CAIRO: It's one of the features of Alexandria's beaches, which has suddenly been shifted to Cairo. At first glance, people could not believe their eyes, for they had caught sight of a fresca-vendor in the capital. Yes, it was a real fresca-vendor, carrying his silver transparent box in which his pinkish fresca candy shined with its round luminous sesame, peanut and coconut pieces that are usually found enveloped in fine layers of pastries. But, surprisingly, some fresca-vendors can now be seen touting their stuff at the doors of the City Centers in Maadi and Nasr City as well as near other shopping malls and big sports clubs. These places currently provide a good market for a delicacy that traditionally only Alexandrian beach-goers could get hold of during summer vacations. "But since the Alexandria beaches are off season now, we've decided to move to Cairo to make up for the slump that recurs every year in winter, says Ahmed, who's earning a living selling his fresca in front of the main gate of Maadi Sports Club. Ahmed, 19, who nicknames himself 'fresca', has moved from Alexandria to the capital where he has set up temporarily until summer returns. "But I am not on my own, reveals Ahmed. "We're 12 vendors employed by a fresca-maker in return for a commission. We are given 25 percent of the total profits everyday. It is not a lucrative job but is definitely better than nothing. He adds: "Our boss is originally a fresca-seller who thought about making fresca available for residents of Cairo after he became aware that many of them travel to Alexandria in winter and spring specially to find the reputed candy. "He brought his machines to Cairo and some of the highest quality ingredients that are necessary for making the delicacy. The twelve of us spend the night producing the items that we sell the next day. Ahmed related that the club members, especially the old ones who retain sweet memories of their childhood days in Alexandria, are the ones who come out to the club gate to buy their favorite types. "Of course the young ones are also familiar with 'fresca' but they are not as enthusiastic about it as their parents who visited Alexandria's beaches during their heydays. In winter when the beaches are closed, fresca-vendors go through a quiet period. When some change job, others who are not qualified for that change, go in search of buyers in crowded places like the Qaitby Fort or near Abu Al Abass shrine where people flock to during weekends and official holidays. "But because the weather is not always reliable on such off-days we can't work regularly, so the move to Cairo has come as the ideal solution, informs Ahmed. Although Ahmed is satisfied with his temporary station, he misses the beach, the sand and the sea. "I am originally from Upper Egypt but I have lived almost all my life in Alexandria. I am impatiently waiting for the summer to start so that I can rush back to my home town, he says. But where's your next station, Ahmed? "The north coast, he answers. "It's there where the same buyers we find in sports clubs and shopping malls mostly move to in the summer. But apart from that, I only feel in my element on the beach where I can freely move and tout. But will you continue to sell fresca for the rest of your life, Ahmed? "I've graduated from the polytechnic school as an electrician. I hope one day I'll be able to work using my diploma but until then I am bound to sell fresca.
