Egypt: Tahrir Square’s Mini Utopia · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
There is another side to the ongoing revolution in Egypt, which is the daily life of those people sitting in on Tahrir Square. For the past 12 days, they have remained on the square, eating, drinking, chanting, cheering – simply living there day and night. Life here has its own rhythm now, and the spirit on diplay is of a mini Utopia.
Mornings begin with physical exercises while chanting “Down down Mubarak!”.
As the day continues, and more people pour into the square, residents welcome them with more chants as @ashoukry says:
The million pound question on everyone's mind, was asked by @Maysaloon from Syria on Twitter:
Had a thought today, what are all those people in Tahrir Square doing for sanitation? I don't see any cubicles anywhere…
And so I replied:
Either they use nearby mosques’ or underground public toilets, or nearby buildings, or shops. Some even return home & come back.
For instance @TAFATEFO tweeted while staying on Tahrir Square himself:
People spend a good while of their day cleaning the square. Photo by Monasosh on Flickr (CC-BY 2.0)
Even while it rains, people keep marching covered by a plastic sheet. Photo by Nadia El Awady on Twitpic
With every that day passes, the mood on the square becomes more like a daily open carnival organised by the people and for the people. As @etharkamal tweeted:
LOVE Egyptian ingenuity: for LE1 [one Egyptian pound] a 7antoor (horse carriage) will take you across Kasr El-Nil bridge to reach #tahrir #jan25
@Tarekshalaby also added:
At Tahrir sq. you can find pop corn, couscous, sweet potatoes, sandwiches, tea & drinks! Egyptians know how to revolt! #jan25
Egyptian tea anyone? .. Photo by Gigi Ibrahim shared on Facebook
"That's how people keep going, eating dates." Photo by Gigi Ibrahim shared on Facebook
People praying, a scene repeated five time a day, by Floris Van Cauwelaert on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
At night, its much quieter, yet the same spirit prevails. @Tarekshalaby said on Sunday night:
Cold n rainy night in Tahrir sq. Has been very festive/entertaining with songs n poetry. #jan25
@estr4ng3d said:
Loud cheerful music playing now, people dancing & clapping #tahrir
One night people combined their chants in a song entitled “Power to the people” to celebrate Egyptian youth coming together for peace, freedom and change:
Some days behold different and special events, on Sunday @Ekramibrahim tweeted:
1 - Christians and Muslims holding hands in #Tahrir and singing hymns after Coptic mass was a marvelous attitude never seen [before]. #Egypt #jan25
2 - A couple got married today at #Tahrir. God bless the couple. Very creative and warm attitude. #Jan25 #Egypt
@estr4ng3d expressed a feeling shared by many:
#Tahrir is definitely the happiest spot in #egypt right now. #jan25
"It's happening in Tahrir Sq. now.. Egypt" – Photo by Monasosh on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.