1. The ‘pop-up plant nursery shop’
Every now and again when I head to the square there is a ‘pop-up’ plant nursery sat on the side of the road. Brilliant service I reckon and it always saves me a trip to one of the garden shops. I can get my, not so green-thumbed hands on mature hibiscus, acacia, jasmine, bird of paradise and herbs, all starting from just 10LE. An easy way to replace the plants I’ve killed the week before!
Till next blog,
Summer.
Feeling a bit daunted by heading into Assalah by yourself for the first time? No problems, just let us know and we’d be happy to tag along and show you the ropes!
