Egypt
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Smoke from shisha or water pipes, sawdust on the floor, misty mirrors and intriguing gazes are all part of the Ahwas or cafe culture in Cairo. This is where the local men gather for a game of back gammon, domino's or just to discuss the local politics.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizashishawater pipessawdustPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Commonly known as the city of the dead, Al-Qarafa is not only the resting place for dead Cairenes, but for the living too. On Fridays and public holidays people flock here to picnic and pay their respect to the dead at the same time. A kind of living cemetery.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizacity of the deadAl QarafaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
View of Cairo as seen from the Al-Azhar park,
Cairo, Egypt 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAl Azhar parkAl AzharPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Although Cairo is in many ways a modern metropolis it still maintains its traditions of old.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizamodern metropolisPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Street scene near the old Christian quarters of Coptic Cairo.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaCoptic CairoCopticPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Camel merchant at the Birqash camel market outside Cairo. Before the area became increasingly urbanised, it was the final destination for camels brought from as far south as Sudan and the Horn of Africa. For centuries these animals were sold in the Friday market. The market still exists today, but it is no longer as important as it used to be at the turn of 20th century.
Outside Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaBirqash camel marketBirqashPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The Al-Azhar Mosque is a haven of peace and quiet, where many faithful come. Not just to pray, but also to escape the busy streets outside.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoAl Azhar MosqueAl AzharMosquePhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The great pyramids of Giza can be a great disappointment when one arrives with the notion of connecting with them on a spiritual level. The hoards of tourists alighting from a seemingly endless stream of coaches, the local hustlers and the security measures can all undermine the sense of anticipation with which one usually arrives at such a colossal site. However, it takes just a little initiative and a short walk around the Pyramids away from the masses, before one can begin to feel the allure of this magical site.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizapyramids of GizaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Man taking an afternoon nap inside the Al-Azhar Mosque.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAl AzharPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Local girl in the town of Dahab.
Sinai peninsula, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaSinaiSinai peninsulaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
A Bedouin prepares a camp fire with which he will make a pot of tea. A welcomed warm drink on a chilly desert night.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010egyptCairoCamelsdesertGizaBedouinPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
A camel guide interrupts his work in order to pray on the ancient tombs. The Sphinx towers in the background.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaancient tombsSphinxThe SphinxPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Beduin warms up his hands by the campfire on a chilly desert night. The lights of Cairo can be seen in the distance. Air pollution in Cairo has an decaying effect on the pyramids. While many imagine the pyramids at Giza in the middle of an unoccupied desert, they are actually only about 30 meters from the city.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsdesertGizaBeduinpyramidspollutionPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Beduin with his camel.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Young Cairenes relaxing in the Al-Azhar park at sundown. The city of Cairo in the background.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaCairenesAl AzharPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Camel Guide deep in prayer.
Giza, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaprayerprayingPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Cairenes playing Backgammon and smoking shisha in one of the many Ahwas or cafes found around Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaBackgammonAhwascafesPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Young camel herder at the Birqash camel market outside Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizacamelBirqash camel marketBirqashPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The Birqash camel market just outside Cairo is not a place for animal lovers. Hundreds of camels for sale are placed in enclosures. They are then brought out with the use of sticks, and beaten continuously by several men who try and prevent the camels from running away.
The camels are beaten into a circle consisting of a dozen or so prospective buyers. Their natural instinct to run out of the circle is quickly interrupted by a throng of blows to their knees, necks and bodies. Some camels do however manage to escape if only for a short period, running uncontrollably down the main thoroughfare, before being beaten back to the enclosure.
Once a buyer has been identified, the camels are again beaten all the way to the new owner's enclosure from where they are loaded onto trucks for the journey to their new home. Or slaughter house.
Birqash camel market, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizacamelBirqash camel marketBirqashPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Local women take a breather from the intense noise and smog of this huge polluted city.
Al-Azhar Park, Cairo,Egypt 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAlzhar ParkpollutedsmogPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Camel merchant at the Birqash camel market outside Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizamerchantcamelBirqash camel marketBirqashPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Camel boy at the Birqash camel market outside Cairo,
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
camel merchant beating a camel back to his enclosure.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizacamelBirqashcamel marketPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
For many of us the great pyramids at Giza are one of the wonders of the world. A magical site that conjures sentiments of a romantic past. For others however, they are part of the scenery always present whilst they go about there daily routine.
Giza, Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizapyramidsPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The market of Khan al K-halili can at first seems like a tourist trap. However, it's worth remembering that Cairenes have plied their trades here since the khan was built in the 14th century.
Taking any of the small alley ways off the main thoroughfare will reveal many hidden secrets.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaKhan al KhaliliKhaliliPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Mosque of Mahmoud Pasha as seen from the Citadel.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaMosque of Mahmoud PashaMahmoud PashaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Vegetable vendor taking a tea break at his stall behind the Al-Azhar Mosque.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAlAzhar MosquePhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Most westerners have a preconception of the pyramids as being huge, mystical, ancient tombs in the middle of a vast desert landscape. Mystical they are indeed. But far from being in the middle of nowhere, the city is increasingly enclosing on the pyramids.
The residential estate of Giza is but a stones through away. Here people live in the shadow of the Pharaohs as tour buses heading for the great pyramids bypass this area as if it did not exist. Some probably wish it didn't. But these people need to make a living just like everyone else, and the pyramids are their opportunity.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizapyramidsPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Men smoking shisha (water pipe) in Islamic Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizasmoking shishashishaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
One of the many popular Ahwas (cafes) in central Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAhwascafeshishaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Street scene behind the Al-Azhar Mosque Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAlAzhar MosqueAl AzharMosquePhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Street performer in central Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Woman coming out from a lingerie shop in central Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizalingeriePhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Local man at a street market in central Cairo.
Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizastreet marketPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Man entering a mosque in the Khan al-Khalili market.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.EgypCairoCamelsDesertGizaKhan al KhaliliPhotito travelphotitoegyptmiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Young man studies the Koran in the calmness of the Al-Azhar mosque.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaAlAzhar mosqueKoranPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The Khan al-Khalili market wakes up to another day of trading, just like it has done for centuries.
Cairo, Egypt 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaKhan al KhaliliKhan al Khalili marketPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Boy wearing eye liner just like the ancient Pharaohs. He is carrying freshly baked bread from the bakery to the local shops. Khan al-Khalili market.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaKhan al KhaliliPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Spice section at the Khan al-Khalili market.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaKhan al Khalili marketKhan al KhaliliPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Boy walking past a mosque at the Darb-al-Ahmar residential district.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaDarbal AhmarPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Man smoking shisha outside an ahwa in the Darb-al-Ahmar residential district.
Cairo, Egypt, 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizashishaDarbal AhmarPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
This little girl, like many other Cairo inhabitants, lives in poverty. Her house is located wall to wall with one of Cairo's finest mosques, the Mohammed Ali. Thousands of people walk past her front door every day, most indifferent to her predicament.
Cairo, Egypt 2010.egyptCairoCamelsDesertGizaPhotito travelphotitomiddle easttraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
