Always time for coffee…
These mobile ‘coffee shops’ can be found all over the streets of Cairo. Some interiors are less chaotic than others. That being said, they all seem to have clientele that are prepared to try their wares. I have not taken the plunge as yet, but that could change before I leave Cairo.
It seems that the majority of these only operate after dark. That being said, I did see a few that were open during my morning walk.
Although the majority of Cairo’s converted coffee cars are unlicensed, some can obtain permits because they are owned by members of affluent families and are operated on their behalf.
Prices at each coffee car vary, depending on the type of drink being served. You can usually get three kinds of drinks – Turkish coffee, plain or with milk, and tea – that sells for about EGP 5. Plain coffee and tea sell for EGP 7 a cup, while cappuccinos and lattes cost EGP 15 Some of these abandoned car coffee shops sell espresso, Turkish coffee and tea for EGP 10 and cappuccinos and lattes for EGP 20.
The mosque at the end of the street. This is the overwhelming Abou Bakr El Seddik Mosque.
And a church directly opposite.
This is the Church of Archangel Michael in the Sheraton area, which is considered to have the most distinctive and largest dome among the churches in Egypt.
When I first looked for information on this spectacular Orthodox church, I misread the name and I thought that the church was dedicated to the Archangel Michael Sheraton!
Some of the stained glass windows at the Church of Archangel Michael. The church is full of drawings and icons painted in light colours. Not to mention the paintings on the walls and pictures made with stained glass.
I found this supermarket, reasonably close to my hotel, that had shelves filled with many of the snacks I was keen on stocking up on.
Inside was clean and bright with a plethora of items on sale at reasonable prices.
A spices corner. It was also the corridor to where the ice creams were ‘hidden’.
I am uncertain as to what this might be. The shop owner spoke little or no English, and my Arabic was limited to “hello” and “thank you”.
However, subsequently have downloaded an app called SayHi which makes interactions much easier for all concerned. Highly recommended.
A block of apartments lit in a green light gave the building a Cuban feel.
Much like Vietnam or India, there seem to be repair shops for a variety of vehicles and motorbikes down many of the alleyways.
Currently, all my walks end up at this laundry to collect washing. At EGP 15 per item, it is well worth using him rather than the hotel laundry that charges around EGP 60+ depending on what the clothing is.
However, all that will change soon when my wife arrives and we leave Cairo and head off to do tourist things…but more of that in the coming weeks.
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