Qanater

And then there was that time that I visited an inmate at Qanater Prison.

Surprised?  Not likely, if you’ve followed me along this journey around Cairo for the past year.  Many years ago, when I lived in Cairo as a young woman, I was seeking volunteer opportunities.  Someone introduced me to a gentleman who had been advocating for a member of his church community – a foreigner to Egypt serving time in Qanater Prison – but who had found himself too busy to give the project the time it deserved.  I visited the lawyer on the advocate’s behalf several times, and then came the day when he asked me to visit the inmate in the prison itself to obtain a Power of Attorney.  

I’m not going to lie; it was a grim experience.  I was strip-searched at the entrance (by a female guard in a private room with no funny business, thankfully) and then led to a cage in the middle of the prison yard.  I sat there.  Waiting.  Within a few minutes a few other women trickled in, all of them carrying bags of food and clothing.  After what seemed an eternity, a whistle blew and a group of weathered men passed the gate in single file.  Each went straight to the arms of what turned out to be his mother, aunt, or sister.  While the other women hugged and fed their sons, I sat with the friendless foreign man and heard his sad tale.  And, like those other women, I wept.  Prisons are not happy places.  The memory still haunts me.

Now, time for a personal question: do you have a friend or family member incarcerated in Qanater prison?  No?  Well, that may be for the best. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on becoming acquainted with the charming town surrounding the prison.  See, some years after my visit to the prison, a friend invited me to explore the town of Qanater.  I jumped at the opportunity.  It was time to make some new memories in that place. 

(Grab a friend and go to Qanater)

It was the right choice.  Qanater now happily resides on our go-to list of day trips.  Even if you don’t have a date at the prison, here’s two places that make Qanater worth the trip.

1. The Museum of Irrigation.  Despite the name, this museum is not a snoozer.  I’ve only taken my kids here once, but they really enjoyed the many models and dioramas.  I would recommend avoiding the museum tour unless you and your group understand Arabic.  Contact the museum in advance to confirm the house of operation.

(Interactive exhibits at the Irrigation Museum)

2. The Nile Garden.  This or any of the other gardens along the Nile make for an excellent place to play, relax, and enjoy gorgeous views of the Nile and some of its locks.  The Nile Garden isn’t free, but you don’t need a membership and the entrance fee isn’t prohibitive.

(“Monkey around” at the Nile Garden)

Transportation: Private car is the easiest way to tour Qanater, but you can get there from Cairo and make your way around town via public transportation.  Well, to be honest, we hitchhike our way around town quite a bit, but there are mini buses, taxis, and Uber.

So.  Whether you are visiting a friend in the Big House or just eager to try something new, Qanater welcomes you.  And you know what?  It’s been a while since I’ve been to Qanater and just reflecting on it here with you has given me that little push I needed to plan our next trip.  I’ll see you there!

(Giant bamboo forest?  Yes, please!)