Life in Cairo Photos - Egypt
The Sinai
Life in Cairo or Egypt in general moves at a brisk pace, same as many other major cities in the world but Before I reach to that point. I arrived in to Egypt by crossing the border of Taba Between Israel and Egypt at Eilat and then into the Sinai Peninsula.
There were few scattered tents in the area which belong to the bedouins who call Sinai their homeland. A few houses made with stones and bricks had sprung up in the area. It was the part of the government’s scheme to settle the bedouins on permanent basis. Some parts of the Sinai was fast becoming a tourist hub but recent security situation in the country had halted the pace. The Sinai Peninsula has very harsh climate with little or no trees but people have inhabited the area for centuries.
Cairo
A city with a population over 14 million, sometimes it is a challenge to making a living. I came across many people who were just trying to survive in this bustling city. One guy was selling few pockets of tissue papers outside the Mosque of Amr Ibn al-As on a plastic bag. Fruit and vegetable sellers are a common site on the street which are part of the Old Cairo’s sound, sight and smell.
Beside the River Nile, a small plant was grown out of a vase and the the motto on that vase was same as one on the walls of Alhambra Palace which translates as “There is no victor but Allah “. It was the standard of Nasrid rulers of Muslim Granada, Spain. In front of the Imam Hussain Mosque, a guy was sitting and he was surrounded by cats. It was amazing to see that cats were attracted to him in large numbers.
Such is the diversity of history and culture of Egypt and people float between the standards of rich and poor, those who know and those who don’t. Those who are fortunate and some souls are unfortunate. Cairo is a mix bags of two extremes and everything in the middle.
Most Cairenes live in apartment buildings. Only the wealthy can afford to live in free-standing houses because space is difficult to find. Men and women usually live at home with their parents until they get married.
There are some secret spots, absent from any noise, no sounds of honking, and no yelling. The Zamalek and Maadi neighborhoods offer many such places. One of my favorite neighborhood spots.
Alabaster factories have sprung up on the western bank of the Nile in Luxor. Stones were brought from the nearest mountain to the Valley of the Kings and then workers would make decoration pieces from them. I was told that many of these products were made in other countries in order to control the price. The prices were insanely in order to cover the commission of the agents (even without it, they were going to fleece the tourists anyway.
