At the mouth of the river

Scorpionkiss and I wandered into a different area today, as we walked towards Bab Zuweila, the last remaining southern gate from the walls of Fatimid Cairo in the 11th and 12th century. The street we walked is actually an extension of Mu'iz Street, but could not be more different from the side of Mu'iz Street that we have become so used to.

We walked through narrow unpaved alleyways, stalls filled with bright gallabeyas, belly dancing outfits, lingerie, bedspreads, and fridge magnets. We passed stall upon stall, broken up only by more alleyways, and doors to ancient mosques, each one with a man standing at the door beckoning to people to come in.

Eventually we came to Bab Zuweila itself, two towering minarets. We passed under the mammoth gate out into the main road, where it narrowed again into the Kheyama, a long alleyway, known for the art of tent-making - which is where it gets its Arabic name.

The picture that I've chosen is actually one of the last ones I took today, after we had turned around, and made it all the way back out onto the main street. This is the entrance of the market we walked through to get to Bab Zuweila.

This is far removed from my typical shots and that is why I love it. It is full of life, and movement, crowds, shadows and light, dust, concrete, ancient mosques, and most importantly, humanity.

I can't wait to go back there again.

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