Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


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.

 

A photo of the Sinai Peninsula after crossing the Taba Border from Eilat to Egypt
A photo of the Sinai Peninsula after crossing the Taba Border from Eilat to Egypt
I was told by the taxi driver that these tents belong to the bedouins
The Egyptian government has built few houses with stones and bricks
The Egyptian government has built few houses with stones and bricks
In this photo, a castle is seen on the shores of the Red Sea
In this photo, a castle is seen on the shores of the Red Sea
Modern buildings are erected on the shores for tourists
Villas built on the shores of the Rea Sea - in the background lies the mountains which are part of Jordan
Villas built on the shores of the Rea Sea - in the background lies the mountains which are part of Jordan
Mountains in the Sinai Peninsula
A winding road in the Sinai - a telephone mast is erected beside the mountains
A winding road in the Sinai - a telephone mast is erected beside the mountains
After spending some time in Dahab, I took a bus to Cairo - here a kitten is seen eating from a plate on one of the bus stops
A guy selling few packets of tissues
A guy selling few packets of tissues
Another guy selling goods on a small stall beside the Amr Ibn al-As Mosque
A newspaper seller in Fustat, Old Cairo
A banana seller with his modified tricycle in Fustat
A banana seller with his modified tricycle in Fustat
A beautifully decorated cart is laden with red apples
Nicely arranged guavas being sold from a cart
Nicely arranged guavas being sold from a cart

 

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.

 

A family travelling on a horse driven carriage on one of the busy roads in Cairo
A family travelling on a horse driven carriage on one of the busy roads in Cairo
A small green car parked on side of the al-Gesr al-Barani Road
A small green car parked on side of the al-Gesr al-Barani Road
A flyover bridge passes beside the Sayyida Aisha Square
Two friends meet and greet eachother in the middle of busy Sayyida Aisha Square Cairo
Two friends meet and greet eachother in the middle of busy Sayyida Aisha Square Cairo
On the far side of this square, a pet animals market was located
Birds of different types were on sale in small and large cages
I was looking for a particular site in this area and place was bit sketchy - I was more than happy to find a main road and out of that area in a taxi
I was looking for a particular site in this area and place was bit sketchy - I was more than happy to find a main road and out of that area in a taxi
Boys are enjoying their ride in an auto rickshaw beside the Sayyida Nafisa Mosque Square in Cairo
Boys are enjoying their ride in an auto rickshaw beside the Sayyida Nafisa Mosque Square in Cairo
They were extremely young and I was surprised at their boldness on the main road
A busy street in Cairo under the shadow of the citadel - in the background the Mosque of Muhammad Ali can be seen
A busy street in Cairo under the shadow of the citadel - in the background the Mosque of Muhammad Ali can be seen
This photo shows the extent of air pollution in Cairo skies
This photo shows the extent of air pollution in Cairo skies
Traffic approaching the walls of the Cairo Citadel
Traffic approaching the walls of the Cairo Citadel
Graffiti on one of the walls of the Imam Hussain Square
A guy sitting in the Imam Hussain Square, surrounded by cats
A guy sitting in the Imam Hussain Square, surrounded by cats
The motto on the jar is same one on the walls of Alhambra Palace in Granada (Spain)
The motto on the jar is same one on the walls of Alhambra Palace in Granada (Spain)

 

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.

A horse driven carriage in the Zamalek District of Cairo
A horse driven carriage in the Zamalek District of Cairo
Banyan tree on a road, close to the Cairo Tower
Banyan tree on a road, close to the Cairo Tower
That banyan tree was so big that two roads were passing underneath it
That banyan tree was so big that two roads were passing underneath it
Upper part of the tree and it's size was just gigantic
Here tree has grown out of his main trunk and it has formed few branches on the opposite side of the road
A small cafe beside the Cairo Tower in the Zamalek district
A small cafe beside the Cairo Tower in the Zamalek district
The Islamic Museum of Cairo was undergoing some renovation work when I was in Cairo
The Islamic Museum of Cairo was undergoing some renovation work when I was in Cairo
The entrance of the museum was boarded up and this was the condition of the footpath
This round bread seemed to be the staple food of the Egyptians because I had seen this bread on sale in different places
This round bread seemed to be the staple food of the Egyptians because I had seen this bread on sale in different places
A showmaker beside the Sayyida Zainab Square in the Sayyida Zainab District
A showmaker beside the Sayyida Zainab Square in the Sayyida Zainab District
A coffee seller in front of the Cairo Citadel
Evening sun was reaching it's final destination and it was almost ready to set behind the two minarets of a mosque
Evening sun was reaching it's final destination and it was almost ready to set behind the two minarets of a mosque
A fruit seller has displayed his commodities neatly on one of the streets close to the Bab Zuweila
A fruit seller has displayed his commodities neatly on one of the streets close to the Bab Zuweila
This fruit seller has a larger shop and he also sells soft drinks
This guy owns a meduim sized fruit shop and he was waiting for the customers

 

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.

A lemon seller on the street talking to another seller close to his cart
A lemon seller on the street talking to another seller close to his cart
A fresh meat seller on one of the streets - pigeon meat was also on the menu
A fresh meat seller on one of the streets - pigeon meat was also on the menu
This meat seller has ducks and chickens for sale
An old bazar of Cairo, close to the citadel
An old bazar of Cairo, close to the citadel
Interior of a passenger train - I took this train to travel from Cairo to Alexandria
Interior of a passenger train - I took this train to travel from Cairo to Alexandria
Countryside of Egypt - surprisingly, this area was much greener than Cairo
A village beside the train
A village beside the train tracks
The train stopped briefly on this station and people jumped on board very quickly
The train stopped briefly on this station and people jumped on board very quickly
A wild shrub grown beside the walls of the station
A wild shrub grown beside the walls of the station
Another station of the Cairo-Alexandria line
Another station of the Cairo-Alexandria line
Colourful paintings on the exterior of one of the alabaster factories in luxor
Colourful paintings on the exterior of one of the alabaster factories in luxor
Stones were brought from the nearest mountain to the Valley of the Kings
Tools used to shape the rough stones in the courtyard of the factory
Tools used to shape the rough stones in the courtyard of the factory
Some of the products displayed inside the store
A worker is busy making a jar from the stone
Some of the products displayed inside the store
Some of the products displayed inside the store