living in Belize, i often had a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that the population of the entire country didn't even reach 300,000 people. now i find myself in a
city at least 50 times that size. estimates put the population of Cairo between 15 and 25 million, depending partially on the time of day (many commute here for work). some views from the 40th floor of the Grand Hyatt in Garden City...
i'm taking this picture from Garden City, on the east bank of the Nile, where you also find downtown, and the Islamic and Coptic "quarters". directly ahead is Zamalek, the island in the middle of the river (and the city) that has long been home to much of Cairo's international expat community, as well as the green garden oasis of the Gezira sporting club, playground of the well-heeled. to the left of the picture are the west bank communities of Giza, Dokki, Agouza and Mohandiseen.
the river Nile, it goes without saying, has always been the heart of the city. as the majority of Egypt's landscape is pretty much inhospitable, somewhere around 98% of the country's population lives along the banks of the river or in the delta region. my Survival Arabic teacher told us that there's even a color in Egyptian colloquial Arabic called Neeli - for the Nile-colored mixture of blue, green and brown.
living in Belize, i often had a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that the population of the entire country didn't even reach 300,000 people. now i find myself in a city at least 50 times that size. estimates put the population of Cairo between 15 and 25 million, depending partially on the time of day (many commute here for work). some views from the 40th floor of the Grand Hyatt in Garden City...
i'm taking this picture from Garden City, on the east bank of the Nile, where you also find downtown, and the Islamic and Coptic "quarters". directly ahead is Zamalek, the island in the middle of the river (and the city) that has long been home to much of Cairo's international expat community, as well as the green garden oasis of the Gezira sporting club, playground of the well-heeled. to the left of the picture are the west bank communities of Giza, Dokki, Agouza and Mohandiseen.
the river Nile, it goes without saying, has always been the heart of the city. as the majority of Egypt's landscape is pretty much inhospitable, somewhere around 98% of the country's population lives along the banks of the river or in the delta region. my Survival Arabic teacher told us that there's even a color in Egyptian colloquial Arabic called Neeli - for the Nile-colored mixture of blue, green and brown.
6 comments:
Neeli? I like it. You're actually living on the 'west bank' - how radical! or maybe that's 'sinister' :)
You're descriptive narratives are vivid and enlightening. What a treat to sign on this morning and see so many new entries!
What is the name of the area you are living in?
Dad
Garden City? Haha! Is nicer than the one in Belmo?
The well-heeled!! Humph! Gezira club is where I learned to swim like a fish, learned to love tahina dip with pita bread, the very best limeade in the world, and my favorite -- rich pistachio ice cream [lots real pistachios not almond chips]. I was born in Zamalek at the Anglo-American Hospital [if it is still there].
:) Oh, come on, Jim, we WERE living the colonialist life style, you have to admit. In other words, relatively speaking, well-heeled. Yup - even privileged. :)
Ha! I can't help but compare your hotel in Garden City to the Gar Den City in Belmopan that Alli had us stay in! A wee bit different I bet.
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