Cairo is hot and dirty and loud and crazy and busy and dry… on a level I really had not expected. It hit 39c here today, when I was arriving and I think my usual style of just wandering all day while traveling is going to have to change to more of a point and shoot style if this heat/dust/sand/smog keeps up. My eyes are already watering from the smog.
My hotel is on an island in the Nile in the middle of the city, it’s a little worn down but fine, not really any internet though so there might not be a ton of picture posts.
I got settled in around 7pm and went out to find an ATM, a market and some dinner.
A few blocks from the hotel I saw a sign saying “cafe” and stepped inside, I was in a tiny room, about 5×5 with a till and a kitchen, the guy at the till asked something I didn’t understand and motioned up an iron, spiral staircase. I started to climb, the smallest stairs in history, I had to bend my body around the staircase to get up.
I came out in what appeared to be someone’s living room… uh… there were two men, two ladies and two little girls, the men were on the floor praying, there were two tables, sort of in the living room. I was going to leave when one of the women motioned for me to sit and wait, I did.
Once prayers were done, the men asked where I was from and sat with me, we talked quite a bit, I ordered… something… and a coke, the owner/father brought me a bottle of water and said “drink this first”. We talked until my food came and they excused themselves, one of the most unique dining experiences I’ve had…
The meal was a sort of stuffed bread, full of chicken and artichokes and mushrooms, it was really, really good.
Sitting in their living room:
My meal, really good:
A Bit Gone 